Virginia Beach off-topic

[ronsmytheiii]

"What I've learned is that when you live in a touristy area, things get real stale during the winter," said Rich Cubin, co-owner of Rink Specialists. The City Council on Tuesday unanimously voted to hire the company to build a temporary rink in Neptune's Park at 31st Street and Atlantic Ave. Under a pilot program, the company will construct a 125- by 60-foot rink covered by a big heavy-duty tent. It's scheduled to open Nov. 25 and close Feb. 15. About 250 could skate at one time, Cubin said. Light shows are planned.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/planners-h...front-offseason

Should note that it has a maximum life expectancy of only a few years, until the dome site project is completed

[varider]

This is an extremely off topic rant:

That Charlotte blogger that said VaBeach was the 'city to watch' kind of got my mind thinking about the future of the city.

It's actually crazy how a 46 year old city is already the 40th biggest city in America with no true urban core. We have a few fortune 1000 companies and what not, but nothing to write home about. No major sports teams or colleges. Yet it's home to almost 1/2 million people. This leads me to believe that the City by the Sea has a chance to become a major american city in the future.Imagine the city with some fortune 100 companies, nba team, light rail, world class downtown + international resort. Everyone loves VaBeach. It's a great city with a great vibe, but it is very young. My mother is older than the city lol! Follow the natural progression of cities and Atlanta was in the same position as VaBeach 25-30 years ago. Actually in 1980, Atlanta had the EXACT same population as VB does now. While Va Beach had half it's population. Who knows. Maybe in 25-30 years, VB will have a million residents. With all the SGA's, the city definately will look much better and more of a city. We got to #40 with suburban subdivisions. Maybe with the urban SGA's planned throughout the city we can get break the top 20. What to do you guys think? Maybe Virginia Beach is the next Charlotte or Atlanta?

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/planners-h...front-offseason

Should note that it has a maximum life expectancy of only a few years, until the dome site project is completed

just copying MacArthur on Ice

[urbanlife]

I have said that before, if VB plays its cards right it could easily become the next Charlotte or Atlanta...and if they stay the course with this Pembroke plan they have, and do this for other districts throughout the city, then start talking about connecting their own urban districts together with light rail, it would be easy to see VB becoming the next "it city" in the south east.

[varider]

I have said that before, if VB plays its cards right it could easily become the next Charlotte or Atlanta...and if they stay the course with this Pembroke plan they have, and do this for other districts throughout the city, then start talking about connecting their own urban districts together with light rail, it would be easy to see VB becoming the next "it city" in the south east.

The comprehensive plan with all the Strategic Growth Areas has been finalized and will be on the City's website in the beginning of October. So, the groundwork has been laid. Now is the time for the implementation. It's crazy how Virginia Beach is so crowded already with a bunch of sprawly neighborhoods. I really can't get over that.

The light rail extension from Newtown goes through the majority of the SGA's, so it's setting up to be perfect urban planning.

[ronsmytheiii]

Ok guys, someone needs to take some pictures, I'm getting home sick.....

[Achilles]

Hey, everyone. I'm new here. I don't know if anyone's posted any threads about this yet, but the Virginia Aquarium will be opening its Restless Planet exhibit on Nov. 21st. There are going to be Komodo dragons, rare tomistoma crocodiles, and a 40-foot acrylic tunnel through a Red Sea-themed tank, among other things. It's been advertised extensively on the Pilot, but I didn't know if anyone here really knew much about it. I think when Restless Planet opens this fall--along with the Virginia Zoo's new Trail of the Tiger exhibits in 2010--they will serve as major draws to the area and encourage people who vacation here to return every summer.

[RJWGMU]

Hey, everyone. I'm new here. I don't know if anyone's posted any threads about this yet, but the Virginia Aquarium will be opening its Restless Planet exhibit on Nov. 21st. There are going to be Komodo dragons, rare tomistoma crocodiles, and a 40-foot acrylic tunnel through a Red Sea-themed tank, among other things. It's been advertised extensively on the Pilot, but I didn't know if anyone here really knew much about it. I think when Restless Planet opens this fall--along with the Virginia Zoo's new Trail of the Tiger exhibits in 2010--they will serve as major draws to the area and encourage people who vacation here to return every summer.

Welcome!

No, I personally have not seen anything on the forums yet about that but it does sound pretty cool.

I must however respectfully disagree with your comment about the aquarium and the zoo being a major draw to the area... The reason being is that the aquarium is a secondary feature of the tourist draw, which is the beach itself. Sure it is something to do while they are here, but they wouldn't be here without the beach. The zoo is too far for any VB tourists to go I would think, but it may be a draw for people visiting Norfolk. Again though, people don't just visit Norfolk unless they are on a cruise or visiting family/friends. I would argue that the zoo is secondary as well. I am sure it may be on the list of things to do that make a family choose one beach over the other (not this specifically but looking overall at all they can do) but again, the main draw is the beach itself.

PS: Who knows, maybe I am reading too much into what you said... if so, sorry!

Once again, welcome!

Edited October 10, 2009 by RJWGMU

[varider]

Every respectable city has an aquarium and a zoo lol. That's why it's not really a draw.

[Achilles]

Yeah, RJWGMU and varider, both of y'all are right. Lol. Actually, Charlotte and a couple other major cities lack an aquarium or zoo of their own, and yet, they are respectable cities, but that's beyond the point. I think I just got carried away because I'm a bit of an aquarium enthusiast and grew up with the VA Aquarium (or Virginia Marine Science Museum as it was once called). I shouldn't have said a MAJOR draw; that was a bit of an overstatement, but it is definitely an improvement to quality of the area and will make vacationers experiences in VA Beach more enjoyable. Whenever I hear about people who come to VA Beach for vacation, they almost always go to the VA Aquarium when it's a rainy day. I guess, if we can get those extensions on the starter line for The Tide, we could make it so beachgoers have easy access to the VA Zoo, too.

The way I view these new additions to the VA Aquarium are the way I view the National Aquarium in Baltimore, which is a very nice aquarium btw. If the aquarium wasn't there, I'd have absolutely no reason to go to Baltimore's Inner Harbor. In fact, the NAB was ranked as the largest tourist attraction in the state of Maryland in 2005 (well, according to Wikipedia, but I'm willing to believe it) and played a major role in revitalizing Baltimore's waterfront. Don't get me wrong; Harborplace isn't bad, but it's not enough for me to hang around there long. Other than Orioles and Ravens games, there's really not much else I can think of to do in Baltimore that I can't do back at home (I'm not trying to knock Baltimore.) Obviously, VA Beach's problem is not urban decay; that's Norfolk, but I still think additions of better exhibits will be a boon for tourism in the region. And, hopefully, so will Blackstone's purchase of Busch Gardens and Water Country (gonna miss the Clydesdales, though!).

My logic could be wrong, though. Not sure what y'all think about my take on this. One thing's for sure is that VA Beach (and the rest of Hampton Roads) definitely needs more high-paying jobs and attractions and absolutely should NOT try to take after Miami. We do not want or need to be like Miami because Miami only caters to tourist and not locals. Miami's a nice place to visit, but for a city of its size and status, how many Fortune 500 companies that are HQ'd there can you name? I'm not trying to be anti-fun or anti-progress by saying this, but I am trying to contribute to positive growth of our metro, so that we don't end up in a precarious position--like most of Florida is at the moment--sometime in the near future. My logic here could also be wrong, though. Look forward to hearing some feedback on this.

Edited October 10, 2009 by Achilles

[varider]

Your 100% right.. I've been to the aquarium here once, and while I didn't like it too much, you could tell all of the tourists loved it..

Now that I think about it, it actually is a major draw to VaBeach. Especially with the trolley that runs from the Oceanfront to the Aquarium to the Campgrounds to Lynnhaven Mall. It's all interconnected in creatig the tourist draw of Virginia Beach.

High paying jobs make a city. Look at Charlotte. What is there you can do in Charlotte (other than football and basketball, but they suck anyway), that you can't do in Hampton Roads? I'd much rather live here with the beach, the water everywhere, seven different cities, etc. But why is Charlotte a better city right now? The jobs!! A fortune 100 bank relocation can bring 20,000 corporate jobs to a city! Everyone moves to that city because of the jobs.

What we need to work on is making our cities as appealing to corporations as possible. LRT definately helps, the SGA's definately help, an interstate to Raleigh would definately help.

Nobody wants to be like Miami, (except I wouldn't mind South Beach) with their dirty neighborhoods, killings, empty skyscrapers (no offense MiamiERS).. Virginia Beach needs to create that urban center (downtown, pembroke, town center watever you call it), while at the same time establishing the Oceanfront as a first class destination(NO MORE TSHIRT SHOPS, but I think the Beach already is a first class destination?) at the same time. Hampton Roads as a whole needs to work together, instead of against each other.

I dunno, I think it's possible for Virginia Beach to be the next Charlotte or Atlanta in the coming decades.. But I guess we'll see, right..

[Achilles]

Your 100% right.. I've been to the aquarium here once, and while I didn't like it too much, you could tell all of the tourists loved it..

Now that I think about it, it actually is a major draw to VaBeach. Especially with the trolley that runs from the Oceanfront to the Aquarium to the Campgrounds to Lynnhaven Mall. It's all interconnected in creatig the tourist draw of Virginia Beach.

High paying jobs make a city. Look at Charlotte. What is there you can do in Charlotte (other than football and basketball, but they suck anyway), that you can't do in Hampton Roads? I'd much rather live here with the beach, the water everywhere, seven different cities, etc. But why is Charlotte a better city right now? The jobs!! A fortune 100 bank relocation can bring 20,000 corporate jobs to a city! Everyone moves to that city because of the jobs.

What we need to work on is making our cities as appealing to corporations as possible. LRT definately helps, the SGA's definately help, an interstate to Raleigh would definately help.

Nobody wants to be like Miami, (except I wouldn't mind South Beach) with their dirty neighborhoods, killings, empty skyscrapers (no offense MiamiERS).. Virginia Beach needs to create that urban center (downtown, pembroke, town center watever you call it), while at the same time establishing the Oceanfront as a first class destination(NO MORE TSHIRT SHOPS, but I think the Beach already is a first class destination?) at the same time. Hampton Roads as a whole needs to work together, instead of against each other.

I dunno, I think it's possible for Virginia Beach to be the next Charlotte or Atlanta in the coming decades.. But I guess we'll see, right..

Yeah, definitely, dude. And, with these new exhibits, the tourists will love it even more. And locals will like it more, too. It's good for everyone!

And, yes, I'm glad you agree the cites of Hampton Roads needs to work together to improve our metro and that we need to be more like Charlotte (when it comes to jobs, at least) than Miami (not that Miami is a horrible city). I think the VA Beach Town Center will be a start to that, and hopefully, Norfolk will once again be viewed as a premier city with The Tide and some more of these revitalization efforts. I'm also hoping Newport News's City Center will become something great someday (Even though they decided to cater to older, wealthier people rather than young people like me. But, I guess, there's a good reason for that somewhere.)

My one issue with a Fortune 100 bank relocation is, if the economy goes sour, and business is bad in Hampton Roads, the relocated bank might decide to move up to NYC with the rest of the nation's major banks and shrink our economy. There's already an issue with that in Charlotte (the city is dominated by banking and not much else). But, either way, we don't have any Fortune 100 banks and are doing pretty well right now, especially with all the military and gov't jobs to cushion us from the recession, so I think I'm looking WAY too much into this and am being WAY too pessimistic about it.

And, yeah, an interstate to Raleigh (or to I-95 from Norfolk/VA Beach) would be great. I live on the Peninsula, but whenever I have to go south, I always have to pass through those small, slow roads with stoplights that go through Suffolk and Emporia before reaching I-95. Another interstate in that area would be ideal (so long as people who live in that area and the environment are not affected negatively). It would definitely help with evacuating the Southside in case of an emergency as well.

[varider]

Yeah, definitely, dude. And, with these new exhibits, the tourists will love it even more. And locals will like it more, too. It's good for everyone!

And, yes, I'm glad you agree the cites of Hampton Roads needs to work together to improve our metro and that we need to be more like Charlotte (when it comes to jobs, at least) than Miami (not that Miami is a horrible city). I think the VA Beach Town Center will be a start to that, and hopefully, Norfolk will once again be viewed as a premier city with The Tide and some more of these revitalization efforts. I'm also hoping Newport News's City Center will become something great someday (Even though they decided to cater to older, wealthier people rather than young people like me. But, I guess, there's a good reason for that somewhere.)

My one issue with a Fortune 100 bank relocation is, if the economy goes sour, and business is bad in Hampton Roads, the relocated bank might decide to move up to NYC with the rest of the nation's major banks and shrink our economy. There's already an issue with that in Charlotte (the city is dominated by banking and not much else). But, either way, we don't have any Fortune 100 banks and are doing pretty well right now, especially with all the military and gov't jobs to cushion us from the recession, so I think I'm looking WAY too much into this and am being WAY too pessimistic about it.

And, yeah, an interstate to Raleigh (or to I-95 from Norfolk/VA Beach) would be great. I live on the Peninsula, but whenever I have to go south, I always have to pass through those small, slow roads with stoplights that go through Suffolk and Emporia before reaching I-95. Another interstate in that area would be ideal (so long as people who live in that area and the environment are not affected negatively). It would definitely help with evacuating the Southside in case of an emergency as well.

Well there would be no reason for a F100 bank to relocate here, unless the CEO happened to be a local. But other comapnies I can see.. What do fortune 500 companies like(other than being near other F500 companies)? They like having a big transportation infrastructure so their products and employees can get in and out of their own metro, they like having a vibrant downtown so their CEO's, Presidents,Board, etc. can hodgepodge throughout the city. They like pro sports teams to sponser and support. We really don't have any three of those. We are working on #1 with LR, vibrant downtown? Sort of, but not when you compare it to the cities with 20 F500 companies. Pro teams? Well you know the answer to that..

Virginia Beach growth has slowed.. It will be over 500,000 by 2025 if it keeps growing at it's current rate (source: Comprehensive Plan). We need "big money" jobs.. We will probably see a big jump in population when Craney Island gets started (and its 50,000 jobs), the alternative energy industry has potential (but that's not certain), we need those F500 jobs for the young people to fill our "world class downtown," aka Pembroke.

[Achilles]

Well there would be no reason for a F100 bank to relocate here, unless the CEO happened to be a local. But other comapnies I can see.. What do fortune 500 companies like(other than being near other F500 companies)? They like having a big transportation infrastructure so their products and employees can get in and out of their own metro, they like having a vibrant downtown so their CEO's, Presidents,Board, etc. can hodgepodge throughout the city. They like pro sports teams to sponser and support. We really don't have any three of those. We are working on #1 with LR, vibrant downtown? Sort of, but not when you compare it to the cities with 20 F500 companies. Pro teams? Well you know the answer to that..

Virginia Beach growth has slowed.. It will be over 500,000 by 2025 if it keeps growing at it's current rate (source: Comprehensive Plan). We need "big money" jobs.. We will probably see a big jump in population when Craney Island gets started (and its 50,000 jobs), the alternative energy industry has potential (but that's not certain), we need those F500 jobs for the young people to fill our "world class downtown," aka Pembroke.

Oh, no, of course not. But other types of companies (as you said) certainly would. A strong source of white-collar jobs is what this area needs to complement our rich blue-collar base (military, fisheries, tourism, etc.). Although, I have to admit, I am very frightened about the things I've been reading in some recent articles in the Virginia Pilot and the Daily Press. There's talk that one of carriers may be relocated to Mayport, FL sometime in the future, if the U.S. gov't decides to send one there. Measures are already being taken to improve Mayport's naval port to accommodate a carrier. Idk if it's just sensationalist journalism or not, but it sure has me jittery. If we lose just one carrier, we'd be losing 5,000 jobs and some $90 million (if I remember the DP article right). If FL gets one of our carriers, it could spell disaster for us, and we certainly don't need any of that to improve our metro.

And, yeah, VB growth has slowed, but if we can give more people an incentive to move here, we can, hopefully, improve that. The recession's had a huge effect on everything, and I think, once we're out of this, we'll have a much easier time attracting businesses here. I don't really think we need 20 F500 companies (and I seriously doubt we'll ever have that many during this century), but we definitely need more than just Norfolk Southern, Dollar Tree, and Smithfield Foods. Our economy is too reliant on defense spending, and our population growth is too reliant on nationwide transplants from the military; it is far too unstable, even though these factors are keeping our economy afloat right now. I know I'm basically repeating what I said in the first paragraph, but that's how important I think this is. I'd like to keep all of our military bases and jobs, but I'd also like to see more job growth in the private sector. But, of course, most cities and metros would like that also...

[ronsmytheiii]

Love this shot of the Westin from the webcam tonight

[varider]

IDK If you guys listen to hip-hop/ R&B, but here's a local artist's video that was filmed on 19th & Atlantic. I like her, there's quite a few 757 rappers and singers that have been producing quality music. It's just a matter of time before another one gets signed w/ a major deal..

[HarryVB]

For your information. Its not 19th and Atlantic. Its 19th street period.. Atlantic is on the beach..Its where the Virginia Beach Convention Center is and Verterans Memorial.. get your facts straight!..

Too bad that area was not completely developed like in the renderings for the oceanfront masterplan.. that would have been a hot music video with all the modern buildings in the video.. They should have did the music video in town center. It would have been soo much better

[varider]

For your information. Its not 19th and Atlantic. Its 19th street period.. Atlantic is on the beach..Its where the Virginia Beach Convention Center is and Verterans Memorial.. get your facts straight!..

Too bad that area was not completely developed like in the renderings for the oceanfront masterplan.. that would have been a hot music video with all the modern buildings in the video.. They should have did the music video in town center. It would have been soo much better

For my information?

It's nighttime, I heard it was 19th + Atlantic, and I see some high rises in the backround, so of course i'm gonna think its on the strip. How can you tell anyways?

Oh, and why is it so cold?!

[HarryVB]

Well you Heard wrong.. Look at the video. U can see the verterans memorial in the background in some parts of the video.. Thats 19th street. the convention center is to the left in the video. and the rappers and driving some cheap looking cars. I have a maserati. Are you telling me they cant show off expensive cars for a music video shoot?.. what a waste.. And im also from Virginia Beach. Born and raised. so I know what area is what.. Its the birdneck 19th street corridor.. Mcds is down the street on 19th and birdneck. south beach apts is on birdneck next to mcds.. The parking lot is where club Abyss use to be. anymore questions?

It's nighttime, I heard it was 19th + Atlantic, and I see some high rises in the backround, so of course i'm gonna think its on the strip. How can you tell anyways?

Oh, and why is it so cold?!

[varider]

anymore questions?

Actually yeah...

when's the hardrockcafe w/ the indoor lake supposed to start construction?

[HarryVB]

Well you Heard wrong.. Look at the video. U can see the verterans memorial in the background in some parts of the video.. Thats 19th street. the convention center is to the left in the video. and the rappers and driving some cheap looking cars. I have a maserati. Are you telling me they cant show off expensive cars for a music video shoot?.. what a waste.. And im also from Virginia Beach. Born and raised. so I know what area is what.. Its the birdneck 19th street corridor.. Mcds is down the street on 19th and birdneck. south beach apts is on birdneck next to mcds.. The parking lot is where club Abyss use to be. anymore questions?

Pictured Right: Tidewater Veterans Memorial, Virginia Beach, Virginia

Great ideas usually start with a concept. Such was the case with the Tidewater Veterans Memorial. The dream belonged to Bill Hallead of the Disabled American Veterans, Chapter 20, before his death in 1982. To carry his idea forward, a group of military veterans and community leaders came together to create the Tidewater Veterans Memorial Committee. This memorial which you see today represents the cumulative effort of that group.

The task was a real challenge. At the beginning, there was no design, no land, no financing, and no idea of community support for the project.

All of this changed in time. It as discovered that a high degree of local interest existed to create and build a memorial dedicated to all military veterans from the Tidewater area. The challenge was converted into action. A site was dedicated by the City of Virginia Beach along with an appropriation for construction costs. Other financing came from the business sector, community leaders, the military, and citizens throughout the Tidewater area.

[metalman]

Harry, Just wondering- What does it matter what kind of cars are in the video or where the location is? The video is a vehicle (if I my used that term) to get the story of the song across. That just sounded like a cheap shot, low blow to that video and artist for no reason. Congratulations, you have a Maserati.

By the way- Amongst those "cheap" cars you mentioned were a Cadillac/GMC suv, what looked like a 350z, a Mercedes-Benz, and an Aston Martin by which all accounts that I've seen are more expensive than your Maserati.

I'm not bustin' on you. I'm just asking you to do a little research before making a blanket statement that seemed to provide nothing more than a cheap insult and then brag that you have an expensive car. I for one would not call any of those cars "cheap".

I'm not much into R&B, but I did feel a bit of pride, I guess you could say, in that this video was shot in my home city and showed it in a positive light, regardless of it's location or price of it's props. I thought it was cool to see something as unique to Va Beach as the Vets. Memorial and the dim reflection off of the Convention Center.

[Achilles]

Quick question that I should have asked a while ago: When I was in Virginia Beach a couple weeks ago to see blink-182 at the VA Beach Amphitheater, I noticed some construction next to Damn Neck Road (between the Amphitheater and Princess Anne Road). I don't know if it's just housing or something, but on Google maps, it looks like it's near the Sportsplex. I'm not entirely sure if someone's already posted something about this. If so (or if it's just nothing), sorry!

[metalman]

That is the Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Complex. It is somewhere else on the VB forum. Maybe under the VB development forum.?

[Achilles]

That is the Sentara Princess Anne Hospital Complex. It is somewhere else on the VB forum. Maybe under the VB development forum.?

Oh, I see; cool. Thanks for clearing that up for me. And, yeah, I would assume it would be in the VB construction forum. There's just so much stuff to read through here I end up missing a lot of things.

Edited October 18, 2009 by Achilles

[ronsmytheiii]

the National Forum for Black Public Administrators has selected Virginia Beach for its annual conference in 2012. The group, which works to promote black advancement in the public sector, is the largest national minority organization to plan a major conference in the city.

Virginia Beach beat out Atlanta and San Antonio, Convention and Visitors Bureau officials said.

http://hamptonroads.com/2009/10/va-beach-d...conference-2012