Norfolk can't rush Waterside makeover

It took the city three decades to decide what to put on a parcel of 17 acres it controlled in downtown Norfolk. A decade later, MacArthur Center now stands on the property, a prime piece of a wildly successful downtown revitalization.

When they take their time, the judgment of Norfolk's leaders has been remarkably consistent in recent years. But when the city government rushes, without considering either options or the opinions of citizens, it has sometimes run into trouble.

The future of Waterside is too important a decision to be made in a hurry.

The riverfront building was one of the original spark plugs driving the engine in downtown Norfolk. That spark plug is sputtering now; but the conversation about whether Waterside needs to be replaced - and with what - should be just beginning.

Some members of City Council already have ideas, according to a story by Pilot staff writer Harry Minium: Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot "sees outdoor shops on the site, similar to those in Atlantic City, with high-rise condominiums. Other council members have talked about a five-star hotel, a tall office building or a condominium project."

Any of those ideas might be right for what is inarguably one of the best pieces of real estate in the city, and perhaps in the region. And any of them might be completely wrong. It's hard to tell the future.

Waterside itself, for example, was completely of its time - 1983 - and its lineup of tenants helped bring people back to downtown Norfolk, including 100,000 on that first day.

But 1983 is now a quarter-century ago, few of Waterside's original tenants are still around, and what once seemed like a modern space now looks dated and shabby.

It's been 10 years since Waterside reinvented itself as a nightspot and food court. What seemed like a good idea at the time has left the place struggling to compete with MacArthur Center and with nightspots on Granby Street. It has become a growing drag on city coffers. Few would argue that Waterside is either the highest or best use of its property.

Even so, the building is 97 percent leased at a time when the economy is soft. It remains a fine place to have a beer while watching the traffic on the Elizabeth River. A renovation and re-envisioning might be all that it needs. It might also need a bulldozer.

Nobody can say, at least not just yet. Deciding what's best for Waterside must involve a process that includes everyone who wants a say. It should include the most creative minds the city can find, and should last as long as necessary to find the right fit, even if that means three decades.