Norfolk Off-Topic

[carolinaboy]

6 hours ago, urbanlife said:

I so wish American cities wouldn't have gotten rid of their streetcar systems. Norfolk should definitely be focusing on expanding their light rail system for themselves. Having a second line run from Midtown through downtown to Military Circle and end at the airport would be a great line to add to the system. 

I believe it is important for Norfolk to extend both ways; to the base (via ODU) and to the airport (via military circle). This would give one line connecting major places together. Then future routes may be considered to other areas if needed.

[BFG]

On 2/11/2022 at 6:44 PM, varider said:

From Dept of Development FB 

 

I missed today's Zoom meetings, but plan to watch tomorrow. I'll take notes and relay the Cliff's Notes.

[Norva757]

17 hours ago, mintscraft56 said:

That being said, The airport would be crucial to connect to the light rail system. But they are holding back  because the rail is not preforming well enough to their standards. Though that confuses me because they should know that the current line does not serve where everyone may need to go. One line with a few stops isint going to attract everyone. 

Oh nice we got a fresh new page.

Biggest problem is getting federal funding....they will be looking at those numbers and also who else  asking for those budgeted funds....norfolk will be low on the list

[vdogg]

There's a reason why a lot of area projects have been slow to start. Always seems to be something standing in the way of us truly taking off...

https://www.pilotonline.com/business/vp-bz-construction-costs-0206-20220214-v2vz26kr5vfcfpqwes3xn5phr4-story.html

[urbanlife]

On 2/15/2022 at 6:09 AM, carolinaboy said:

I believe it is important for Norfolk to extend both ways; to the base (via ODU) and to the airport (via military circle). This would give one line connecting major places together. Then future routes may be considered to other areas if needed.

This is something a second line could achieve better than the existing line. Having a new line that runs from the airport, connects to the existing line through downtown, then have it branch off at Monticello. From there it would run up to this midtown district which it would turn onto 26th and 27th using those two one way streets to run out to Hampton Blvd. Then running up Hampton Blvd through ODU and ending at the gate of the Naval Base. 

With something like that, a future line could then be extended off of where this line would turn onto 26th/27th and have it run up Granby to Ocean View. 

[BFG]

I attended today. It was mostly an informal discussion of what we'd like to see, and the issues that plague Norfolk. The conversations basically built themselves as we went along; in other words there wasn't a concrete agenda.

Some of the topics discussed:

• The need for more open/green spaces
• Street entertainment
• Night life
• Opportunities for small biz owners (esp. minorities)
• Integration and connecting the nearby communities; Park Place is still seen as "the wrong side of the tracks"
• Amenities that attract and retain talent
• Focusing on revitalization the same way Norfolk did for downtown
• Food/retail deserts

They also provided an email address for anyone with ideas or feedback, [email protected] The next meeting is tonight at 6 pm. https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86952707239

[Norva757]

Norfolk doesn't need more green space. Norfolks land is super under utilized. Need to urbanize a lot more before talking about more green space....This is why we are where we are and we will never grow to our full potential

[varider]

I’m just thrilled we’re even at this stage in any “midtown” redevelopment. The green space we do have is underutilized, and the city could definitely benefit from more $$ invested in parks and open spaces. Either way, NFK has come a very, very long way, and we all should be very proud of how far we’ve come. As soon as all of our little pockets of activity / vibrancy are connected and blight in between eliminated, I think we’ll see a huge shift in attitudes and perceptions towards living in NFK, and it wouldn’t take much to see transformative projects and reinvestment in once-forgotten neighborhoods.

[mintscraft56]

How much green space to they want? I get the need for urban parks but this city is truly not to the point where that is anywhere near being a crisis situation. More than 30% of the city is still green.  And about other news. When they say "revitalization" are they thinking of pulling the old 60s wrecking ball or are they talking about proper build before you destroy type stuff?

[mintscraft56]

Anyone know why Searching Norfolk Turns up nothing in the searches for me? 

 

I had to pioneer through the browse tab on this website to find our city,

[Icetera]

14 hours ago, mintscraft56 said:

Anyone know why Searching Norfolk Turns up nothing in the searches for me? 

 

I had to pioneer through the browse tab on this website to find our city,

It does not look like the search feature is currently functioning at all.

[BFG]

Paul Riddick announces he’s not running for re-election. https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/after-30-years-norfolk-councilman-paul-riddick-wont-run-for-re-election/amp/

[vdogg]

I understand the need to find a solution to gun violence, but cutting bar hours is stupid and not something that a major city does. Such ridiculous small town thinking! I hope no one else on council buys in to that idiotic idea. You're going to kill downtown nightlife, Granby street will be dead. Why would anyone bother coming down there when all the other localities stay open till 2? Furthermore, how is that an actual solution? You're just as dead if you get shot before midnight as you are when you're shot after. No words...

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-norfolk-city-council-gun-violence-20220323-e6qb3nz25naohpbvmh2sps4sqa-story.html

[brikkman]

1 hour ago, vdogg said:

I understand the need to find a solution to gun violence, but cutting bar hours is stupid and not something that a major city does. Such ridiculous small town thinking! I hope no one else on council buys in to that idiotic idea. You're going to kill downtown nightlife, Granby street will be dead. Why would anyone bother coming down there when all the other localities stay open till 2? Furthermore, how is that an actual solution? You're just as dead if you get shot before midnight as you are when you're shot after. No words...

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-norfolk-city-council-gun-violence-20220323-e6qb3nz25naohpbvmh2sps4sqa-story.html

I can't read the pilot's article, but I saw wavy's version of it. Is there any mention of the frequency of other incidents similar to this? DT Norfolk seems to be one of the safest places in the city, however, when one incident happens seems like everyone goes crazy.

[BFG]

The Pilot alluded to general violence in the city, but mainly talked about the Chicho's shooting. 

I agree things have gotten out of hand in Norfolk and we do need a solution. However, closing two hours earlier is not the answer, and given that businesses are still recovering from revenue lost during the pandemic, I could see bar owners fighting this proposal. And they should...this is throwing the baby out with the bathwater. The shooting was senseless and unfortunate, but it also could've happened at a bar in Ghent, OV, Greenbrier, Town Center, or even at someone's house.

[varider]

The violence is heartbreaking and continues to put a damper on things and all of the progress we’ve made over the last 15 years. I’ve never really seen Granby St after midnight, but there is always a noticeable shift in the vibe the later it gets in the night, and the police are generally nowhere to be found. However, from my perspective and experience, I think an earlier closing time is absolutely a terrible idea. Instead of restricting hours and night life options, the city actually needs to help to support night life and more diverse entertainment options, and figure out a way to enforce the law and deter at least some crime and protect innocent victims and bystanders. Killing off whatever nightlife exists today would only make the problem worse in the future. The city and 757 in general need more nightlife, maybe even later hours, so that people don’t congregate in the streets at 2AM,, frustrated and drunk, looking for someone to get into an altercation with. The only way to fight this is with more activity, more and higher end nightlife opportunities, and a better policing strategy, with the good people of the region that are looking for a fun, safe time at night to overwhelm the criminal element that is always lurking near. We can’t give up the fight. 

[brikkman]

I'm lost. I've seen at least 3 different articles and videos and no one has stated crime statics of any sort. In fact, its only been the mention of this particular incident. This is a PR nightmare perhaps lead by the media that needs a good story? No one finds this unusual at all but me? Typically in the past, these kinds of mentions are fortified by some type of stats, but this is the 2nd time I believe in about 15 years where this type of news has hit (the other was the parking deck incident) with no type of stats to back it up the reaction. I'm not saying it isn't needed, but this seems like a more media led response and then the city responding to that more so than anything.

[mintscraft56]

Apparently Norfolk is No.10 best city in the United States for getting Pizza. Hell, I never knew it! https://anytimeestimate.com/research/best-pizza-cities-2022/#detroit 

[mintscraft56]

Norfolk just had another shooting in Downtown at MacArthur Centre......This is the type of stuff that makes national news and destroys our reputation. Our city is going to get bad light because of some idiots fighting over who knows what. https://www.13newsnow.com/article/news/crime/norfolk-police-1-man-dead-two-other-people-injured-in-shooting-at-macarthur-center/291-2deda8d7-e38d-442c-9d64-6800704ef1d1

[mintscraft56]

Its not nice to wake up to the news blaring about more shootings directly in our city downtown. People are discussing about how Norfolk is dangerous and not safe for tourist.  

[varider]

Each incident in itself is tragic, but in total its truly gotten to a level where I am shocked and truly disappointed that we’ve gotten to this point. I have always worried about crime and the perception thereof especially in the perspective of us trying to grow the city and transform into a better version of Norfolk, but the reality is that people are going where they feel safe and I honestly can’t blame them at all. I think that my love/bias and just familiarity with Norfolk has led me to never feel unsafe, and I hope that continues, but I guess with the city’s relative success with redevelopment downtown and more people from all walks of life there’s just going to be more conflict and the problems we’ve always had are just being magnified, but if the city can only put at most a few police officers on duty in the entire DT area, then I would not blame anyone who chose to live, work, visit, literally anywhere but Norfolk. The residents fill up Council meetings in protest over the Monument Cos. redevelopment of blight into market rate apartments, but you can count on one hand the number of people who speak up about all of the violence in the streets. Norfolk has cruise ships coming, patriotic fest, Kevin hart,  VT ODU, Harborfest, new apartments and grocery stores, and talks of light rail expansions and arenas, and casinos and floodwalls and bike lanes / trails and literally most of what we’ve always dreamed of. In a better world, the city could police itself and the 1 or 2 patrols would be enough, but clearly we need some sort of deterrent, and cameras in the both the streets and in city parking lots should be the bare minimum. The mall needs to go ASAP and we need it to be replaced by something for this generation like the mall  was for the area in its prime. A place that attracts  people consistently from the entire region. In the end, hopefully what’s good with the city will prevail over the criminal element, but it’s still so unfortunate and I hope we can do better. 

[BFG]

When the Granby St. Chicho's shooting happened, I told people that as unfortunate and unnecessary as this shooting was, it could've happened anywhere. While the same applies here, my heart breaks hearing that three people died and about a half-dozen more were injured in two downtown shootings, both in less than a month's time.

As much as MacArthur needs a new game plan, I'm afraid it's no more of a guarantee than the midnight curfew that council proposed a few weeks ago. However from a tourism and business development standpoint, this is definitely not a good look for Norfolk and something's got to give. The MacArthur incident happened around dinner time, so obviously a midnight curfew is now a moot point (not that I ever agreed with the idea in the first place).

[varider]

On a much brighter note, 

https://www.wavy.com/news/virginia/youngkin-making-announcement-at-odu-on-tuesday/?fbclid=IwAR09QdksSvugdrovEewNKN12eiFt413KKDPbijdS2ULOwycy-UUQAXt3Ew0

Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin has announced a sports medicine company will be coming to the Innovation Research Park at Old Dominion University, creating 92 jobs.

[baobabs727]

https://www.linkedin.com/company/embody-incorporated

Linkedin page for EMBODY.   A biomedical company working on new treatments for soft tissue injuries.

Edited April 5, 2022 by baobabs727

[mintscraft56]

Sounds good! About time Norfolk sees something good. On a brighter side the state of the city is soon and I am interested to see what epic projects they might have in store. If we are lucky we might get a surprise but heh, its doubtful. 

<<EDIT>> We got a fresh new page! Nice!

Edited April 6, 2022 by mintscraft56