Va. Beach CBD master plan

[vdogg]

There has been a lot of talk recently about what the boundaries of the Va. Beach CBD really are or will be. Needless to see, most of us estimated the CBD size on the low end of things.

First conceived in 1991 and updated/posted as recently as 11/15/05, this is waht the Beach really plans.

More to come, there is tons of information that I am going to try to weed through and post here in an orgsanized fashion.

It gets better

[vdogg]

[vdogg]

The orientation they had planned is far different from the town center they settled on, but the row of highrises and midrises along columbus is strikingly similar to what does exist and will exist within 2 years.

[urbanvb]

I recall seeing that although it has been many years ago and I must say I LOVE it!!!! That 2nd rendering is quite intriguing but I wonder if it is an actual area or just a proposed rendering. Surely, that can't be VA Bch Blvd!

[vdogg]

As said before, the eventual planned build-out of the CBD is far more expansive than any of us had even dreamed or realized.

Surely, that can't be VA Bch Blvd!

Surely it is.

Actually,I think that was the original planned mainstreet that actually used Pembroke mall as the centerpiece with a row of buildings leading away from it.

[urbanvb]

Wow, those renderings are awesome. OH, HOW I WISH!!

[urbanvb]

I wished the city would have done what Norfolk did and when parcels came available they bought them themselves for future development.

[vdogg]

I wished the city would have done what Norfolk did and when parcels came available they bought them themselves for future development.

Yeah, because now it's a lot harder to accomplish this, though from the rumors kicked around here recently they're making significant headway. I wonder what's going on with the Taco Bell property?

I believe we'll make it here one day though.

[urbanvb]

. I wonder what's going on with the Taco Bell property?

Nothing that I know of.. at least I inquired with someone who checked on it about 6 mos ago. Things can change quickly though if the $$$ is right.

[vdogg]

Notice the ramp going over independence blvd. and emptying out behind Pembroke mall on the last rendering?

[urbanvb]

These have to be some of the loftiest plans I have ever seen!

[vdogg]

Notice that 2 of the towers are actually sitting in Pembroke malls parking lot? I wonder if they still plan that?

[urbanvb]

Notice the ramp going over independence blvd. and emptying out behind Pembroke mall on the last rendering?

I have having problems seeing that.. still looking though.

Notice that 2 of the towers are actually sitting in Pembroke malls parking lot? I wonder if they still plan that?

Good question. I have a lot of unanswered questions about future growth but so far I haven't heard back from anyone.

[vdogg]

Independence sorta runs from left to right in the pic while Va. Beach Blvd runs from right to left. They cross in the middle, just to orient you a little bit.

[nrdzrool]

I think it's a bit of a shame that we didn't end up with the procession towards pembroke mall with the park and rows of taller buildings. think it'd be a bit better than the retention pond they're trying to pass off as a "central park". still, this was very exciting to see, and i'm really hoping the rest of what's shown is followed pretty closely. did anyone noticed in the first image, on the left there's a "photo" of a light rail station? ::hopes for the best::

[vdogg]

I think it's a bit of a shame that we didn't end up with the procession towards pembroke mall with the park and rows of taller buildings.

As do I, that plan was quite ambitious and impressive and actually did a far better job of tying pembroke mall into the cbd than any plan thus far. But we do have a lot of impressive projects up and coming in all parts of the cbd, so they have met with some success in following this plan.

[urbanvb]

The city seems to have kept in mind about light rail yet I wonder where they would actually build a station in Pembroke if LR were to be built.

[vdogg]

The city seems to have kept in mind about light rail yet I wonder where they would actually build a station in Pembroke if LR were to be built.

I imagine right over by dicks or in the current central park area.

[urbanvb]

I imagine right over by dicks or in the current central park area.

Most of the retail goes right up to the tracks though. Doesn't leave much room to actually build a station.

[urbanlife]

it was a great plan, but this one in place isn't that far off and from the looks of it, this is sort of the way Divaris would like to see that area go. So with time VB might get something like this to develop.

[urbanvb]

is there a link available for these renderings and such? these renderings are driving me nuts with questions of how could we and how long will it take and.... and...

[vdogg]

is there a link available for these renderings and such? these renderings are driving me nuts with questions of how could we and how long will it take and.... and...

link

[hoobo]

The city seems to have kept in mind about light rail yet I wonder where they would actually build a station in Pembroke if LR were to be built.

I agree with vdogg about dick's because the garage would be right next to the station. However, I see the parking lot behind the 2-story retail/office on Columbus and Constitution as the best alternative since a passenger loading/unloading loop could be built between the building and the station platform. I don't believe the city will touch Central Park.

2 more things about this CBD vision:

1) Not only do they have the Indepdence to Jeanne flyover, but the rendering shows the long planned Constitution to Edwin connector that's designed to relieve congestion on Independence and dump the load on Princess Anne via Baxter.

2) All these high-rises would not be possible without the Green Line. By limiting land available for horizontal growth, economics dictates that developers have to build up for a project to become feasible.

[mikefaceless]

Im at my aunts house right now. i just might walk up to town center and take a pic or two. town center has definately set the standard for what is to come of the CBD in Va beach. i cant wait to see the westin come up and all the other buildings that are soon to come!