Norfolk Off-Topic

[Arctic_Tern]

I'm not sure why y'all are surprised, the layout they showed before was very suburban. Not really a ton of density outside of a few apartment complexes. 

I am pretty certain the new SPQ will have less density than what is pictured above

 

 

 

 

Edited August 5, 2022 by Arctic_Tern

[mintscraft56]

Im honestly in disappointment. The spirit of Norfolk has been replaced by the Spirit of Mount Vernon. Now, Dont get me wrong, the Spirit of MV is a nice ship but its the fact we lost our own identity (Ship wise)  to a place 200 miles away. Its like having the Spirit of Baltimore being replaced by the Spirit of Chicago.  Its just not the spirit of the city its supposed to represent. 

Now as far as I know, this is a permanent replacement of the Spirit of Norfolk. Thoughts?

https://www.dailypress.com/news/vp-nw-spirit-norfolk-cruise-return-20220810-ryco5jv6vfcqlnm4ilnzenzqhm-story.html 

Edited August 15, 2022 by mintscraft56

[EJ_LEWIS]

5 hours ago, mintscraft56 said:

Im honestly in disappointment. The spirit of Norfolk has been replaced by the Spirit of Mount Vernon. Now, Dont get me wrong, the Spirit of MV is a nice ship but its the fact we lost our own identity (Ship wise)  to a place 200 miles away. Its like having the Spirit of Baltimore being replaced by the Spirit of Chicago.  Its just not the spirit of the city its supposed to represent. 

Now as far as I know, this is a permanent replacement of the Spirit of Norfolk. Thoughts?

https://www.dailypress.com/news/vp-nw-spirit-norfolk-cruise-return-20220810-ryco5jv6vfcqlnm4ilnzenzqhm-story.html 

The Spirit of Mount Vernon use to be docked right next to where I live here in DC.  Its a nice looking ship.  I think in time the company will re-christen the ship as the Spirit of Norfolk.   

[mintscraft56]

6 hours ago, EJ_LEWIS said:

The Spirit of Mount Vernon use to be docked right next to where I live here in DC.  Its a nice looking ship.  I think in time the company will re-christen the ship as the Spirit of Norfolk.   

Oh thats good. Im not big into the bad luck stuff but isint christening a ship to an alternate name considered bad luck for ships?

[mintscraft56]

If only we did not demolish half our city....I would have loved to see the Norfolk flatiron building. As many of yall might know, im on the younger side of the Urban planet community with me still being in my lateish teens. So, the downtown I grew up with is much diffrent than what many of you many have seen or grew up with....  Sometimes I dream of the wonder Downtown Norfolk would have been today...
Buit 1918, demolished 1991.

[BFG]

That is one cool building. I could imagine it being a mix of apartments and offices.

[urbanlife]

That flatiron building would have been one of my favorite buildings in the city, but all I ever got to see was the shrubs it was replaced with.

[Norf Native]

I remember the building before it was torn down. The city tried to get a developer to take it over but no one stepped up to the plate. It had deteriorated to the point where it was unsafe so it was demolished. Sad 

[BFG]

Pharrell is bringing a 3-day block party and conference to Norfolk in early-November. I thought I saw that it's happening in the NEON District.

https://www.pilotonline.com/entertainment/festivals/vp-nw-pharrell-mighty-dream-0915-20220914-jgssi6ygxffflow4htsq4c32wi-story.html

[vdogg]

Norfolk is trying to close down Scotty Quixx because, reasons, I guess.... And in their zeal to get a hold of crime downtown, they are now harassing law-abiding businesses there are Norfolk Staples. We're about to have no nightlife downtown, and in turn, all the young professionals that moved downtown are now going to leave. All that progress over the last two decades about to be lost in a single summer. The leadership of Norfolk is idiotic...

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/i-thought-the-city-would-be-more-supportive-of-small-businesses-scotty-quixx-next-on-norfolk-chopping-block/

[BFG]

In my nearly 20 years of hanging out in downtown and Ghent establishments, never once have I heard of even a bar fight at Scotty Quixx. I don’t know their end game but they’re going about this the wrong way. SQ is up there with Baxter’s in terms of spots that are synonymous with Granby Street. I know a bunch of local business owners showed up at the last meeting and I hope they fight this to the finish. 

[vdogg]

3 hours ago, BFG said:

In my nearly 20 years of hanging out in downtown and Ghent establishments, never once have I heard of even a bar fight at Scotty Quixx. I don’t know their end game but they’re going about this the wrong way. SQ is up there with Baxter’s in terms of spots that are synonymous with Granby Street. I know a bunch of local business owners showed up at the last meeting and I hope they fight this to the finish. 

At this point in time I think a lawsuit is in order, preferably class action. If all this businesses downtown band together and try to hit the city in the pocket book, perhaps that will get their attention. Obviously talking to them is not working, the only language this city seems to understand is money, so let's start speaking on their terms.

[baobabs727]

The city leadership is incompetent. I took my money out of Norfolk, and I won’t be going back until there is a massive change in leadership and vision.  But let there be no doubt that the violence must end now. Right now and  by almost any means necessary. And no one should be making any excuses whatsoever for any business owner who’s even one percent culpable, tolerant, permissive or apathetic in the face of such human tragedy. The Apologists can go straight to hell.  

And also….Freemason to Brambleton: Take it back!  I’ve been around long enough to know what it was like before this era…And it was a damn site better and safer and more joyful than it is now.  I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks. It’s about the rule of law. It’s about order in a civil society. It’s about taking my family out at 8 PM and not worrying that somebody’s gonna get his/her head blown off just walking back from dinner.  And if that means somebody can’t get their drink on after 12 AM or brandish a weapon with impunity  to make themselves look like a king, so be it. You’re not going to have your so-called  “fun” at the expense of my life. Violent crime is on the rise around the country.

Wake up people and fight back. Take your cities back. Soft on crime ivory tower morons need to be crushed into oblivion and tossed into the ash bin of history. . 

Edited September 17, 2022 by baobabs727

[baobabs727]

6 hours ago, vdogg said:

Norfolk is trying to close down Scotty Quixx because, reasons, I guess.... And in their zeal to get a hold of crime downtown, they are now harassing law-abiding businesses there are Norfolk Staples. We're about to have no nightlife downtown, and in turn, all the young professionals that moved downtown are now going to leave. All that progress over the last two decades about to be lost in a single summer. The leadership of Norfolk is idiotic...

https://www.wavy.com/news/local-news/norfolk/i-thought-the-city-would-be-more-supportive-of-small-businesses-scotty-quixx-next-on-norfolk-chopping-block/

Is that really your idea of nightlife? Have you actually been in there? Have you been to the one on Birdneck too? Have you seen the crowd? I’m sorry.  We must aim higher. We must aim higher. If those places are somehow our vaunted  “staples,” we suck.  
 

If law and order is somehow uncool, that’s fine with me. If these young professionals actually aspire only to Scotty Quixx and Baxter’s, it’s also fine with me ….as in fine that they leave once their drinking holes have fallen victim to law and order.  

 

Edited September 17, 2022 by baobabs727

[Arctic_Tern]

 

4 hours ago, baobabs727 said:

The city leadership is incompetent. I took my money out of Norfolk, and I won’t be going back until there is a massive change in leadership and vision.  But let there be no doubt that the violence must end now. Right now and  by almost any means necessary. And no one should be making any excuses whatsoever for any business owner who’s even one percent culpable, tolerant, permissive or apathetic in the face of such human tragedy. The Apologists can go straight to hell.  

And also….Freemason to Brambleton: Take it back!  I’ve been around long enough to know what it was like before this era…And it was a damn site better and safer and more joyful than it is now.  I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks. It’s about the rule of law. It’s about order in a civil society. It’s about taking my family out at 8 PM and not worrying that somebody’s gonna get his/her head blown off just walking back from dinner.  And if that means somebody can’t get their drink on after 12 AM or brandish a weapon with impunity  to make themselves look like a king, so be it. You’re not going to have your so-called  “fun” at the expense of my life. Violent crime is on the rise around the country.

Wake up people and fight back. Take your cities back. Soft on crime ivory tower morons need to be crushed into oblivion and tossed into the ash bin of history. . 

What a stupid take

[BFG]

6 hours ago, baobabs727 said:

The city leadership is incompetent. I took my money out of Norfolk, and I won’t be going back until there is a massive change in leadership and vision.  But let there be no doubt that the violence must end now. Right now and  by almost any means necessary. And no one should be making any excuses whatsoever for any business owner who’s even one percent culpable, tolerant, permissive or apathetic in the face of such human tragedy. The Apologists can go straight to hell.  

And also….Freemason to Brambleton: Take it back!  I’ve been around long enough to know what it was like before this era…And it was a damn site better and safer and more joyful than it is now.  I don’t give a damn what anybody thinks. It’s about the rule of law. It’s about order in a civil society. It’s about taking my family out at 8 PM and not worrying that somebody’s gonna get his/her head blown off just walking back from dinner.  And if that means somebody can’t get their drink on after 12 AM or brandish a weapon with impunity  to make themselves look like a king, so be it. You’re not going to have your so-called  “fun” at the expense of my life. Violent crime is on the rise around the country.

Wake up people and fight back. Take your cities back. Soft on crime ivory tower morons need to be crushed into oblivion and tossed into the ash bin of history. . 

Seven people got shot two weeks ago in Norfolk at a house party. Not on Granby. Not on Main. A house party. I’m just as dismayed as anyone else about the crime in Norfolk, and I want changes as well. But council is about to throw the baby out with the bath water with no guarantee of any solution. 

The prior council had a similar problem about 12 years ago when there were shootings at Granby Theater and in Waterside. And to be perfectly honest, they weren’t the most visionary people at times either. They stick their heads in the sand just like VB and need to be called out on that more than anything. Last week’s meeting was a good start as the community spoke out about their issues. 

[vdogg]

On 9/17/2022 at 6:08 PM, baobabs727 said:

Is that really your idea of nightlife? Have you actually been in there? Have you been to the one on Birdneck too? Have you seen the crowd? I’m sorry.  We must aim higher. We must aim higher. If those places are somehow our vaunted  “staples,” we suck.  
 

If law and order is somehow uncool, that’s fine with me. If these young professionals actually aspire only to Scotty Quixx and Baxter’s, it’s also fine with me ….as in fine that they leave once their drinking holes have fallen victim to law and order.  

 

1) Nightlife comes in all sorts of flavors. It doesn’t only consist of what you approve of.

2) No one is trying to be soft on crime or threaten your family, I don’t even know where you got that from. Law abiding businesses should not be harassed in an attempt to look like you’re solving a problem. We’ve had shootings in broad daylight. Closing times have nothing to do with the situation that we face.

3) The VAST majority of crime occurs outside of downtown Norfolk, that it spills over downtown is a symptom of a far larger problem. Until Norfolk gets a handle on it’s gang issue, Nothing will ever change. Downtown businesses are not responsible for the proliferation of gangs in Norfolk…

[vdogg]

Another day, another night club, and people are starting to take notice of how idiotic this policy is...

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-california-burrito-closure-20220920-m2k3lhettvdl7dabcrgrkmlvs4-story.html

Case and point:

"There has also been little explanation from the city government about how shuttering nightclubs will prevent gun violence from occurring. Most of the city’s shootings occur outside the downtown area, according to police data obtained by The Virginian-Pilot."

[vdogg]

The more I think about this, the conspiracy theorist in me can’t help but wonder if this is all a concerted effort to kill nightlife downtown so that people will only have the casino as a valid late night option to go out, and the crime issue is just a convenient smoke screen. These clubs that they’re closing now haven’t had any shooting incidents. I hate to think that way, but it’s only the thing that makes sense about the patchwork way they’re doing this.

[mintscraft56]

Why does the city not understand that it is not the fun that makes the crime. Our police force is down by a good number of officers which in turn lets the bad people get away with alot more things without the fear of getting caught. On the other hand, the city is over here revoking permit after permit over issues from years ago, some dating back to covid lockdown....which if it was a big enough problem, would have been taken care of 2 years ago. Its a big game of excuses. Also for the younger generations which, includes me, we wont really come Downtown if there is nothing to do. Sometimes....you just need to take a step back and consider if what your doing is actually effective. 

[Arctic_Tern]

https://www.pilotonline.com/government/local/vp-nw-scotty-quixx-closed-20220928-gojbuzo3p5dmlfsq3wwz3tfekq-story.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Breaking News&utm_content=6251664323383

I don't want to hear the City try and say its trying to attract young adults and build a 'vibrant downtown' again seeing how hostile they are to what actually builds those things. Stupid moves by the council that are going to kill downtown nightlife.

[BFG]

Such a BS move. You wanna stop violence so much that you go after a longstanding establishment over taxes. It pains me to see this council act so shortsighted after so much progress was made in the last 20 years. What next? Shutting down the NEON District? Lord knows they didn’t want that either. 

EDIT: I shouldn’t be surprised…this is the same council (give or take a few members) that wanted a midnight curfew, almost forbid food trucks, and has a reputation for going after businesses because their signage didn’t match what was on the application. 

Edited September 28, 2022 by BFG

[vdogg]

I give up.  I’m done.  I really just don’t have any hope anymore in the direction of this city. All those years of progress lost, and now Granby will become exactly what it was when I first moved here, a ghost town. So freaking depressing what they’re doing to our city. No words…

[Norva757]

On 9/27/2022 at 10:14 PM, vdogg said:

I give up.  I’m done.  I really just don’t have any hope anymore in the direction of this city. All those years of progress lost, and now Granby will become exactly what it was when I first moved here, a ghost town. So freaking depressing what they’re doing to our city. No words…

We need to be the change that the city needs...one or more of us need to step up and run this city right...get rid of these people that have bad taste and bad decisions

[BFG]

The problem is this is a status quo area, so a lot of constituents don't see a problem with what's going on around here. But I do wish more of the creatives would step up to the plate, either on council or more community events. I'm back in Chesapeake, but I definitely want to do more in Norfolk and HR in general. I'm tired of Charlotte and other mid-sized metros running laps around us.