Virginia Beach Development

[vdogg]

Vdogg, did you ever figure out what was being built down at the Oceanfront? I was down that way today. I was amazed at the Ocean Beach Club. It looks relatively finished on the outside. The only other thing I saw is a structure being built with a crane between two hotels. I am assuming it is to be another hotel but I don't know for sure.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

And thats the one i was referring to. I still don't have a clue what it is but at least you understand now that there is no way it can be part of OBC. Guess we'll just have to wait til it's finished to find out.

[PeninsulaKiddo]

Hey vdogg/guynvb, how tall is this anonymous development on the Oceanfront so far? Is it midrise or highrise? It's curious that something like this (of reasonable proportion) totally slipped under the radar.

Edited May 29, 2005 by PeninsulaKiddo

[urbanvb]

I think I would call this a midrise. It is being built between two medium sized hotels.

[vdogg]

I think I would call this a midrise. It is being built between two medium sized hotels.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

So far it's midrise. We have no clue what it is however and therefore we have no idea how tall this will be.

[PeninsulaKiddo]

Well if this no-name building ends up being 25 floors... we should all be ashamed of not knowing about this!

Seriously though... usually any development of any noticeable scale is talked about. I don't get it.

[vdogg]

Well if this no-name building ends up being 25 floors... we should all be ashamed of not knowing about this! 

Seriously though... usually any development of any noticeable scale is talked about.  I don't get it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Well you don't bust out a tower crane for the hell of it so it's definately gonna be over 10 floors. I don't know how we missed it. I have been looking intensely for information but so far no one can tell me anything.

[rusthebuss]

Well you don't bust out a tower crane for the hell of it so it's definately gonna be over 10 floors. I don't know how we missed it. I have been looking intensely for information but so far no one can tell me anything.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Isn't there someone you can email from the beach council to find out what it is? I know you have resources vdogg

[vdogg]

Isn't there someone you can email from the beach council to find out what it is? I know you have resources vdogg

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Honestly the best bet would be to contact the finance company. There was a sign that said "financed by" and gave a company name and # but i don't remember what those were. The only thing is this company probably finances hundreds of projects so it will be like pulling teeth to get info.

[urbanvb]

One thing you might try is to go to the city website. Below the search engine on the right is a link that says "Click Here for Live Online Help". I am not sure they might have the info but it's a start.

[vdogg]

Good News guys. Spoke with mom today. She said their lease in Pembroke 6 is up in January and they will be moving their offices to the AH tower. Pembrokes 6 and 3 will be emptying out at the beiginning of next year (I asked about the other ones but she only had info on 3 and 6). She said this is all in preparation for new office building(s) to be built on that property (so it appears that 12-story building is still planned, not sure what the hold up is but it's still a go for next year) .

[urbanvb]

That is great news. On another note I asked Mr. Divaris about the Westin and coloration and also asked about Town Square. He was so very kind to respond and here it is :

The Westin building will have a "white" look to it but not as white as

The Cosmopolitan. It will be accented with other colors. It will blend

but not be the same as the other buildings at Town Center. The idea is

to create a city center which reflects diversity in design rather than

uniformity. After all a traditional city center that evolves over time

is diverse in look and feel. That is what we will try to accomplish in

a much shorter time period.

With regard to Town Square ( we plan to name it City Walk) this will be

a mixed use development that will include retail on the first floor and

in some cases two storey and three storey retail. There will be about

450 residential units in two towers and a mid rise block and there will

be another hotel. The plans have not been announced yet but we are

working on them and they are truly wonderful. It will "book end" the

Town Center and compliment it. We will ultimately create a wonderful

and exciting sky line for our city. A true landmark for all of us to enjoy.

Edited June 1, 2005 by guynvb

[vdogg]

There will be about 450 residential units in two towers and a mid rise block and there will be another hotel. The plans have not been announced yet but we are

working on them and they are truly wonderful. It will "book end" the

Town Center and compliment it. We will ultimately create a wonderful

and exciting sky line for our city. A true landmark for all of us to enjoy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

This will compliment the pembroke building quite nicely. I mean I knew our downtown was growing fast but they already have 2 new towers in the works. I cannot tell you how elated I am with the news this week. What an exceptional week for Norfolk and Virginia Beach!

[okinawatyphoon]

This will compliment the pembroke building quite nicely. I mean I knew our downtown was growing fast but they already have 2 new towers in the works. I cannot tell you how elated I am with the news this week. What an exceptional week for Norfolk and Virginia Beach!

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, its amazing how just news about the economic development of a place can make you happier!! haha But about the 2 new towers, just to give a comparison, the old Granby Towers were 400 units in pretty sizeable towers, so these 450 unit towers could be of some size.

[urbanvb]

Vdogg, do you know who is building the new Pembroke building? new renderings anyone?

[vdogg]

Vdogg, do you know who is building the new Pembroke building? new renderings anyone?

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

The only rendering i've ever seen was on VBTV and it was a glass structure with what i can only describe as a red stripe arching out of the center. I know it's hard to visualize but it looked pretty sleek and modern. I'll see what i can do about obtaining it for you guys.

[rusthebuss]

INSIDER NEWS

Duck-In auction a bonus for workers

Landmark restaurant set to close in August

By Janet Dunphy

Inside Business - Hampton Roads

Monday May 30, 2005

A large poster by the hostess podium advertises the inevitable at the Duck-In. The furniture, fixtures and equipment will be auctioned off the morning of Aug. 19 and the memorabilia will go at a second sale in the afternoon at The Beach Club next door.

Meanwhile, the dishwasher is dying and six Friday beach parties in a row have been canceled because of weather.

[rusthebuss]

INSIDER NEWS

Norfolk gains, Virginia Beach loses, in VEC closures

By Philip Newswanger

Inside Business - Hampton Roads

Monday May 30, 2005

Not only are the homeless gravitating to Norfolk, so are the unemployed.

Because of cutbacks in U.S. Department of Labor funding, the Virginia Employment Commission is closing offices, laying off part-time employees and consolidating staff in fewer offices.

The cutbacks are statewide and some of the agency

[urbanlife]

Yeah, its amazing how just news about the economic development of a place can make you happier!! haha    But about the 2 new towers, just to give a comparison, the old Granby Towers were 400 units in pretty sizeable towers, so these 450 unit towers could be of some size.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

so you can figure two towers ranging between 15-25 stories, or 170 ft to 300ft (I wouldnt be suprised if a damn spire is put on top of one of them, I am hoping not though)

[urbanvb]

so you can figure two towers ranging between 15-25 stories, or 170 ft to 300ft (I wouldnt be suprised if a damn spire is put on top of one of them, I am hoping not though)

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

wow, that tall.. man, thats great! Yeah, I am hoping not a spire too and since this is a 'bookend' type of project then maybe not.

[vdogg]

wow, that tall.. man, thats great! Yeah, I am hoping not a spire too and since this is a 'bookend' type of project then maybe not.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Yeah, no need to go spire crazy with this one but since they'll have 50 more condos than the original Granby towers concept I'd put the height of both more like 200ft and 300ft or 150 and 350 depending on how they wish to split it up. The possibilities are endless. I just hope they don't come under the "curse of the twins" and only wind up being one taller tower. We'll have the height with Westin, now we just need the bulk to fill out the skyline.

[urbanvb]

I get so excited thinking about all of this construction. You can bet I will have my camera out there as often as possible pointing out the changes as construction progresses.

[urbanvb]

That is great news. On another note I asked Mr. Divaris about the Westin and coloration and also asked about Town Square. He was so very kind to respond and here it is :

The Westin building will have a "white" look to it but not as white as

The Cosmopolitan. It will be accented with other colors. It will blend

but not be the same as the other buildings at Town Center. The idea is

to create a city center which reflects diversity in design rather than

uniformity. After all a traditional city center that evolves over time

is diverse in look and feel. That is what we will try to accomplish in

a much shorter time period.

With regard to Town Square ( we plan to name it City Walk) this will be

a mixed use development that will include retail on the first floor and

in some cases two storey and three storey retail. There will be about

450 residential units in two towers and a mid rise block and there will

be another hotel. The plans have not been announced yet but we are

working on them and they are truly wonderful. It will "book end" the

Town Center and compliment it. We will ultimately create a wonderful

and exciting sky line for our city. A true landmark for all of us to enjoy.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was just readin this again and.. 3 story retail? wow, that is huge. I am trying to think of something 3 storey. The only thing that would come to mind is a huge dept store such as the 3 storey Dillards at MacArthur.

[rusthebuss]

I was just readin this again and.. 3 story retail? wow, that is huge. I am trying to think of something 3 storey. The only thing that would come to mind is a huge dept store such as the 3 storey Dillards at MacArthur. 

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

i think that he meant there will be 3 floors for retail not that one store will occupy all three stories.

[urbanvb]

i think that he meant there will be 3 floors for retail not that one store will occupy all three stories.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I thought about that too.. just not sure of a place where there is 3 floors of retail other than a mall. Anyway, it sounds very good for sure.

[urbanlife]

Yeah, no need to go spire crazy with this one but since they'll have 50 more condos than the original Granby towers concept I'd put the height of both more like 200ft and 300ft or 150 and 350 depending on how they wish to split it up. The possibilities are endless. I just hope they don't come under the "curse of the twins" and only wind up being one taller tower. We'll have the height with Westin, now we just need the bulk to fill out the skyline.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I was going with a lower height because I figure the foot print of the building would be larger than the Granby tower's foot print. But you are right the possiblities are endless