Hampton Roads:2020 Wishlist

[varider]

As the end of the decade nears, I thought it would be cool to create a Hampon Roads "wishlist" thread. Maybe in ten years, if we are blessed enough to live another decade, we can look back on it and see if our wishes came true. I'm going to keep mine realistic, and I think anyone else who posts should too! Happy New Years!

[varider]

My top 35 realistic goals/wishes for Hampton Roads in year 2020. (No particular order)

1. HSR along the 460 corridor travelling 110mph ending in downtown Norfolk, Va. creating a multi-modal transportation center connecting rail, bus, and boat.

2. LRT along the abandoned NS ROW to TC and the Oceanfront operational, LRT along the I-64 corridor to the Naval Station under construction/operational.BRT along the Oceanfront operational.

3. Local HRT bus routes expanded/enhanced to run every 10-15 minutes and until midnight./HRT transit system to eclipse 100,000 boardings/day.

4.A vibrant, dynamic Granby St.full of restaurants, retail, residential, and office. Busy sidewalks 7 days a week.

5.A signature tower around the order of 500 ft. proposed/constructed in downtown Norfolk.

6.Waterside Marketplace restored to it's vibrant hayday of the 80s.

7.St. Paul's Quadrant to be redeveloped into a unique, healthy, urbane neighborhood full of local businesses, life, and unique retailers. High density developments such as 5-7 floor buildings, brownstones, etc.

8.US Development to complete renovation of the "Leaning Tower," former Trader Publishing HQ, "Icebox," Union Mission, etc. adding 1500 med. income apartmets/condos,

9.Norfolk to land the relocation of another F500 company in the city's CBD.

10.Downtown Norfolk to reach 10,000 residents and 50,000 employees.

11.Virginia Beach Town Center to continue it's growth and witness the complete buildout of TC proper with the two office towers, apartment/hotel tower.

12.Announcement of a planned high-density, mixed use, developent adjacent to Town Center on the land of the current Pembroke Mall.

13.Mega-TOD on the site of the former Circuit City and current East Coast Appliance lot.

14.New Town development built-out to the city's vision plan centered around light rail.

15.FAA lift height-restrictions for the Resort Area.

16.Laskin Gateway project completed, spurs redevelopment of many Oceanfront properties, especially along Atlantic and Pacific avenues.

17.Dome site developed into something unique and special.

18.Multiple condo and hotel towers developed along the current surface lots of the Oceanfront, centered around LRT.

19.Convention Center HQ hotel developed with 750+ rooms.

20.Green line protected, VB sprawl countered by SGA's.

21.Whole Foods market opened in metro. Either Norfolk or Virginia Beach.

22.Offshore Wind developed off the coast of VB, creating a new booming industry for the region.

23.Craney Island to begin construction.

24.Chesapeake establishes a "green line" south of Deep Creek/Great Bridge and discontinues the construction of sprawl in South Chesapeake/Hickory.

25.Newport News City Center continues medium density development and becomes the CBD for the Peninsula.

26.Midtown Tunnel completed.

27.Third Crossing funded/LRT capable.

28.460 upgraded to interstate quality.

29.Dominion Blvd./Steel Bridge replacement funded (privatized?)

30.Hampton Roads eclipses 2,000,000 inhabitants in the 2020 census.

31.Old Town Portsmouth to develop high-rises along the waterfront capitalizing off of the views of the harbor/Skyline of Norfolk and ferry access to downtown.

32.High St. to become dynamic and vibrant, on the level of Granby.

33.Greenbrier Mall to go the route of Peninsula Town Center.

34.Norfolk Int'l to actually become Int'l and land a couple flights to Europe. Eclipse the 5,000,000 passenger mark.

35.Norfolk Cruise Industry to grow to 200,000+ passengers/year.

[Glassoul]

I have three wishes, admittedly with a eye on self interest for the first.

1: Virginia/Feds allow offshore hydrocarbon exploration under the increased state retention % offered under the previous administration. If resource discovered, all royalties to the state are dedicated to a single use, transportation.

2: Establishment of a dividend from VPA. Dividend is given to Hampton Roads for transportation issues.

3: Local members of the Virginia legislature grow a backbone.

If the first happens, it will allow for a lot of what you would like to see occur.

Edited December 30, 2009 by Glassoul

[carolinaboy]

No particular order:

More medium to high density/mixed use infill development in DT Norfolk.

Successful refurbishment/reuse of existing buildings in DT Norfolk (i.e. US Development)

One "tall" signature mixed use high rise completed and occupied in DT Norfolk

LR operational and successful from the Naval Station to the Oceanfront

HSR to DT Norfolk

Jobs to come back with a vengeance (sp?) i.e. clean energy, shipping, warehousing, manufacturing

ODU's Foreman field upgraded and enlarged and ODU football becomes an identity for Norfolk (even though I'm an ECU Pirate fan)

Focus on public transportation options instead of throwing money at roads

VB Town Center to add a few mid to high rises.

Development/redevelopment of Portsmouth, particularly the waterfront

Just to name a few....I'm sure I repeated some other's ideas.

[varider]

No particular order:

More medium to high density/mixed use infill development in DT Norfolk.

Successful refurbishment/reuse of existing buildings in DT Norfolk (i.e. US Development)

One "tall" signature mixed use high rise completed and occupied in DT Norfolk

LR operational and successful from the Naval Station to the Oceanfront

HSR to DT Norfolk

Jobs to come back with a vengeance (sp?) i.e. clean energy, shipping, warehousing, manufacturing

ODU's Foreman field upgraded and enlarged and ODU football becomes an identity for Norfolk (even though I'm an ECU Pirate fan)

Focus on public transportation options instead of throwing money at roads

VB Town Center to add a few mid to high rises.

Development/redevelopment of Portsmouth, particularly the waterfront

Just to name a few....I'm sure I repeated some other's ideas.

I agree with them all.

[urbanlife]

No particular order:

More medium to high density/mixed use infill development in DT Norfolk.

Successful refurbishment/reuse of existing buildings in DT Norfolk (i.e. US Development)

One "tall" signature mixed use high rise completed and occupied in DT Norfolk

LR operational and successful from the Naval Station to the Oceanfront

HSR to DT Norfolk

Jobs to come back with a vengeance (sp?) i.e. clean energy, shipping, warehousing, manufacturing

ODU's Foreman field upgraded and enlarged and ODU football becomes an identity for Norfolk (even though I'm an ECU Pirate fan)

Focus on public transportation options instead of throwing money at roads

VB Town Center to add a few mid to high rises.

Development/redevelopment of Portsmouth, particularly the waterfront

Just to name a few....I'm sure I repeated some other's ideas.

That is a list I would like to see happen for the metro.

[BFG]

It's been 3 years and change, and some of those are at least on their way to happening. A lot of potential for it to be done by 2015, let alone 2020. Let me add:

 

-An official merger, with the metropolitan being known as "Norfolk/Virginia Beach" (Hampton Roads locally).

-A major league sports team, either Big 4 or MLS.
-The Tide expanded to the Peninsula, Chesapeake, and further throughout Norfolk and VB.

-A signature tower in downtown Norfolk (35 stories+), with a Fortune 500 company as the anchor tenant.

-Another Fortune 500 company landing elsewhere in the region, either Town Center or on the Peninsula.

-St. Paul's Quadrant (finally) developed into mixed use.

-A third crossing, and possible expansion of 64 near Ocean View (1 lane each side).

-Town Center expanded to the other side of Independence Blvd. Convert the HQ into an Ikea store, allow the Pembroke Office Towers to remain.

-More film projects coming to Hampton Roads, primarily the Seven Cities, and not just one of the military bases, historic sites, or tunnels.

-More young professionals/college grads calling the area home.

[BFG]

On 5/6/2013 at 9:17 PM, BFG said:

It's been 3 years and change, and some of those are at least on their way to happening. A lot of potential for it to be done by 2015, let alone 2020. Let me add:

 

-An official merger, with the metropolitan being known as "Norfolk/Virginia Beach" (Hampton Roads locally).

-A major league sports team, either Big 4 or MLS.
-The Tide expanded to the Peninsula, Chesapeake, and further throughout Norfolk and VB.

-A signature tower in downtown Norfolk (35 stories+), with a Fortune 500 company as the anchor tenant.

-Another Fortune 500 company landing elsewhere in the region, either Town Center or on the Peninsula.

-St. Paul's Quadrant (finally) developed into mixed use.

-A third crossing, and possible expansion of 64 near Ocean View (1 lane each side).

-Town Center expanded to the other side of Independence Blvd. Convert the HQ into an Ikea store, allow the Pembroke Office Towers to remain.

-More film projects coming to Hampton Roads, primarily the Seven Cities, and not just one of the military bases, historic sites, or tunnels.

-More young professionals/college grads calling the area home.

Well...a few of these are kinda in the works (in bold). ADP came to town, 64 will expand in the next decade, Ikea opens next year (I thought it would go at Town Center) and we've had a few movies shot here. I'm not exactly sure if we've gained any new young professionals, but the Chamber of Commerce's tHRive organization is helping to raise awareness.

[chris722]

I'll take an additional light rail line within the next 15 years.  I've learned not to ask for much.

I would also like to see 20 high rise residential developments in Norfolk before I die.  I don't care if they're public/private partnerships or how it gets done, it is just something I would like to see.

Get rid of the housing projects downtown and give us a downtown to be proud of.  No reason why we can't have what cities like Cleveland and Columbus take for granted.  Enough people around here to make that sort of thing happen. I honestly don't care which city it is, I just assume it will be Norfolk, for obvious reasons.  I just want a dense experience, like what you see up in DC.  But without the height limits.  Some people want NYC, especially over at City-Data, I don't need all of that but I would like a thick, unavoidable urban area, for those who want it, in Hampton Roads.  Downtown Norfolk is the closest thing we have to that. 

I'm also curious to see if Virginia Beach's 2040 plans will ever happen.  Or even their 50 year plan.  That looks really cool, like a neighborhood in Miami or something. 

BFG mentioned a TRUE expansion of Town Center, to fill in all of the blight in Pembroke.  Finally, someone knows what I'm talking about.  Town Center should melt into the existing areas, not stand out like a sore thumb.  Like downtown areas do in most cities.  I think it will eventually happen, but the money probably isn't there yet.  Virginia Beach's future plans do call for that but slowly, over a very long period of time. There is a reason why people aren't developing on the land.  Town Center will probably expand all the way to WalMart on one side and perhaps either up to Green Run on the other side.  They should start building over there where K Mart is instead of finding another tenant for that property.  A nice mid rise complex.  I'm doubtful that will happen but it is on my wish list. 

[baobabs727]

https://pilotonline.com/inside-business/news/economic-development/chamber-set-to-visit-nashville-to-learn-how-it-became/article_0a89d9d6-6eb3-5dae-86fa-4cff762af085.html

I like the idea of this thread.  The OP had some really good ideas along with another of his/her threads which is already archived. 

STORY:  HR Chamber of Commerce  brakes nine year drought in tradition of traveling to other metros to see how we can emulate them and become a more vibrant,  faster growing metropolitan area.  This trip will be to Nashville! 

It's about time!

 

Edited September 23, 2017 by baobabs727

[BFG]

It's only two years and change away, so I'll modify my list, knowing what is realistically possible in that short time.

-A major Fortune 500 company in the region
-A new tower for downtown Norfolk, at least 30 stories
-VB arena approved and groundbreaking and/or renovations of the Scope
-An official announcement for expanded public transportation (light rail or bus rapid transit or more buses)
-Construction beginning in Fort Norfolk
-A major revamp at the Oceanfront
-The UFC returns to The Ted or Scope
-A major league exhibition match in the area, to show other leagues we can handle pro sports
-Something at the Dome site
-Another movie and/or TV show shooting in Hampton Roads
-The cities working closer together and putting aside petty differences

[BFG]

I promise to be less cynical and critical of this area, but it's disappointing how so many of these didn't come to fruition. It's not like we're asking for anything out of the ordinary. Hopefully 2030 can bring more changes...I'd prefer 2025.

[Cjnfkvb]

My 2020 wishlist/predictions.

Norfolk

1. Legit Site work begins at spq.

2. Site work begins at proposed casino. 

3.  Improvements are made to the Elizabeth river trail around harbor park. 

4. Somthing gets approved for the boathouse site.

5. Granby station opens

6. The future of MacArthur center is layed out.

7. The city approves a new rout for the tide.

8. The city embraces, researches, and promotes  its history with the underground railroad, soul music, cuisine, ect.

9. The city makes improvements to aditional neighborhoods like park place, and norview.

10. Site work begins on gateway tower, and a new tower is proposed, and approved elsewhere in the city.

11. The rail yard opens in some capacity at the end of the year.

Virginia beach

1. The city does somthing with the ns row it purchased.  Weather its light rail, monorail, brt, linear park, ect; somthing needs to be done. Otherwise, its just a waste of money. 

2. Major infill projects begin in the vibe district, and the aria starts to feel urban.

3. Major project is approved near town center. 

4. The city announces aditional projects/buisness es along rt.13. Enbraces rout 13 as a potential tourist destination. Due to all the projects that have happened there recantly in norfolk.

5. Site work begins at the wave.

6. Sitw 2020 is successful and epic, and an even more epic sitw is announced for 2021.

7. Oceanfront pier development moves forward. 

8. Vb relaxes its restrictions on food trucks. Maby even going as far to create a portland style food pod in the vibe district. 

9. Vb starts to get rid of its bad reputation of having too many regulations, while simultaneously cleaning up some of the scetchy areas around the oceanfront. ( get rid of the no cursing signs, permit open contaners in certain locations. Increase visible police presence in such a way that it doesn't feel like your going to go to jail for sneasing, but you feel like you wont get caught up in a fight near the nightclubs, or wont get mugged off the strip at night. If there feeling froggy, maby they can set up a nude beach in such a  way. it wont be visible to families. Im not a fan of nude beaches, but it would be progressive. )

10. The city inplements there plan to keep hotels booked year round, by setting up winter atractions.

The rest of the region. 

1. A comprehensive flood mitagation plan is announced.

2. Portsmouth cleans up its act, and its streets, and adds an attraction to old town that cant be found anywhere else in the aria. (Examples include riverboat casinos, and/or parhaps a night market simular to the ones found around Asia. )

3. The region begins to attract the attention it deserves.

4. Hampton relizes and takes advantage of the fact that they can call themselves virginias fishermans wharf. 

5. Plans for the interstate conecting hampton roads to points south move forward.

6. Site work begans at orf. 

7. Kingsland usa moves forward, or somthing else of that significance is anounced somwhere in the region. 

8. Amazon opens its facilities in Chesapeake, and Suffolk. 

9. legit potential routs are announced for an extention of the tide into places like chesipeake, and Portsmouth. 

10. Bus, and ferry service is expanded. Maby including a high speed ferry rout between norfolk, hampton and other cities. 

[BFG]

My realistic list:
-Marijuana decriminalized and legalized, preferably the latter
-Non-stop flights to Seattle or LA from ORF, as well as an international destination, either Canada or Europe
-Gateway Tower plans announced
-Tide expansion plans announced for Norfolk
-Plans for bus rapid transit announced for the region
-A major tech job announcement, related to the fiberoptic lines
-More entertainment options for Norfolk and Virginia Beach
-Plans unveiled for a new arena in Norfolk, partially funded by the other cities
-Major overhaul for MacArthur Center in the form of a mixed-use development with retail, residential, and entertainment
-Steps taken for the cities to work closer together on major projects

[BeagleAccountant]

On 1/4/2020 at 5:32 PM, Cjnfkvb said:

My 2020 wishlist/predictions.

Virginia beach

1. The city does somthing with the ns row it purchased.  Weather its light rail, monorail, brt, linear park, ect; somthing needs to be done. Otherwise, its just a waste of money. 

I may be wrong but wasn't the plan to turn this into a pedestrian pathway for joggers and cyclists?

[baobabs727]

UGH