City officials had warned Gadams months ago to clean up the site, which sits at the entrance to the downtown restaurant row on Granby Street. Gadams reacted by installing black mesh on fencing surrounding the site.

Just in time for Harborfest, the debris, overgrown weeds and two small lakes that have been on the site of the failed Granby Tower condominium project for more than a year are being cleaned up.

Earlier this week, workers began draining rainwater that accumulated in two large holes.

Friday morning, crews began using two earth movers to mow down the weeds, remove construction debris and level out mounds of dirt.

Workers referred questions to developer Buddy Gadams, who did not return phone calls.

City officials had warned Gadams months ago to clean up the site, which sits at the entrance to the downtown restaurant row on Granby Street. Gadams reacted by installing black mesh on fencing surrounding the site.

Rod Woolard, Norfolk’s director of economic development, responded in an e-mail he had not been informed of what work is going on at the Granby Tower site. But he added: “I am confident that they were doing what they committed they would do when this question came up sometime back.”

Granby Tower was to be a $180 million, 34-story condominium project that would have been the city’s tallest building, and the second tallest in the state. It would have had 302 condo units ranging in price from $270,000 to $1 million, as well as some retail and office space.

However, it fell victim to the collapse of the financial markets.

After losing his financing, Gadams halted construction in September 2007, two months after Turner Construction began work on the project.

Gadams’ company, 515 Granby LLC, has been the subject of numerous lawsuits ever since. Several people who placed deposits to hold condos have sued to get their money back. Many have been settled out of court.

Turner Construction and subcontractors are seeking more than $20 million in payment for construction costs. Norfolk Circuit Court records indicate those cases will go to trial in October.

Gadams has not spoken about the project publicly in months, but city officials say he continues to search for financing to resume the project.

Family of mine just moved into an apartment complex in the Beach next to Regent University for $900/ month.. Spacious, clean, balcony, ect.. AT least not every place in HR is overpriced.. Just near the center of the cities..

I'm sure you all heard about the traffic nightmares all around the 7 cities caused by a malfunction in the tunnel, but the good news is that our great leader Mr. Fraim stood up for Hampton Roads' transportation issues and said the state needs to get its act together..

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/norfolk-ma...n-clogs-traffic

I'm sure you all heard about the traffic nightmares all around the 7 cities caused by a malfunction in the tunnel, but the good news is that our great leader Mr. Fraim stood up for Hampton Roads' transportation issues and said the state needs to get its act together..

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/07/norfolk-ma...n-clogs-traffic

With Midtown Tunnel traffic inching behind him, he expressed dissatisfaction with the General Assembly for the lack of funding for highway improvements and maintenance, and with VDOT officials.

POSSIE UP THIS WEEKEND!?

I've got a cookout on July 4th, whenever that is. But the other weekday I can prob hang for a bit.

The biggest reason DT lacks the 24/7 atmosphere is because of residential density. Colley Ave has pedestrian activity because Ghent is very densely populated. Many of the large homes in Ghent are actually multiple rental units which you'd never know from the outside. In addition to the huge concentration of rental aprtments all within walking distance. The demographic is also different. Ghent consists of young professionals and students (18-35 years of age). Much of dowtown and especially Freemason is an older demographic because the price of real estate tends to be higher. Colley Ave establishments are not "better", they just have the pedestrian activity they have ample outdoor seating still leaving plently of room for the sidewalk. Granby is limited on sidewalk space.

Living downtown is fantastic... I also love my place & the view & whatnot.... again my only beef with DT is that its just not lively most days of the week, usually the only ppl I see during the weekend before 8pm are the bums at the parks near college & granby.

Looking forward to the fireworks as well, hopefully they actually go off this year-

I'm sure the city won't be dead this weekend.. Harborfest coupled with two sellout Tides games.. You guys better get some good pictures because I won't be here for the weekend..

Duh.. that stuff's old as dirt.. I was talking about the new performance hall and virginia arts hq..

I bet the freight lines coming into HR are more frequently travelled than the NJ freight lines..

I don't think it'd be feasible here

Short Pump? I wouldn't pay to live there.

The 201 is a combination of wood and concrete structure. They used the interior of the original Sears/Farm Fresh building for some parts. I wouldn't pay the rent's myself but if it doesn't work out then they will just have to lower the prices....

The Westin will appear much larger than DE so it'll probably make the skyline look much more dense than it does now.. It's 6 floors taller and will sit much closer to the waters edge..

I know I'm a bit late on commenting about the above "Soulja Girl" video, but I was truly saddened by the distribution of that video a few months back.. As some someone who practically grew up on Marta (started riding alone around 12 years old) I constantly attempted to inform skeptical people (often whites) that this sort of thing was rare. Now I have a few stories to tell but most of the odd things I witness happen at hours when I probably should have be home anyway (i.e. 1am).

I have no real fear of incidents like this occurring on the Tide. Like I said this sort of this was rare in Atlanta, where believe me the crazy quotient is exceeding higher there than anywhere in HR.

But the persistent fear (or the political use) of scene's like this video has servery stunted the growth of Marta in the Atlanta Metro, where It should be twice as large. One bad incident could be difference between expansion into VA Beach or not. Trust me (like in the Atlanta metro) one ugly incident will be used as "Willie Horton" to kill the further projects. We can only hope and be vigilant.