Norfolk Off-Topic

[BFG]

I'd be okay with it going on Scope, if Chrysler Hall weren't already there, plus the proposed addition for the Virginia Symphony. I don't know if a venue designed to seat 15-17K fits in that tight plaza. If the mall is demolished, Movement Mortgage and Optima likely go elsewhere, along with some of the retail. So it might spark development downtown regardless.

[Urbanlooker]

Military is definitely the easiest and best place is terms of location and really there isn't very many businesses or residents to move. No matter where the arena gets built it will spark development even in downtown. MM and Optima could be moved into the NS building or even in the Gateway tower the other businesses in the mall if they want to stay around the same area they can go in Janaf.

[Arctic_Tern]

Road diets are a tool, and when applied well they can have a tremendous positive effect. Of course, any tool used to just use it will come up with improper use-cases.

The City of Norfolk has applied road diets to Llywellen and 35, to good effect in my opinion. If the city wants St. Pauls Quadrant to become a real part of downtown, then St. Pauls will need to go on a road diet too of some kind.

[baobabs727]

3 hours ago, Arctic_Tern said:

Road diets are a tool, and when applied well they can have a tremendous positive effect. Of course, any tool used to just use it will come up with improper use-cases.

The City of Norfolk has applied road diets to Llywellen and 35, to good effect in my opinion. If the city wants St. Pauls Quadrant to become a real part of downtown, then St. Pauls will need to go on a road diet too of some kind.

I walk Llywellen between 21st & VB Blvd almost daily. There are almost NEVER any bikes using those bike lanes. Like the average bikes-in-designated-lane per hour usage is next to zero. Zero. Every day.

I observed the traffic tool-induced chaos first-hand last time the road flooded.  Similar chaos at peak pm rush hour daily.

But then again, this so-called "road diet" isn't about actually encouraging or promoting bicycling or walking. It's not about physical fitness. It's not even about preventing the flattening of pedestrians crossing the road. Speed limits haven't even been reduced there  to my knowledge. 

Nay, it's more about discouraging people from driving their fossil-fuel burning hoopties. 

And what of the safety of the drivers and the infirmed? Might there be increases in tailgating and fender benders? Longer EMS response times? Are these concerns to be sacrificed for and become secondary to those of the pedestrian...or the goal of reducing our collective carbon footprint?

By the way, whatever happened to personal responsibility? Look before you cross. Don't walk drunk.

Edited April 24, 2019 by baobabs727

[Arctic_Tern]

Dude, it's one road, that's not close to being a major thoroughfare, that becomes a 1 lane road a few hundred feet up anyways. It's not some government conspiracy to get you to stop driving your car. Do you honestly think that local government has the reach, and the ambition to get people to abandon their automobiles because they took literally two lanes out of a whole city grid???

Just because speed limits haven't gone down, doesn't mean that people aren't driving slower. Road diets encourage drivers to drive slower and much closer to the actual posted speed limit than before. This increases safety for pedestrians, bikers, drivers, and yes even the infirm. 

Everybody has personal responsibilities, including the driver. The road is a public place, suitable for cars, bikes, people, and more. Act accordingly. 

[Norfolk757Kid]

Bike ridership increases with protected lanes and connectivity, neither of which Norfolk's bike "network" has much of yet. I ride Llewellyn on a bike a couple times a week to get downtown to work, 7:30 morning commute, 5:30 afternoon back home. Not many bikers agreed, but also never any car traffic. It's just not used that much because there's so many parallel routes cars can take. That's why it's such a good bike route. 

[BFG]

Monticello, beside the Crowne Plaza, is two lanes, then it becomes three once you cross Brambleton. I don't see the harm in making the third lane on the southbound side (towards Waterside Dr.) a bike lane. Headed northbound to the hotel might be a little tricky with the lanes going from three to two a little earlier.

Or create a bike path that goes through SPQ and the City Hall Ave. extension, and somehow connects to Harbor Park, and thus the Elizabeth River Trail.

[Norf Native]

Does anyone know if the ferris wheel is coming back this summer next to Waterside?

[HRVA]

1 hour ago, Norf native said:

Does anyone know if the ferris wheel is coming back this summer next to Waterside?

According to an acquaintance that works there it is not. It was a money loser but they considered it a marketing expense. 

[EJ_LEWIS]

Norfolk is finalizing plans and is seeking public input on the redevelopment of the Harbor Park area.  https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/public-input-needed-for-harbor-park-redevelopment/291-1e842cba-7a11-4b83-9ce6-47b81c57d5cb

[HRVA]

35 minutes ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

Norfolk is finalizing plans and is seeking public input on the redevelopment of the Harbor Park area.  https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/public-input-needed-for-harbor-park-redevelopment/291-1e842cba-7a11-4b83-9ce6-47b81c57d5cb

This is the rendering the city posted on Facebook. 

[BFG]

I know they want green space, but I think that area needs more than just a park. All the simulations I’ve seen for that area show mixed-use development. This wouldn’t be bad somewhere like OV. 

[BeagleAccountant]

3 hours ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

Norfolk is finalizing plans and is seeking public input on the redevelopment of the Harbor Park area.  https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/local/mycity/norfolk/public-input-needed-for-harbor-park-redevelopment/291-1e842cba-7a11-4b83-9ce6-47b81c57d5cb

They announced today that this meeting will be rescheduled to May 15th from 4 to 6.

Edited May 9, 2019 by BeagleAccountant
Date and time released.

[Willy18]

Well, the proposed museum and casino would be a huge boost for the Harbor Park area. 

[Willy18]

What I find strange is that 13 didn't even speak about those two proposals. Is it just lazy journalism/reporting or are these not really on the radar anymore. I know the casino is pretty far down the road...but I would imagine the museum would happen a little sooner.  

[vdogg]

5 hours ago, Willy18 said:

What I find strange is that 13 didn't even speak about those two proposals. Is it just lazy journalism/reporting or are these not really on the radar anymore. I know the casino is pretty far down the road...but I would imagine the museum would happen a little sooner.  

There will be an update on the Casino at the next DNCL meeting in June.

As far as the museum, of all the recent proposals, that was by far the flimsiest. I wouldn't hang my hat on it just yet. It's going to take some time.

[HRVA]

On 4/7/2017 at 11:06 AM, zeppelin14 said:

Anyone have any contact with Buddy Gadams? (I wonder if he reads this website?) I think it is about time the old QS Building on the corner of Bank and Plume gets restored with ground level shops and apartments on the 2nd and 3rd floors. Perfect location that could bring even more people to MacArthur Square. This building would also be a great place to put a rooftop neon billboard like they have in Roanoke. Something flashy but with a classic look where people will bring their camera's out for....


Example of what they have in Roanoke that would look great on top the QS building in Norfolk:

 A 110-year-old Norfolk building becomes a tech-savvy hub for architecture firm

VIA Architects has moved into the former Quality Shops building after more than a year of renovations.    

[Norf Native]

New farmers market opening at O'Connor Brewing this weekend.

https://pilotonline.com/business/consumer/article_720b41c6-8c8f-11e9-a8f8-579c3bb6c4e8.html

Edited June 12, 2019 by Norf native
spelling

[BFG]

Electric scooters are returning to Norfolk, this time legally, and from a different company called Lime.

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/transportation/article_53f0a902-8d15-11e9-a26e-879f5428547c.html?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

[carolinaboy]

14 hours ago, BFG said:

Electric scooters are returning to Norfolk, this time legally, and from a different company called Lime.

https://pilotonline.com/news/local/transportation/article_53f0a902-8d15-11e9-a26e-879f5428547c.html?__vfz=medium%3Dsharebar

I'm not sure how I feel about scooters. Not that my opinion matters.

How do you guys/gals feel about them?

[EJ_LEWIS]

I hate the scooters because some of the inconsiderate kids zoom by at 15 mph or higher almost colliding with pedestrians on the sidewalk.  I live in DC and one of the city councilmen said that citizens ask him all the time to do something about these scooters..  We had a guy killed on one of these things.  I don't like how they were rolled out. 

[Willy18]

I don't have a problem with them...just another way to get around an urban area. If adults don't want to wear helmets or safety equipment then that's their decision. I personally wouldn't ride without those items. 

Can't blame the scooter on his death....there was a person on the scooter and driver in the car. One of them was at fault.

As for the kids, they will zoom past on bikes, skateboards, hover boards or what ever mommy and daddy buy them, so again can't really blame scooters. 

 

[BFG]

And the scooters have arrived!

[BFG]

I see they tore down the old Uptown Buffet (former Chi-Chi’s) on Military Hwy. and are doing some site work there. Anyone know what they’re putting there?

[Norfolk757Kid]

All this talk about Fort Norfolk (Atlantic City) recently got me curious about the big empty lot on the river at the very end of Colley, 701 Front Street according to the map. I assumed it was owned by the city because it's used for Harborfest and Opsail to dock ships, but Norfolk Air cites a private company as its owner (Harbor Point Investors). This is the key lot to the whole neighborhood, and 701 is big enough to be a mini neighborhood in itself.  I keep thinking of the Wharf in DC when I look at Fort Norfolk and this lot for some reason. Anyone know of any scrapped plans for 701?