Norfolk Off-Topic

[carolinaboy]

Each city is it's own legal/corporate entity. Although it would be great for more inter-city cooperation I don't know if it should be expected. Each city has it's own elected officials, management, etc. Each has their own vision of its future. Each has it's own means and ways. 

What is the cooperation like between other neighboring cities that make up the same metro? How well do Raleigh and Durham cooperate? How well do Richmond and Petersburg cooperate?  Tampa and St Petersburg? I guess I just don't know.

For large projects with obvious benefits to each city, there should be as much cooperation to the extent possible. But VA Beach shouldn't be beholden to Norfolk just to make something happen and vise-versa.

[Mountain_Junior]

Interesting article here on Rockville, MD and their approach to urban renewal and development. It’s germane I think as Norfolk looks at how to tackle things like MacArthur Mall and other locations.

https://www.strongtowns.org/journal/2021/10/29/a-drive-through-the-ugliest-place-in-maryland-part-2


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[Icetera]

56 minutes ago, Asdfjkl; said:

Maybe at least read the comments in the forum before posting? It would have answered your question. 

The results out of Richmond were also discussed in the relevant Norfolk thread, making the idea that the situation in Richmond was not known extra unlikely.

[mintscraft56]

7 hours ago, Asdfjkl; said:

Maybe at least read the comments in the forum before posting? It would have answered your question. 

All they were talking about were casino opportunities and I was just looking for a quick answer not an essay of comments to read

6 hours ago, Icetera said:

The results out of Richmond were also discussed in the relevant Norfolk thread, making the idea that the situation in Richmond was not known extra unlikely.

My question is where are they. Im getting the sense its not good, sure. But I am the type for quick answers not essays. I didnt mean to offend Richmond or its people. Sorry. 

[Icetera]

25 minutes ago, mintscraft56 said:

All they were talking about were casino opportunities and I was just looking for a quick answer not an essay of comments to read

My question is where are they. Im getting the sense its not good, sure. But I am the type for quick answers not essays. I didnt mean to offend Richmond or its people. Sorry. 

I do not think any offense has been taken, but you definitely confused the hell out of us.  All good.

[BFG]

I’m in Charlottesville for the weekend and part of their downtown is pedestrian-only. It reminds me of Granby Mall from the late-70s, and now part of me wants to see this happen again, but only for a few blocks. Maybe Granby from the intersection of City Hall Ave. to College Place or Freemason St?

If they had more businesses, I’d say block off the Granby side of the NEON District. 

[Virginia City]

On 11/6/2021 at 3:54 PM, BFG said:

I’m in Charlottesville for the weekend and part of their downtown is pedestrian-only. It reminds me of Granby Mall from the late-70s, and now part of me wants to see this happen again, but only for a few blocks. Maybe Granby from the intersection of City Hall Ave. to College Place or Freemason St?

If they had more businesses, I’d say block off the Granby side of the NEON District. 

Isn't Granby Mall what killed Downtown Norfolk in the first place?

[BFG]

I believe so, but I think if they take the lessons from Granby Mall and maybe not block off the entire street from Brambleton all the way to City Hall Ave. it has a better shot. 

Or just open up MacArthur and do the same thing there. 

[urbanlife]

On 11/9/2021 at 10:11 PM, Virginia City said:

Isn't Granby Mall what killed Downtown Norfolk in the first place?

The problem with Granby Mall was that no one lived down there and the pedestrian activity was basically nonexistent at the time, especially after 5pm when everyone left downtown after work turning it into a ghost town. With all of that against it, Granby Mall just turned into a strip where drug dealers and prostitutes could hang out because no one was around to care other than people looking for shady activities. 

[EJ_LEWIS]

Norfolk to build park on Sewell's Point Road in the 5 points neighborhood.  I like this idea only if the park sparks redevelopment of this under utilized area.  I can see apartments and condos surrounding the park.  

https://www.13newsnow.com/video/news/local/mycity/norfolk/community-park-coming-to-norfolks-sewells-point-road-norview-avenue-intersection/291-bc34c57e-0b6e-4679-9aa3-199349a9c1d6

[virginia pe]

The 13News story says this project will take 16-18 months to complete.  There are no buildings, just an open park with some fabric shelters.   Four hours after EJ_Lewis posted this article,  varider posted on the 400 Gravity thread.  The Breeden Companies say they will build a six-story apartment building in 22 months.  I must be missing something. 

 

[Arctic_Tern]

12 hours ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

Norfolk to build park on Sewell's Point Road in the 5 points neighborhood.  I like this idea only if the park sparks redevelopment of this under utilized area.  I can see apartments and condos surrounding the park.  

https://www.13newsnow.com/video/news/local/mycity/norfolk/community-park-coming-to-norfolks-sewells-point-road-norview-avenue-intersection/291-bc34c57e-0b6e-4679-9aa3-199349a9c1d6

They tore down Hershee's for this? What a bad look for the city, absolutely disappointing. 

[mintscraft56]

Seems like they are redesigning the HRT bus routes in Norfolk only. Hopefully we can get some better bus stop locations IN downtown to give it a big city vibe

Edited November 16, 2021 by mintscraft56

[EJ_LEWIS]

I know this is only a park, but I'm hoping its construction will spark revitalization of this under utilized part of the city and possibly lead to the construction of Apartments and Condos in the area. 

[mintscraft56]

New HRT Routes from Downtown Norfolk to Summit Pointe! This should boost travel between the two urban areas. Also im wondering if they will even put a single bus stop in the Actual downtown core.... though I guess since the transit center is close enough I dont think we will see busses in our downtown streets like any other city unless of course they are driving by.

MORE  on the HRT changes here :https://gohrt.com/alert/november-2021-service-changes/

 

A great deal of these new routes connect to Downtown Norfolk

[brikkman]

On 11/15/2021 at 10:46 PM, Arctic_Tern said:

They tore down Hershee's for this? What a bad look for the city, absolutely disappointing. 

LOL, me and my mom have been screaming about that the entire time, lol. But yeah, its pretty typical of Norfolk leadership right? Right now it actually looks worst than before. This doesn't mean much, but I'm from that area, it won't work. As the gentlemen stated, its wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much traffic in that area. Not sure where you could have put something like that in Norview "today", but it really was a bad idea. No way they tore down Hershey's with THAT in mind. This seem more like an after thought after something else perhaps fell through?

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by brikkman

[lammius]

15 hours ago, brikkman said:

LOL, me and my mom have been screaming about that the entire time, lol. But yeah, its pretty typical of Norfolk leadership right? Right now it actually looks worst than before. This doesn't mean much, but I'm from that area, it won't work. As the gentlemen stated, its wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy too much traffic in that area. Not sure where you could have put something like that in Norview "today", but it really was a bad idea. No way they tore down Hershey's with THAT in mind. This seem more like an after thought after something else perhaps fell through?

 

Man, Hershee is gone??  The Garage was closed a few years ago.  Anything left?  Is the Wave (gross) still around? 

[mintscraft56]

I wish the topics on Norfolk were a little more active.

To up the discussion in here I really want to know the truth on Norfolk's Population. Apperently we are dropping at rates that haven't been seen since the white flight of the late 60s- early 90s.

In other words we dropped almost more than 2% witch is alot considering we have been recovering population slowly before the 2020 census 

[mintscraft56]

To make matters even worse Richmond and Arlington are said to be actively  pushing us down to 7th or 6th depending if NN's population growth over takes us as well. 

 

Edited November 23, 2021 by mintscraft56

[vdogg]

1 hour ago, mintscraft56 said:

I wish the topics on Norfolk were a little more active.

Unfortunately, a forum's activity is directly proportional to the amount of development going on. As things start picking up, posts will as well. Back in 2004 (beginning of the Granby Tower years) I could barely keep up with the number of posts in this forum.

[BFG]

3 hours ago, lammius said:

Man, Hershee is gone??  The Garage was closed a few years ago.  Anything left?  Is the Wave (gross) still around? 

Wave is still on Hampton Colley. Last time I drove down there at night it looked pretty busy. I think Rainbow Cactus still exists in VB, but it's disappointing that Norfolk shut down such a progressive bar for a park.

ETA: Colley Ave. not Hampton Blvd.

Edited November 23, 2021 by BFG

[EJ_LEWIS]

1 hour ago, mintscraft56 said:

To make matters even worse Richmond and Arlington are said to be actively  pushing us down to 7th or 6th depending if NN's population growth over takes us as well. 

 

I don't believe the census numbers for Norfolk.  I would hope the city would appeal the census count.  In the 2010 census Norfolk gained population after an appeal.  

1 minute ago, BFG said:

Wave is still on Hampton. Last time I drove down there at night it looked pretty busy. I think Rainbow Cactus still exists in VB, but it's disappointing that Norfolk shut down such a progressive bar for a park.

The owner of Hershee's has a new restaurant I thought.  I just saw a video on her new restaurant.  Can't remember the name. 

[mintscraft56]

54 minutes ago, vdogg said:

Unfortunately, a forum's activity is directly proportional to the amount of development going on. As things start picking up, posts will as well. Back in 2004 (beginning of the Granby Tower years) I could barely keep up with the number of posts in this forum.

I wonder if the tower project could be revitalized. They did it with Hilton main i bet they could with granby. 

53 minutes ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

I don't believe the census numbers for Norfolk.  I would hope the city would appeal the census count.  In the 2010 census Norfolk gained population after an appeal.  

The owner of Hershee's has a new restaurant I thought.  I just saw a video on her new restaurant.  Can't remember the name. 

I dont either. Its hard to say we lost population yet we have had downtown and surrounding areas grow not only in traffic but in construction and residential projects 

[Icetera]

19 hours ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

I don't believe the census numbers for Norfolk.  I would hope the city would appeal the census count.  In the 2010 census Norfolk gained population after an appeal.

This.  As has been stated before, both Norfolk's and Richmond's appear significantly lower than expected.  I imagine this is the case with most cities and related to the supposedly lowest national growth rate in nearly a century.

[EJ_LEWIS]

I understand that there has been a lot of growth in the Ocean View area.  These census numbers seem inaccurate.