VIRGINIA BEACH
City leaders are short-listing three developers who want a chance to turn the long-vacant Dome site into an entertainment district two blocks from the beach.
Representatives from the three companies will be interviewed in the next month. One company could then be chosen for six months of exclusive negotiations with the Virginia Beach Development Authority.
“We’re going to bring those guys in as soon as we can to ask them more questions,” said Steve Herbert, the city’s chief development officer. “Their concept of development, their experience … their thoughts of Virginia Beach.”
The chosen developers are:
- A partnership of Armada Hoffler, Bruce Smith Enterprise and The Cordish Co . Armada Hoffler is the company that built Virginia Beach’s Town Center and has worked before with Bruce Smith, a former NFL star turned developer. Cordish is a Baltimore company that redeveloped part of that city’s Inner Harbor. The group would develop multiple live music venues, restaurants, shopping and a roughly 1,200-space parking garage, according to a copy of its proposal.
- Leisure and Recreation Concepts Inc., a Dallas company that specializes in theme parks, water parks and tourism development. Michael Jenkins, the company’s president, did not return calls for comment. He said last month that he wouldn’t develop a theme park here but would focus on a mixed-use district of restaurants, shopping and, possibly, a “moving theater” showcasing the past, present and future of Virginia.
- Wave House Extreme Times LLC, a Beach-based group that proposed an extreme-sports complex called VB X Park. It would include a 75,000-square-foot wave pool, a 10-screen movie theater, conference space, restaurants and retail shopping. There would also be an indoor wind tunnel for “sky diving” that could be used by tourists, locals or military personnel in training.
Herbert said the three groups of developers stood out because of their experience in other cities, their financial wherewithal and their concepts.
The city asked developers to submit “letters of interest” for the project late last year. Herbert said the city doesn’t have to pick any of the plans for the old Dome site, about two city blocks straddling 19th Street between Arctic and Pacific avenues.
Any project would probably cost millions in a private-public partnership. The City Council would make all final decisions, with recommendations from the Development Authority.
John Richardson, an authority commissioner, said Beach officials can still consider all of the developers that responded or work with those companies to develop other parcels in the city. Seven companies contacted the city, including an international developer who proposed an indoor ski slope and a boutique hotel.
“There’s some partnership potential there,” Richardson said. “We’re not dismissing any proposals. We have not rejected any of these groups.”
Herbert said the city could work with any of the developers to combine attractive pieces of different proposals.
One of the interested companies, Live Nation, already runs the Verizon Wireless Virginia Beach Amphitheater. It could fit into the district proposed by the Cordish trio, said Lou Haddad, Armada Hoffler’s president.
“We’re certainly open to the idea of partnering with one or more of the respondents,” Haddad said. “At this stage, everything is fluid.”
Craig Dean, managing member of Wave House, said he would be willing to talk with other developers but has no interest in moving to another site, such as Rudee Loop.
“I won’t go anywhere else but that site,” Dean said of the Dome parcel. “When you’ve got a $100 million project, you have to have the volume and the location there. If you put it out in east jabib , you don’t have the people.”
Richard Quinn, (757) 222-5119, richard.quinn@pilotonline.com
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Where is the money?
According to a five-year forecast, Virginia Beach will be $50 million short of its combined city and school funding needs in fiscal year 2009 and $57 million short in 2010. The shortfalls are mainly based on a slowdown in growth of real estate tax revenue. Where is the money to pay for any new public-private project when we are supposed to be 50 million in the red? Show me the money!!!
Don't forget Residential
If we make the Beach District a great place to live, it will be a great place to visit. We already fill our hotels in the summer with fun 'n the sun tourists, so don't waste any more valuable resources trying to attract them. Focus on the visitors who will come in the fall, winter, and spring, who want lifestyle, recreation, culture, sports, and high quality shopping and living opportunities. To support these amenities, we need high quality residential in the same area. High density, high rise apartments/condos with quality parks and open space. Include at least one high rise residential project on the former dome site and you will attract the high quality retail and restaurants that we desire. As a result, the summer visitor will have a better visitor experience as well.
VB
As a resort, VB pretty much sucks. Don't get me wrong, I love VB, but the previous poster nailed it: hotels on the b'walk, shops and restaurants on Atlantic Ave, doesn't make sense. We have some strengths, like street performers and special events, but I'd still take Ocean City's beach over VB any day.
However, there is no changing what has been done, so let's do what we can. Council, please plan carefully and LISTEN to your constituents. Yes, we are concerned about our wallets, but many of us also want what's best for the city. Bring in something that is a destination in itself; something that will attract more tourists, not just engage the ones that are already here. And think about parking, please. Think HARD about parking!
jmo
what a visitor wants
As a fairly frequent visitor to your town, thought you might be interested in what I would want to see. First, I'd like to be able to see the beach without having to go around a high-rise hotel. I'd like to be able to walk on the boardwalk at the beach and get something to eat. I'd like to be able to take my family to walk around the shops without feeling like I am going to be run down by cars (since your beach boardwalk is non-existent and the shops are on atlantic or in the town center). I'd like to be able to drive anywhere in the city without being stuck at traffic lights.
I doubt whether this latest development will address any of this tourist's desires.
I come to VB because I have family in the area. But to have fun (and, generally, to spend money), I go to Ocean City, Maryland or the Outer Banks. And, it is a shame, because when I first starting coming here, 20-some years ago, VB was a lovely resort town.
No Tax Dollars Used
Tell me where in any city document, constitution, or charter is identified that a function of government includes development of tourist attractions? If vb council is stupid enough to spend another taxpayer dollar on any development project, they should all be voted off the island! How many times to they need to be told.....No more public/private parterships! If it is such a grandious idea, let the developer pay for it!
The Ocean and Beach are Equal Opportunity Providers
Regardless of payback on an investment, the ammenities of the Atlantic Ocean and the adjoing dredged sand, cigarette-butt filled beach are there for all, without distinction. The Dome should have been left in-place. If the CoVB wants to do this thing right, scrape the McDonalds, the pancake joint, the 7-11 and everything between 17th St. and 21st St., and Atlantic and Arctic and let the selectee(s) have at it. That is but one trouble with the Beach. Trying to continually force glitz and glamor into the blue-collar, brown water community by the shore. Let's see - oh yea, Town Center and Pembroke Mall. Mega complex and fast food/convenience store. Nope, no good. What ever the plan and concept, it must first be an environmentally compliant fit, it must serve the urgent needs of the community, and it must be easy to navigate to, around and beyond. Tourists come and go, do not pay personal or home property taxes and certainly do not vote. The quality destinations are built for the environment, the residents and aren't flat walls/condos.
Indoor Skiing
I really liked the indoor ski slope! Hopefully, one of the other developers can partner with that developer. I'd like to think that we could eventually become a vacation mecca. Think positive!
Here we go again...
Here we go again. The city wants a Public-private venture. To forecast results look at the payoffs the city needed to provide to go against the citizens wishes and build the 31st ST Hilton project. Step one make a deal with the developers and give them a lot. Step 2- demographics and environment changes - renegotiate and give more away. A year later, financing changes - renegotiate again and the city gives more away. I would not be surprised when they sell the property at $40K per acre. Also parking will change for people wanting to go to the beach. Va Bch Council - remember we are not a vacation Mecca and can never be anything but a two-bit beach water front - as you price everything beyond the local consumer. Next step - look for more vacanat land to give away at fire sale prices and build on.