The Virginian-Pilot
©
VIRGINIA BEACH
Ideas? Michael Jenkins has loads of them.
The Dallas businessman said this week that he has at least 20, maybe 21 ways, to transform the former Dome site from an Oceanfront parking lot into the entertainment destination that city leaders have long coveted.
Among the plans Jenkins pitched Thursday and Friday were: A 2,500-seat performance theater and three smaller venues, an ice-skating rink, a waterfall with Hawaiian cliff divers, a children's diner, maybe even a 17-story Ferris wheel, protruding from a building with a glass facade that will sparkle with nightly light shows.
"I think we would have failed, really failed, if people don't come out and say, 'Wow, I want to go back,' " Jenkins told Beach residents, developers and city staff. The public meetings Thursday and Friday were his first since being tapped this spring as the exclusive planner for the Dome site.
Imagine elements of Times Square with a roof, urged Jenkins, who owns several theme parks and is president of a company that operates touring shows such as "Legally Blonde" and "Cats."
"It's just exciting," said Billy Almond, a landscape architect and member of the Resort Advisory Commission. "The fact that it's purely entertainment. It's not a hotel. It's not a chain restaurant.... We need something for people to do."
Jenkins brought no drawings of his plans for the site. That will come in November, he said.
By March, Jenkins' company, Leisure and Recreation Concept Inc., must have the project essentially designed and deliver an outline of what city taxpayers will have to contribute.
The City Council will then decide whether to partner with Jenkins or to seek other developers.
Jenkins' plan will likely require some taxpayer money, specifically for parking and improving the roads and infrastructure, Beach officials said.
Jenkins anticipates needing about 1,700 parking spaces - both to accommodate visitors to the project and to replace the 500 spots at the Dome site.
Where that parking will be located is one of several hurdles to overcome, Jenkins and city officials said.
Finding financing during the economic slowdown is also a concern. But Jenkins said he has spoken to at least one foreign investor he could use if the economy doesn't turn around in 18 months.
Delceno Miles, who owns an advertising agency, said she hopes Jenkins will look locally for contractors.
Jenkins estimates that his project would require about 320 permanent employees and 1,200 seasonal workers.
City officials hope that Jenkins' plan will bring in more tourists and give locals an entertainment option.
"He's done a really good job of telling the story," said Steve Herbert, deputy city manager. "I'm comforted by the reaction."
Deirdre Fernandes, (757)222-5121, deirdre.fernandes@pilotonline.com
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Nobody gets it
No one except the boomers get this city. Only they can see what's really wrong. To name only a very few......the Dome is a parking lot, Seaside Park is.......grass, (along with Ocean View Amusement Park.....no "improvements", no "progress".....just grass......)The drive-ins are all gone, Frontier City is an on ramp.....all the real character that city ever had, or hoped to have, (and it really did at one time)is long gone, outta here. The newbies and transplants will never have a clue.
Why do you stay?
If life is so intolerable here, why don't you either get more involved in changing things, or move on to some place where you can be happier? I'm serious. What kind of example are you setting for your kids? Life's too short to waste time getting wound up so tight. If I were as upset as some of the people who post here, my conscience and blood pressure wouldn't allow me to stick around. I'd be voting with my feet! I hear taxes and housing are dirt cheap in the Dakotas. Montana and Idaho and Alaska are full of people eager to get off the grid. And as someone else noted, there's always Detroit. Or Buffalo. You can buy a big house in my sister's Buffalo neighborhood for a song. And you won't have to worry about the taxes going up because housing values there never went up much and haven't changed in years.
These are the incumbent council members up for election:
Meyera E. Oberndorf - Mayor
Harry E. Diezel - Kempsville
Bob Dyer - Centerville
Reba S. McClanan - Rose Hall
Rosemary Wilson - At Large
Let's make sure we remember these names on election day and remember all the good things they have done for us and how our tax bills have gone WAY down since they have been in office.
Moss running for Mayor will be the best thing that's happened to us in a very long time.
Nothing there now or in the future for me
There is nothing at the beach to get me there now except the Neptune Festivals weekends and Arts and Craft shows. Entertainment - I see nothing there new. Parking is so bad now where will the new spots be. They loose 500 and need 1700, lets charge 10 dollars and probably be run by the builder and city gets nothing. But watch - the city will pay for the parking garage and give the land away and give tax breaks and re-negotiate ever year until built just like 31ST ST. The city council s__ks. RENO. Get Moss. Do not elect Sessoms, destroyed his businesses and cause more problems than he is worth.
agreed; If he wants to buy the land and raise the funds; fine
All this is well and good if he foots the bill himself. The city can sell the property with the proviso that is approves all designs in review and he can build it. No tax credits, no subsidy. This how things need to go from here on out. Public money for schools, police and fire department, roads, and infrastructure. No place to caudal developers again. The results of last week and the failings of real-estate and banking extends to city. There is no room for anything but
Re:
"By March, Jenkins' company, Leisure and Recreation Concept Inc., must have the project essentially designed and deliver an outline of what city taxpayers will have to contribute." Taxpayers should contribute exactly zero! Mr. Jenkins and the city have grand ideas for everyone else's money.
"partnership nonsense"
If it's such a great idea and will make this company money...great!!!! Now tell me why I have to give him money to do it? The parking lot that's there now doesn't cost me a dime....be a good venture capitalist and do it, reap the profits....I'm happy for you....just keep your hand out of my pocket....
crooks and politicians
The operative phrase -"must have the project essentially designed and deliver an outline of what city taxpayers will have to contribute."
D- - M these crooks; And, greedy politicians too.
If they can't develop, just go away. If elected officials don't look after the public - vote them out too.
Look for kickbacks etc.
Complaining? No..
You're right. We don't complain about those things. They are called functions of a city government. You know, something they are suppose to do.
How about using the dome site for..
A parking garage? A multi-level one at that. Parking sucks down at/near the beach currently. A parking fix needs to happen.