Norfolk Off-Topic

[carolinaboy]

I like to think about this topic. I think it is very unlikely that Norfolk and/or Virginia Beach get any major league franchise, relocation, new or otherwise. Of course I would love any major league pro franchise here but I just can't see it happening. My thoughts:

NFL

• I think the Jacksonville Jaguars will move to Orlando. Orlando has a pro-ready stadium, the NBA and MLS. They would keep the same fan base essentially.
• Cities likely to get a team: Saint Louis, San Diego
• Probably won't get a team but ahead of ORF/VB: Oakland, Austin, San Antonio, Columbus, Portland, Oklahoma City, Louisville, Salt Lake, Raleigh, Memphis

NBA

• I think the Clippers move to Las Vegas for all the obvious reasons.
• Cities that could get a team: Seattle, San Diego, Saint Louis, Kansas City
• Probably won't get a team but ahead of ORF/VB: Austin, Nashville ,Louisville, Tampa, Jacksonville, Baltimore, Cincinnati, Columbus, Raleigh, Buffalo

MLB

• I think the Tampa Bay Rays will move to Orlando. I think Oakland is likely to move to Las Vegas.
• Cities that could get a team: Charlotte, Nashville, Portland
• Probably won't get a team but ahead of ORF/VB: Austin, Raleigh, San Antonio, Salt Lake, Oklahoma City, New Orleans, Indianapolis, Columbus, Louisville

NHL

• Norfolk and VB have an outside shot at the NHL. A lot of transient population from other parts of the country where hockey is popular. Appropriate arena in the region seems unlikely.
• I believe the Carolina Hurricanes would like a move, possibly to Charlotte or Quebec
• I believe either the Lightning or Panthers will move to Orlando.
• Cities likely to get a team: Seattle, Quebec, Houston
• Probably won't get a team but ahead of ORF/VB: New Orleans, Austin, San Antonio, Hartford, Portland, Salt Lake, OKC, Atlanta, San Diego

MLS

• Best shot for the region to get a team. Stadiums don't have to be as big or cost as much. HR seems to be a soccer hotspot.
• Cities ahead of HR: Raleigh, Charlotte, New Orleans, Austin (I think the Crew may be moving here), Phoenix, Las Vegas, Monteray, Detroit

NASCAR

• Years ago I thought a 2.5 mile super speedway in Virginia Beach would succeed. Now I think NASCAR is dying, certainly waning.

 

[BFG]

I drove through downtown tonight, and for it to be a Tuesday night, I was very surprised at how busy it was at both Waterside and the Main, and along Granby. I expected it to be a ghost town, but there was no parking along the streets. I actually thought it was Restaurant Week, but that's apparently next week.

[zeppelin14]

I was in downtown last Monday (July 2) and the Monday prior as well. Waterside had a lot of people in it and it was fairly busy all around the area by The Main too. It helped that there was a large Physics convention across the river on June 25-29th that brought a lot of people to Waterside and the Marriott as well.

[zeppelin14]

I think we all feel lucky when Norfolk (as well as all of Hampton Roads) has a major project going on. It really is few and far between though. Norfolk just completed the Main Hilton and now the Gateway Tower is going to hopefully get started soon. But I'm always wondering why development is so slow here? I was in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at the amount of construction going on just in downtown close to the Inner Harbor. There were at least four towers going up that would all be taller than anything in Norfolk. I truly am envious of Baltimore's downtown.

Here's a cool website that tracks all of Baltimore's construction: https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/maps/crane-watch

[brikkman]

4 minutes ago, zeppelin14 said:

I think we all feel lucky when Norfolk (as well as all of Hampton Roads) has a major project going on. It really is few and far between though. Norfolk just completed the Main Hilton and now the Gateway Tower is going to hopefully get started soon. But I'm always wondering why development is so slow here? I was in Baltimore a couple of weeks ago and was amazed at the amount of construction going on just in downtown close to the Inner Harbor. There were at least four towers going up that would all be taller than anything in Norfolk. I truly am envious of Baltimore's downtown.

Here's a cool website that tracks all of Baltimore's construction: https://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/maps/crane-watch

Yup, my office is right off inner harbor in harbor east (most would  consider it inner harbor if you are tourist), literally a 3 min walk... adjacent to  our building an apartment complex is going up. I know at least two others that are apartments as well that are going up. And another tower across the street looking out my window now was just completed the end of last year... When I first caught wind of SPQ being redeveloped, I thought that would be Norfolk's jump point, but they contend to redo housing instead of building up its business district. Its sad to see that they raised taxes like that and continue to do it on the backs of their real estate taxes but no one is doing better than ten years before... That's a sad thought.

[Up2313]

Take all of VB and Chesapeakes office parks and put them in DT Norfolk and you have a really dense downtown. The problem is lack of centralization and cohesion. 

[carolinaboy]

I think Norfolk is doing just fine for a city it's size.  I think one of the things overlooked is the sheer amount of existing buildings that have been saved and renovated (instead of being torn down), keeping a lot of the existing urban fabric. It's nice to see high-rises go up no doubt. We've had a few over the last couple of years and have a few more yet to come. No 40 or 50 floor buildings for sure, but what we are getting is nice. I would be worried if there were no projects on the horizon. We have River tower and Gateway tower to look forward to at least.

[HRVA]

NATO to expand Norfolk presence. Specifics are still a few months away but some details here:  https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/norfolk-to-get-nato-expansion/1298843007

[vdogg]

Torn about this. Bringing new people to the region is always a good thing but at what cost? We need to diversify the region's economy away from the military but this is just driving us further in.

[vdogg]

Is the Pilot website down for anyone else?

[urbanvb]

It’s working now on my end.

[Urbanlooker]

40 minutes ago, vdogg said:

Is the Pilot website down for anyone else?

It's down for me right now.

[baobabs727]

The big blue Darth Tower has been sold. Nice price.

http://www.virginiabusiness.com/regions/article/main-street-tower-in-norfolk-sells-for-more-than-18.5-million

 

[skylinefan]

Looks like the Ocean View Landmark Greenies is going to be closing on September 5th and will torn down to make way for parking and increased access to the beach.  Norfolk still loves tearing down buildings and replacing them with ugly parking.  https://wtkr.com/2018/08/17/norfolks-greenies-beach-bar-grille-closing-september-5/

[BFG]

Norfolk doesn't seem to know what they want to do with OV. You could create a bit of nightlife over there, and you don't want this to become another Dome site. Not to say a wave park belongs there, but a parking lot is really weak IMO.

[skylinefan]

Ocean View is one of the fastest growing areas in Norfolk and needs more nightlife not less. 

[Virginia City]

Greenies is not the type of nightlife you want. Drunken sailors and old alcoholics are most of the cliental and you are more like to get an STD from your barstool than you are going to get a pretty girls number.  As a drunken sailor that use to frequent there when I was stationed in Norfolk it really isn't a big lose even if it's nostalgic. 

 

BTW when Norfolk announced they were closing it, The Navy Times newspaper, that is sold in bases all over the world, ran an article about it and they ran another one this week when they announced the date. 

[Willy18]

Went to Greenies once...that was enough for me. 

[skylinefan]

I enjoyed myself at Greenies the two times I went there.  What I liked was how friendly and welcoming the staff and other customers were.  Reminds me of my neighborhood bar in DC which has already been torn down to make way for more over priced Condo/Apartments in a market saturated with them.   Would be great if Greenies could have been renovated and made more welcoming to the increasingly high income people moving to Ocean View. 

[metalman]

The Ferris wheel is coming down.

Edited August 24, 2018 by metalman

[BFG]

City Council will soon vote on a proposed development that would bring 96 townhouses to Ocean View.

https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/major-e-ocean-view-townhome-project-set-for-city-council-vote/291-587045839

I like it, although I get the neighbors' concerns about it being too close to their homes.

[carolinaboy]

This is a very poor attempt, but wouldn't Dominion Tower look cool with a crown/pyramid? Photo taken from Emporis. Poor drawing by me.

[vdogg]

So, for all of you who want Casinos in Norfolk. I'm in Vegas right now... These buildings are ugly as h@ll. Big, blocky, ugly, and gaudy. There are a few buildings that look sleek, but they are few and far between. Their skyscrapers don't make sense, they have plenty of land, more land than Va. Beach actually. It's a very weird, non dense, glossy skyline that doesn't follow the principle of land value driving up height. I do NOT want to see this crap on Norfolk's skyline. No, just... No. You all have lost your minds. 

On 8/24/2018 at 11:12 AM, carolinaboy said:

This is a very poor attempt, but wouldn't Dominion Tower look cool with a crown/pyramid? Photo taken from Emporis. Poor drawing by me.

I posted before even seeing this post, but this looks very Vegas.  I think we need to leave Dominion Tower alone.

[vdogg]

This is the only building I actually liked. I'd love to see something like this in Norfolk. 

[BFG]

1 hour ago, vdogg said:

This is the only building I actually liked. I'd love to see something like this in Norfolk. 

This would look awesome on the Snyder's Lot or Granby Tower site. To have both corners of Granby or both corners of Main bookended by signature hotels with add so much to the nightlife downtown!