UP|Virginia Beach

Midtown at CityView Progress

vdogg — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:32:26 -0500

QUOTE (okinawatyphoon @ May 11 2008, 03:22 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Looks a lot like Harbor Heights, especially with the glass corner.

HH is more in the shape of a u though, this one isn't. The coloring seems different (hopefully it's brick, but i'm not holding my breath). I think this building will be uniform all around, judging by an earlier rendering, instead of one side just being left blank. I can definitely see the resemblance in the corner glass though, and some of the street level appearance. It's the same architect for both towers, so some crossover is to be expected.

Midtown at CityView Progress

okinawatyphoon — Sun, 11 May 2008 14:22:58 -0500

Looks a lot like Harbor Heights, especially with the glass corner.

Midtown at CityView Progress

PeninsulaKiddo — Sun, 11 May 2008 13:31:34 -0500

Wow !! That building looks awesome! It kind of reminds me a little of the Meridian at City Center, perhaps a little more 'grand.'

It's going to do wonders for expanding the downtown of Virginia Beach, and giving it a real scale - a gradual buildup of height to the center of TC.

And it's going to look so great with the two new VBTC office towers !! Wooo!

City Walk

metalman — Sun, 11 May 2008 08:39:36 -0500

What new buyer? Originally it was Sandler and Divaris. They sold it to Greendale, LLC which is a conglomerate, but they've owned that property for over a year now. Mulvanny has alway been the architects of the project. There have been changes to the rendering, but they've always mantained an urban city grid with high rises and density.

It's the Sifen proptery we need to be worried about.

Midtown at CityView Progress

andyfried — Sun, 11 May 2008 07:52:02 -0500

not bad !

Midtown at CityView Progress

vdogg — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:41:23 -0500

QUOTE (RJWGMU @ May 11 2008, 07:31 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

That does look great, however will it get scaled back because of the housing market?

No, this is a brand new rendering which has been scaled up from the original, not down. Besides, this is not a condo tower. From their site:

"The second building will be a 15 story �mixed use� design. The first five floors will be retail/office commercial space of approximately 100,000 square feet. Floors six thru fourteen will contain 117 apartment homes. The fifteenth floor will feature a community room and outdoor plaza for the apartment residents."

Apartments are still doing well in this area, and the number of apartments they've advertised on their site has not changed in years. The cosmopolitan is 97% leased too, which indicates the strength of the market near town center.

Midtown at CityView Progress

RJWGMU — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:31:26 -0500

QUOTE (vdogg @ May 11 2008, 07:19 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They've finally posted the design of the building that fronts bonney. I am highly impressed. This will make a fantastic addition to downtown Virginia Beach.

That does look great, however will it get scaled back because of the housing market?

Midtown at CityView Progress

vdogg — Sun, 11 May 2008 06:19:30 -0500

They've finally posted the design of the building that fronts bonney. I am highly impressed. This will make a fantastic addition to downtown Virginia Beach.

City Walk

hoobo — Fri, 09 May 2008 09:51:24 -0500

My reasoning is that the new buyer may do as he/she pleases within the zoning code, which right now is B-3. That allows for commercial uses. To be like TC, it needs to be rezoned B-3A. A developer would appeal for and quickly receive the change from the City, but that developer has to ask first. If not, then we can have another Shoppes at TC or a Convergence Center type development and not the City Walk we're all salivating over.

City Walk

vdogg — Fri, 09 May 2008 04:19:00 -0500

QUOTE (hoobo @ May 8 2008, 06:37 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

CBRE Brochure on City Walk (pdf)

This is dated 2007 and from the picture looks like late 2007. Does this mean City Walk is for all intensive purposes dead since no one knows what the new owner would do? Also interesting is the public-private partnership bit about a parking garage. I thought the city was done with that in Pembroke area once TC was completed.

I don't see anything that indicates this is dead. Perhaps due to the trouble they were having filling retail they decided to go with a different agent. if the land is for sale though I think the city needs to jump at this opportunity so that we can be sure we have some control over what gets developed there.

City Walk

hoobo — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:37:03 -0500

CBRE Brochure on City Walk (pdf)

This is dated 2007 and from the picture looks like late 2007. Does this mean City Walk is for all intents and purposes dead since no one knows what the new owner would do? Also interesting is the public-private partnership bit about a parking garage. I thought the city was done with that in Pembroke area once TC was completed.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

hoobo — Thu, 08 May 2008 17:34:21 -0500

This is from the following article on LRT in VB:

THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright © 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: Saturday, July 6, 1996 TAG: 9607060344
SECTION: FRONT PAGE: A1 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY CHRISTOPHER DINSMORE, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 117 lines

QUOTE

The light rail would be elevated at Independence Boulevard, but it would cross other major roads at grade.

Since then, VB city leaders have said other crossings would have to be elevated for safety and traffic concerns.

If I recall correctly, the desire was to attach an elevated station to Dick's garage or put it behind that 2-story office building on the corner of Constitution and Columbus. In any event, that stretch between Indy and Constitution would probably be elevated unless they can time the cross-street lights with the train crossing schedule.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

urbanlife — Wed, 07 May 2008 19:45:32 -0500

QUOTE (hoobo @ May 7 2008, 09:03 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

They'd just have to tear it and BB&B down and build a 3 or 4 story building with parking, theaters, and a new BB&B. The "street" between BB&B and Planet Music can be turned into a real street with the theater entrance and valet/drop off turn-off along this new street and BB&B on the corner. New shops would line Constitution.

After this, B&N and adjacent shops can be torn down along with that out-parcel. A new 3 or 4 story building with parking can be built there with a B&N on the corner of the Blvd and Constitution. Maybe include an urban Target with its entrance at the corner of the Blvd and that street between this shopping center and the one with Silver Diner.

Finally, the parking lot in front of Planet Music will be replaced with a park and bandstand for concerts that Planet Music promotes.

That's my vision for that shopping center. Pembroke mall on the other hand is a whole different beast: outdoor urban mall, apartments, condos, and office buildings: another mixed-use complex like TC but with an outdoor mall as the anchor.

Edit: I didn't realize just how big that property is. It's half as big as TC. What they should do is extend both Main and Columbus to Beasley and make a parallel road between Constitution and Beasley. Expand the theater at its current lot. Move BB&B to Constitution as part of a new parking structure and retail/high-rise office. Put Target where BB&B is with townhouses or a condo/apt building front Beasley. Then do the above renovation for B&N plus additional retail & office.

I think we are on the same page for what should happen in that area. Pembroke's land should be worked into the urban fabric of the town center, thus creating a full fledged downtown for VB.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

vdogg — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:36:52 -0500

QUOTE (orulz @ May 7 2008, 07:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I can't imagine this hypothetical VB light rail line crossing a huge road like Independence at grade. That and Rosemont are the two that I think will absolutely have to be bridged over. There are proably 5-10 other roads that it would be nice to bridge (Constitution being one of them) but with the cost of steel and concrete being what it is, they would probably get value-engineered out. A bridge over Independence should free up basically anywhere between Independence and Constitution as a potential LRT station site, though.

It won't. The mayor has explicity stated that all light rail crossings of major thouroughfares will have to be elevated.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

orulz — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:24:58 -0500

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

scm — Wed, 07 May 2008 16:46:21 -0500

I would blow up the Regal and place the Town Center light rail station there. There just isn't another good location -- you have to be that far east of Independence, or the stopped trains will block Independence. Constitution and Columbus are natural access streets, bus bays right there. Easy tie over the creek to the new developments along Bonney Road...

Just a hunch, but I will bet the remaining land, after some is sold to HRT for the station, will still be worth more due to the TOD potential. Something like Market Commons at the Clarendon Metro Station would be called for, and probably justifiable.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

hoobo — Wed, 07 May 2008 12:03:38 -0500

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

urbanvb — Wed, 07 May 2008 10:52:51 -0500

What would be really cool would be to tear down the current Columbus and build a 2-story theatre like the AMC 22 Hoffman in Alexandria. This particular one has a lot of parking though and is right off the Metro stop so perhaps this might not be feasible in our theater's current location.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

hoobo — Wed, 07 May 2008 09:59:58 -0500

When my firend worked at Columbus over 10 years ago, there was talk of closing Pembroke (which at the time was the most profitable Regal in HR) and expanding Columbus (which was the weakest cineplex in the area). The reasoning was Pembroke was old and Columbus had a lot of empty space. By building new theaters at Columbus you reduce the empty space to revenue generating space ratio, eliminate operational duplicity, and attract customers with new big-screen stadium theaters. Then came the tech bust, so that plan ended. Hopefully, it's coming back.

Virginia Beach Development

scm — Wed, 07 May 2008 07:31:48 -0500

QUOTE (vaceltic @ May 7 2008, 12:35 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I would point out that many Oceana workers are civilian contractors and the base provides work to many ancillary businesses (engineers, mechanics, science and tech) which definitely provide jobs earning close to or more than the median household income of Virginia Beach.

That is a widely held, but completely false viewpoint. I work in the federal tech services industry, for one of the largest providers of such services -- after spending twenty seven years in Naval aviation. The Navy has never embraced the contracted tech services model to anywhere near the extent of, for example, the Air Force. There are big numbers of contractor employees at Langley. Our company has over three hundred at Langley -- zero at Oceana. Part of it is because Langley has world wide responsibilities as Air Combat Command's HQ -- Oceana has nothing of the sort. There are small numbers of support contract "tech reps" in every squadron at Oceana --- I would estimate the number at not over 200. Your number of 20-30K jobs potentially lost is just wrong -- from someone in a position to have a pretty good idea.

The issue, is the impact on the citizens -- the tax paying citizens -- of VB. It is a little easier to say you "love jet noise" when you aren't paying for the cost of providing services to non-tax payers associated with that noise. Our VB real property tax tax bill in 2007 was $7,353. I'm not saying that to brag -- we are blessed -- but to say that is the amount of skin that I have in the game. You may think that there is no veto power over development at VB's most valuable section of RE -- just propose a building over 225' and see what you get. I don't know what else to call it.

IRT the property tax issue -- the public private ventures are something new. Here in Hampton Roads, it only dates to 2005. But, it is important to note that while the building does convey to the private entity, the land (where the PPV takes over existing housing -- as they did here) remains gov't property and off the tax rolls. Also, that has only happened here for married housing. So, my guess (and it is a 27 year experienced base "guess") is that 30% of the Oceana singles, mainly enlisted, live on base and in housing that is completely off the tax rolls. 90% of the married, officer and enlisted, live off base, many in houses they bought, and which they do pay taxes on. The on base married housing (which I again, guessed at 10%) pays no real property tax on the land. Still doesn't change the fact that everything on base is off the tax rolls, most of the employees (active duty military) pay no state income tax. And no one with out of state plates pays the vehicle tax.

This has nothing to do with being pro, or anti-military. Oceana has impacts on the surrounding community unlike almost any other military installation -- and not because of new tactics or technology -- but because of the inherent training requirements of night carrier landings. Forty years ago, there were seven east coast Naval Air Stations with permanently assigned jet squadrons. Today, there is one. Forty years ago, all weather, day and night operations were spread out and the burden was shared. Today, it falls on one location. The Navy closed all of those bases and centralized in the most dense, urban setting of the bunch. VB didn't do that -- the Navy, which I love, did. Fort Hood, Texas, doesn't tell Killeen what or where they can build. Only air stations do that. I laugh every time the TV stations run notices telling everyone on the Peninsula that Langley will be night flying at this or that time -- never run those about flying at Oceana, because they'd have to run every day! The bottom line is that the unique operational nature of a Naval Air Station is incompatable with a developed environment, and the total cost of that burden, and every thing that goes with it, is borne disproportionately by the tax payers of VB.

Virginia Beach Development

okinawatyphoon — Wed, 07 May 2008 00:41:52 -0500

That makes two of us, vaceltic.

Virginia Beach Development

vaceltic — Tue, 06 May 2008 23:35:18 -0500

QUOTE (scm @ May 6 2008, 01:40 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A little history lesson here, from someone old enough to remember (grin).

I am not old enough scm. Thanks for the clarification and the history on this. I would point out that many Oceana workers are civilian contractors and the base provides work to many ancillary businesses (engineers, mechanics, science and tech) which definitely provide jobs earning close to or more than the median household income of Virginia Beach. And when you are factoring household incomes in your argument, you are assuming that only one of the family members is working, which in military families is generally not the case - and single military members likely share homes with roomates (median is a more accurate measure than average because median assumes 50% of households make higher and lower than that amount). Also, if Virginia Beach loses Oceana's 10,000 jobs, there are more likely to be 20,000 - 30,000 jobs lost because Oceana's 'export industry' typically carry those additional service jobs (engineers, mechanics, science and tech, and the titty bars, dry cleaners, etc) at a 3:1 or 2:1 ratio. It is unlikely another employer will just move in with jobs to replace the base (have never heard of a company in Virginia locate with that many).

As a matter of practicality, the Navy can't just up and move a Master Jet Base to another location (look at NAS JAX experience and OLF North Carolina). It has to deal with the land it has already been given, even while the military must BRAC and close existing bases to reduce the costs of operating the military. The military, with new technoloy, has indeed encroached on the surrounding communities due to the demands of modernizing their tactics, war fighting, and defense training but don't be fooled that the military is bullying Virginia Beach to do its will. To say that the military has 'veto power' over VB's development is ill-informed. Any development decisions now are conscious choices by city leadership to appease the military with land use decisions and compromise and to work towards a better relationship that both the military and the city have faltered on for 30 years.

There have been land use guidelines since the early 1970s to prevent development around Oceana. Had city leadership followed these plans back then (think the greenline for the southern portion of VB, but around the installation) and through the 1990s,development could have been planned to be denser in the Pembroke , Newtown, Indian River, and Shore Drive areas, which I think most of us in this forum hope to see someday. It could have already happened by now! The city would certainly be more dense now had the City followed these guidelines for the past 30 years.

Regardless, I find it silly to argue the closure of the most important Naval Air Station on the East Coast so we can build taller, mid-grade quality hotels near the Oceanfront (not even ON the oceanfront). In regards to the houses which already exist around the base, the people who live in them are the very people who work at Oceana. Drive through those neighborhoods and you will notice how many military stickers you can see in car windshields. In regards to 30% base employee property tax exemptions, the military enters private public partnerships with developers who pay the property taxes and generating profits on managing the military housing off base, all those off-base employees get a housing allowance, not a tax exemption that isnt reimbursed to the city. I grew up as a military brat and I know we always had to pay our property tax so I'm not sure where you get your information on that. So the secrets out, im pro military - - but I think the City and the base are finally working through these issues in a positive manner to benefit both....FINALLY!

I jet noise!

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

urbanvb — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:54:39 -0500

If you visit Pembroke Mall's website, under Leasing, Property facts, the rendering shows a large anchor in the back without the theater. I think the theater's days are numbered. All that to say it would be concievable to see a new and improved Regal in TC at some point.

Google datacenter in Virginia Beach?

Telmnstr — Tue, 06 May 2008 18:12:12 -0500

QUOTE (hoobo @ May 6 2008, 04:23 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

If they'd be anywhere, it would be in Surry County next to the nuke plant. Something has to power all those servers and AC compressors.

I don't think it's supposed to be a mega datacenter, but a regional one. The posts are pretty specific that it's Virginia Beach.... the so called maps just have a pointer right in the middle of the oceanfront, so I know that is incorrect.

I checked and requests to google travel to northern Virginia and cross over to google there... so it's not like Cox has some sort of route to a secret local google node that I can see.

There aren't any peering exchanges in this area, that is why it doesn't seem to jive that there would be one here.

I emailed google and asked, I doubt I will get an answer but you never know.

Google datacenter in Virginia Beach?

hoobo — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:23:39 -0500

If they'd be anywhere, it would be in Surry County next to the nuke plant. Something has to power all those servers and AC compressors.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

hoobo — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:16:15 -0500

QUOTE (HarryVB @ May 6 2008, 12:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

What is going on. Now its a boutique hotel?... On Block 9. It sounds pretty stupid. Im sure people are tired of seeing more hotels. They need to build something everyone wants to see with a wow reaction. Something people can do and will Enjoy.. IMAX Cinema on Block 9? So you can feel like your in the movie when u go with the seats rumbling or something.. Enough hotels for christ sakes.. Build something the locals and visitors would enjoy doing when they come to Town Center... Something Hampton Roads has never thought about doing and smack it right in the middle of Town Center on block 9 so you can draw others from the 6 other cities and surrounding counties..

The original intent of that block was a 2 or 3 story retail and cinema complex. The cinema portion was supposed to be a Sundance arthouse cineplex with I believe 6 or so screens. That deal fell through, so AH and Divaris have been trying to come up with something. First it was something similar to Studio 56 Lofts, and now it's a mid-rise boutique hotel. I think having adding more floors and a taller building is more profitable than a movie gimmick.

Speaking of IMAX: there's a regular IMAX at the Hampton Air & Space Museum and a 3D IMAX at the Virginia Aquaium (formerly VMSM). Regal just needs to finally merge Pembroke and Columbus cinemas which would pave the way for redevelopment of that B&N et al. shopping center into a pedestrian oriented shopping complex. Target anyone?

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

spiker3 — Tue, 06 May 2008 16:12:00 -0500

QUOTE (HarryVB @ May 6 2008, 02:10 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A boutique hotel fits exactly with the niche that Town Center is trying to fill. Cool, hip and trendy. Exactly what a boutique hotel serves. People who want higher than a Hilton Garden Inn without the price of a Westin. A W hotel in Virginia Beach would be another major coup for the area, and fit perfectly with the locale and provide tourists an alternative to the Oceanfront and Newtown Rd. Until our vacancy rates in the area shoot astronomically high, there will never be enough hotels. And, a W hotel would provide a 'wow' reaction.

There's a movie theather three blocks from Block 9, let's not forget that. It's much easier to renovate or build an addition to Regal, by partnering with them to build an art house or IMAX theater then waste valuable land on a project that wouldn't gain much traction or build tax revenue. That parking lot hell with Bed Bath n Beyond and Regal is in sore need of renovation anyways to fit the TC 'feel'

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

HarryVB — Tue, 06 May 2008 14:10:52 -0500

Google datacenter in Virginia Beach?

Telmnstr — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:49:54 -0500

Various websites have it listed that there is a google datacenter located in Virginia Beach.

I think they might be wrong... but does anyone recall any building that might look like a steel building / warehouse with tons of HVAC equipment on the roof? That seems to be what they look like. Not super huge.

Our datacom infrastructure is very weak, so it would surprise me if this is true.

Virginia Beach Stores, Retail, and Resturants

vtfan18 — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:49:14 -0500

QUOTE (Weaver24 @ Apr 29 2008, 01:18 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Chipotle coming to va Beach near pembroke...

mmmm...Chipotle is sooo good! I've been waiting for years for them to come. I wish they would open one in downtown Norfolk but I'll take one in Va Beach. This was also announced in the latest issue of Inside Business.

Virginia Beach Development

scm — Tue, 06 May 2008 13:40:49 -0500

QUOTE (vaceltic @ May 6 2008, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

A little history lesson here, from someone old enough to remember (grin).

Until the late seventies, the USAF operated a system of air defense radars around the country -- 68 at the peak, including Cape Charles Air Force Station, right at the south end of the Eastern Shore. Throughout the 70s, the Department of Defense and the FAA had been negotiating to create a Joint airspace Surveillance System, called, appropriately JSS. To create it, the AF closed Cape Charles in 1980 and transferred the duties to a joint AF-Navy radar site at Oceana. Important to note that this installation did not exist at Oceana until 1980 at the earliest. The radar was later updated between 1996 and 1999 to the current Air Route Surveillance System - 4 standard. So, as late as 1996, that radar could have been located anywhere else. It is where it is, not because the FAA wanted it there, but because the Navy did. The FAA is responsible for the operation, but they are a fall guy in this.

Virginia Beach Development

scm — Tue, 06 May 2008 12:54:42 -0500

QUOTE (vaceltic @ May 6 2008, 10:12 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

For the record, many of Oceana's employees have more disposable income than the average wage earner in the area.

For the record, VB average household income in 2006 was $75,008. Unless a service member is an E8 with over 22 years, or an O3 with over 6, they don't have a household income at that level. I don' t know the specifics of Oceana's population but for the Navy as a whole, that only represents 3.2% of the enlisted force, and 40% of the officers. Since there are five times as many enlisted as officers, then you are only talking about around 1,000 of the 12,000 jobs at Oceana. Is all of this worth keeping 1,000 jobs that are higher than the VB average household income?

Look at it another way -- Oceana closes, and an employer announces they will replace all 12,000 jobs the next day -- only 15% of which are greater than the VB average HH income. BUT, they want in return -- exemption from real estate and business property tax for everthing they use in those jobs. They want property tax exemption for the housing for 30% of their single employees, and 10% of the married. They want 90% of the jobs to be exempt from state income tax, and 90% of the employee's cars exempt from the car tax. They want the right to conduct manufacturing 24 hours a day, with potential noise impacts well past the limits of their property. And, they want to extend veto power over development plans at the oceanfront. At what point in that list were you overcome with laughter?

Town Center JUMBOTRON High DEF Screen?

lammius — Tue, 06 May 2008 10:19:18 -0500

It seems like a good idea, but the one on the side of Prudential Center in Newark is scary. Cool when flying into Newark Airport. I can see "DEVILS WIN!" from 8,000 feet. But scary when walking around on the ground. It makes passers by, now awestruck, easier targets for purse snatchers! LOL.

It would be cool to have ticker news somewhere, but no video. Last thing I'd want to see is a 30-foot Velveeta Ewell reading the news briefs. Maybe some cute vid clips of puppies.

Virginia Beach Development

vaceltic — Tue, 06 May 2008 09:12:08 -0500

The article suggests that the radar has been there longer than most of the urban development which has taken place in Virginia Beach. I fault the city for not being more engaged with the FAA. Not only does the city now seem to have communication issues with the military but the FAA as well??? Why are people getting boiled about these issues with the federal government? Its not as if the FAA is demanding the project gets cancelled, just lower the height and expand the building footprint on the site and everyone will be happy.

As unlikely as it is, I would rather sacrifice a few stories in height on a hotel I will never stay in, so Virginia Beach and the rest of the Mid-Atlantic could be safe.

For the record, many of Oceana's employees have more disposable income than the average wage earner in the area. Think of how much of their money supports Virginia Beach Town Center. When those military folks retire, where do they end up? Staying right here in the area, with even more disposable income and high tech skills that we can't keep from the college graduates who leave the area in droves.

I try to be devil's advocate about this and no im not military

Virginia Beach Development

scm — Tue, 06 May 2008 07:47:01 -0500

QUOTE (mistermetaj @ May 6 2008, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have never once in my life seen an aircraft flying below 1000' in this city unless it was an air show. How anything > 180' will impede flight is beyond me. The Navy is choking the life out of Va Beach oceanfront development.

I am assuming you are not counting the approximate 220,000 take-offs and landings annually? Every one of those is < 1,000 feet, by definition. The issue on the interference with air operations is the extended center line of Rwys 5/23 -- it extends from the base to Birdneck Acres to PA Country Club. This is the path, that under normal operations, with the wind out of the north, that most flights depart on. When the wind is calm, usually at night, they use this as the main instrument approach.

But the issue on the convention center height isn't interference with air operations -- it is interference with the surveillance radar located on the Oceana property, just off Oceana Blvd. For some reason, some dumb *sses with the FAA thought this would be a great place to put it -- the only radar of its kind south of New Jersey, and right smack in a place where urban density would interfere. Don't put it on the Eastern Shore, Sandbridge, or right on the water's edge at Dam Neck -- put it where, once again, the federal government can interfere in the development of VB's greatest asset, the oceanfront.

Someday, the citizens of VB are going to wake up and realize that the cost of Oceana -- the total cost of educating kids that live in houses that have no tax revenue and whose parents pay no Virginia state income tax, of building roads for people with cars registered in other states, and now, not using a city owned property to its highest and best use -- is greater than the measly revenues earned by dry cleaners, barbers, "buy here, pay here" car lots, and titty bars. Someday.....

Virginia Beach Development

vdogg — Tue, 06 May 2008 04:35:06 -0500

QUOTE (mistermetaj @ May 6 2008, 12:42 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I'm not sure how to post a link, but I just found this on pilotonline.com:

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/05/proposed-b...-radar-faa-says

Tey hotel can only be 110' so it does not impede the Navy's radar for terrorist cruise missiles aimed at Va Beach.

Oops, i'm sorry. They were being seriouse weren't they? I read this story this morning and almost punched my computer screen. The freaking Doubletree is taller than that. If that is blocking their radar, how the hell do they operate in Chicago and New York. I don't buy this story at all. The city is thinking about appealing and I really hope they do.

Town Center JUMBOTRON High DEF Screen?

Telmnstr — Tue, 06 May 2008 00:17:15 -0500

The Homicide Roads murder of the minute scroller? :-)

They could patch the red light cameras into the jumbotron and show the last "voluntary" taxpayer!! That'd be funny.

Norfolk wants to buy a bunch now.

Virginia Beach Development

mistermetaj — Mon, 05 May 2008 23:42:52 -0500

I'm not sure how to post a link, but I just found this on pilotonline.com:

http://hamptonroads.com/2008/05/proposed-b...-radar-faa-says

Basically, the Navy is going to stunt growth at the oceanfront again. All the proposed convention center hotels will have to be scaled down to comply with FAA regulations. Tey hotel can only be 110' so it does not impede the Navy's radar for terrorist cruise missiles aimed at Va Beach. On top of that, they mention a hotel built years ago originally proposed at 34 stories that was scaled back to 12 stories to comply with the navy. Furthermore, it looks like the Navy will not allow any building built at the Oceanfront to rise above 180', because it will impede airplane flight. I have never once in my life seen an aircraft flying below 1000' in this city unless it was an air show. How anything > 180' will impede flight is beyond me. The Navy is choking the life out of Va Beach oceanfront development. I hope TC becomes a true downtown with corporate headquarters so the city council can feel secure enough to run the city without giving into Oceana's every wish. Eventually we'll have to chew threw the leash.

Gateway Tower

urbanvb — Mon, 05 May 2008 17:57:27 -0500

QUOTE

... and a second public company that is considering the building, either as its corporate or for its regional headquarters.

This is great news too. Although the first tower had a lot of relocatees from within the city, TC has been a huge success in terms of filling its office space.

Gateway Tower

vdogg — Mon, 05 May 2008 12:34:03 -0500

Judging by this it looks like they changed the name of the tower, so i'm changing the name of the thread. I think just saying Gateway Tower sounds better anyway.

QUOTE

Also, Phase IV pre-leasing has begun on another 21 stories of Class A office space. Located on Block Two will be a 356,657-square-foot, high-rise tower with 21 floors of offices in two attached, yet distinctive, buildings above a 634-car parking garage. Gateway Bank, a regional community bank, has committed to occupy 50,000 square feet of space for its corporate headquarters and has secured the naming rights for the tower. Additionally, there will be 30,758 square feet of retail that will wrap the ground floor. Town Center City Club will move into expanded premises in the tower to offer more extensive services. Other tenants that are considering the space include attorneys, insurance companies, and a second public company that is considering the building, either as its corporate or for its regional headquarters. The Gateway Tower will start construction in late fall 2008 and is expected to be completed and ready for occupancy by late 2010

Virginia Beach Stores, Retail, and Resturants

donna rae — Mon, 05 May 2008 09:14:22 -0500

Any new word on the Trader Joe's rumor? My office is buzzing this morning and wondering if it's true...

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

metalman — Sun, 04 May 2008 14:44:35 -0500

In looking at the new CMSS ariel photo of the future TC, I noticed that they leveled the Taco Bell, you can see the top couple floors of what will be the new "Boutique Hotel", and just beyond that I see what looks to be an 'architecturally treated' roofline of a building where that restuarant managment business sits on the Central Park block.

From this angle, they showed us the final product of Town Center. The only thing not shown is the build out on the indi. side of the Sandler Center, the pedestrian bridge across VB Blvd, the bridge from the boutique hotel to the Cosmo parking garage, and whatever will eventually end up on the Taco Bell lot.

I'd love to see some kind of digital graphic fly-around of this finished product!

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

vdogg — Fri, 02 May 2008 16:23:24 -0500

QUOTE (Shakman @ May 2 2008, 01:24 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great article... In that ariel shot, there seems to be a lot of open land screaming for urbanized developments.

Though a little oops from the article...

They say that the Westin is 500 ft tall and tallest between Charlotte and Philly.

If it is indeed 500 ft tall, then it is not the tallest beween Charlotte and Philly. Baltimore's Legg Mason is 529 ft tall.

I thought Westin was at 537ft?

I think that figure has oscillated between 512 and 525 (i'll have to check some old articles to be sure), I don't recall 537 though, but i could be wrong. I'm pretty sure Legg Mason is still taller though, so that does appear to be a mistake. It would be more appropriate to say tallest between Charlotte and D.C.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

hoobo — Fri, 02 May 2008 15:17:57 -0500

I'm going to throw out the Kimpton Hotel chain. I stayed in one of their hotels in San Diego: very nice. They're out of San Fran but have a huge presence in D.C. metro area and are opening a location in Baltimore.

W seems to hip for Town Center. I could see them in Downtown Norfolk or as part of a new development at the Strip, but not TC. At least, not right now. But then again, it fits in with the mixed-use aspect. aLoft is interesting since it's more of burbs/small town offshoot of W, but who knows.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

RJWGMU — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:41:27 -0500

QUOTE (spiker3 @ May 2 2008, 01:33 PM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

W possibly, almost definitely not aLoft, that wouldn't fit with the town center feel (it has a drive in car wash as feature) but anything's possible at this point.

I doubt Westin would allow for direct competition like that, so likely "W" ... They probably had this planned for while.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

orulz — Fri, 02 May 2008 13:27:34 -0500

Aloft is definitely a possibility - the hotel in Epicentre in downtown Charlotte is an Aloft. Hotel Indigo is a possibility as well.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

spiker3 — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:33:29 -0500

QUOTE (urbanvb @ May 2 2008, 08:23 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Great news. I had no idea this block would come along so quickly. One guess for the new hotel might be a W Hotel or Aloft, a newer concept from Starwood Hotels (aka Westin, Sheraton). I will try to take a few new pics of Two Columbus over the weekend.

W possibly, almost definitely not aLoft, that wouldn't fit with the town center feel (it has a drive in car wash as feature) but anything's possible at this point.

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

Shakman — Fri, 02 May 2008 12:24:21 -0500

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

urbanvb — Fri, 02 May 2008 08:23:21 -0500

Va. Beach Town Center project 2

RJWGMU — Fri, 02 May 2008 06:38:54 -0500

QUOTE (metalman @ May 2 2008, 02:41 AM) <{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Divaris' online mag. has updated info (and the new photo) on new blocks in Town Center

http://www.divaris.com/rereview/index.html

GREAT article! Wow, so much in there... Does anyone have pictures of Two Columbus Center?

Which hotel brand just launched a boutique model? Westin? Hyatt? Marriot?

Any idea who the second corporate or regional HQ tenant would be in the new office tower?

The Gelato shop sounds great!!

On an unrelated note, I will no longer be calling Virginia Beach home. I will be moving to Fairfax permanently this coming Wednesday. Hopefully you all can be sure to take lots of pictures for me!!