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Norfolk Off-Topic


vdogg

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On 8/13/2019 at 9:34 AM, brikkman said:
On 8/2/2019 at 12:11 PM, BFG said:

The Pilot says one of his top priorities is getting SPQ off the ground. I don’t know how much of that area is set in stone, but I do wonder if he will try and get more businesses over there and make that a true extension of downtown?

SPQ?

 

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  • 2 weeks later...

I wish I had a better understanding of the city manager vs city council's relationship. It was my understanding that the city manager carries out the wishes of the city council and handles the day to day workings of city hall. He gives the impression he is strategizing (sp*) Norfolk's future. I'm a little lost in this connection.

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Think of the city manager as a CEO and the city council as the board members. Strategy is essential for an company or in this case a city to plan for the future and succeed. 

Cities are in a way in competition with one another to attract people and businesses. Cities that don't plan, respond to change, or grow become less desirable compared to other cities. 

Edited by Up2313
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The way Chip spoke, it makes it seem like the city manager is closer to the pulse of economic trends, among other things, and passes along suggestions or recommendations to council, with no pressure. I said this a few weeks ago, but I imagine he’ll offer his two cents on the development of SPQ. 

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Today's work session includes updates on the Hotel and Casino plans. I dunno if the 4:30 meeting is streamed, but I imagine the Pilot may have more info. As for tonight's meeting, this caught my eye.

PH-2 PUBLIC HEARING scheduled this day under the State law, public notice having been inserted in the local press by the City Clerk, to hear comments on the issuance of Notes on a revolving line of credit basis pursuant to which the City will be able to borrow, repay, and reborrow the principal amount of the Notes, provided that no more than $200,000,000 in principal amount of the Notes will be outstanding at any time.

Future arena funding, perhaps? I would think the city's contribution would be about 200M, with the rest coming from naming rights and sales tax increases, etc., and I can't think of too many other public projects requiring that kind of money.

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18 minutes ago, BFG said:

Today's work session includes updates on the Hotel and Casino plans. I dunno if the 4:30 meeting is streamed, but I imagine the Pilot may have more info. As for tonight's meeting, this caught my eye.

 

 

Future arena funding, perhaps? I would think the city's contribution would be about 200M, with the rest coming from naming rights and sales tax increases, etc., and I can't think of too many other public projects requiring that kind of money.

Authorization to Renew Revolving Credit

Looks like they’re trying to take advantage of lower interest rates. It’s an extension of an existing credit line that is capped at $200 million and is for CIP projects. 

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I walked through Monticello Arcade yesterday, and Work Place Architects (WPA) has an office there. From the main atrium of Monticello, you can see some of WPA's proposed or future projects. One of those projects appears to be something related to MacArthur Center. I couldn't make out details, so I'm not sure if it's the proposed Starwood property or a complete overhaul, but I do wonder whether we'll see something in the next few months?

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2 hours ago, BFG said:

I walked through Monticello Arcade yesterday, and Work Place Architects (WPA) has an office there. From the main atrium of Monticello, you can see some of WPA's proposed or future projects. One of those projects appears to be something related to MacArthur Center. I couldn't make out details, so I'm not sure if it's the proposed Starwood property or a complete overhaul, but I do wonder whether we'll see something in the next few months?

This caught me off guard, we have a Works PA in Portland and at first I thought you were talking about them, but looking up WPA in Norfolk, they look like a young firm that is doing some really quality work for Norfolk and that metro. Good to see architecture firms like this in Norfolk.

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Wondering if the Hampton Roads chamber of commerce is coalescing around the idea of a new arena in Downtown Norfolk the most urban city in the area?  Here is a quote from the Insidebiz article about the Chamber's recent visit to Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill, NC:  "The attendees liked what they saw when touring the PNC Arena in Raleigh but thought a Hampton Roads version should be closer to an urban center. "

https://www.pilotonline.com/inside-business/vp-ib-chamber-meeting-1014-20191010-urykmo5dyje6dpp6ezptj7yf3m-story.html

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I know that Chesapeake and Virginia Beach's mayors are open to the idea of helping Norfolk.

https://www.pilotonline.com/inside-business/vp-ib-raleigh-folo-1007-20191003-q3ca47hyevaj5jdsrf6umm5pf4-story.html

But that's the most I've seen about potential locations. Military Circle is roughly the same distance from downtown. I thought the current Walmart near Town Center would've made for a much better location in VB. Wherever the location, I think being close to the 64-264 or 264-464 interchange are critical.

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On ‎10‎/‎10‎/‎2019 at 3:32 PM, BFG said:

I know that Chesapeake and Virginia Beach's mayors are open to the idea of helping Norfolk.

https://www.pilotonline.com/inside-business/vp-ib-raleigh-folo-1007-20191003-q3ca47hyevaj5jdsrf6umm5pf4-story.html

But that's the most I've seen about potential locations. Military Circle is roughly the same distance from downtown. I thought the current Walmart near Town Center would've made for a much better location in VB. Wherever the location, I think being close to the 64-264 or 264-464 interchange are critical.

I feel like the Triangle and HR share a lot of commonalities. Although the distance to get from once city to the other is a little greater in the triangle, you still have the one city that feels like it's better than all the others (Cary/Virginia Beach), the two cities who want to be the top dog (Raleigh/Durham, NFK/VB), the one city that the others look down on (Portsmouth/Durham) and instead of building up they continue to spread further and furher out for overproced Ryan homes planned subdivisions. The bigggest difference I've noticed is that the Triangle is growing by leaps and bounds and HR is continuing to go in circles.

Edited by michael ary
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24 minutes ago, BFG said:

Someone on the Reddit Norfolk page mentioned that crews are laying concrete on that space. Are they beginning site work?

I would expect more site work prior to concrete being poured. Based on the description & that there hasn’t been anything come through ARB or Council - it’s probably something to support the various events they hold throughout the year. 

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17 hours ago, 23320 said:

I would expect more site work prior to concrete being poured. Based on the description & that there hasn’t been anything come through ARB or Council - it’s probably something to support the various events they hold throughout the year. 

More than likely for the annual ice skating rink that goes in that spot.

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9 hours ago, vdogg said:

More than likely for the annual ice skating rink that goes in that spot.

I walked by a few days ago, and noticed that they layed down the saline tubes for the ice rink( the large pad in the southwest corner). I would guess the smaller pads are for the various flat rides in the winter carnival. They seem to be in the same locations of some of the larger rides last year.

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