The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a proposal to turn a vacant apartment building into middle-income condominiums in a struggling portion of Ocean View.
The plan from GPMC Properties to build The Phoenix condominiums was the first under a new city ordinance that allows owners of some apartment buildings to renovate their properties.
In 1987, the council "downzoned" hundreds of apartment buildings with the goal of forcing the owners to replace them with single-family homes.
Property owners could not spend more than 50 percent of the assessed value renovating their units. Hundreds responded by tearing down the apartments and building homes in Ocean View, Berkley and Barraud Park.
Hundreds more did not.
So Councilman W. Randy Wright proposed allowing developers to renovate their properties as long as they reduced density. The council adopted the ordinance last month.
At The Phoenix, 12 apartments will be transformed into nine condominiums. GPMC managing partner Jeff Maynor says they will sell for about $200,000 each.
Located at 15th Bay and Pleasant Avenue, The Phoenix is close to the Chesapeake Bay and Pretty Lake.
Yet the area suffers from high crime, poverty and frequent flooding and was hit harder than most parts of Norfolk by the slowdown in housing construction.
Wright said giving developers the right to renovate older structures will help with the crime and poverty problems and, he hopes, restimulate the housing market.
"Now that we've made this change, there are a lot of developers who will come forward with projects," he said.
That includes Maynor, who said he has acquired a building across Pleasant Avenue from The Phoenix and plans to renovate it.
He said without the change in city codes, he could not have spent more than $60,000 on both buildings combined.
The property that will become The Phoenix has aluminum wiring, leaking plumbing and no central air or heat.
"It needs a lot of work," he said. "Without the changes made by the city, that wouldn't be happening."
Harry Minium, (757) 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Ocean front
It's a sad day when the council has to give the owner the right to fix their property.
Zoning???
"In 1987, the council "downzoned" hundreds of apartment buildings with the goal of forcing the owners to replace them with single-family homes."
Did you ever hear of ZONING?
It's a good thing.......or you might have a 7-11 built next door to you?
Give 'em a break.....they're doing something RIGHT! :)
I, too
agree this is an encouraging sign from a usually myopic Council, & Wright deserves much credit for a common sense solution.
Randy for Mayor anyone?
Give it up for Randy and the Norfolk city council
Wright said giving developers the right to renovate older structures will help with the crime and poverty problems and, he hopes, restimulate the housing market. "Now that we've made this change, there are a lot of developers who will come forward with projects," he said.
I have been scathing at times in my commentary about how Randy and the council have acted. Not this time.
Good move W. Randy Wright. This is good for the community and the city.
If he and the council keep the citizens interest at heart, Randy just might get my support against Tommy Smigel come next May.
hmm..middle income housing
Yeah, right at $200,000 not many middle class people in this area can afford that kind of housing right now. Try starting at $150,000 and then you might be talking. Especially in an area where it's cheaper to rent a 2 bedroom apartment than it would be to attempt to purchase a home with a mortgage more than double the rent. I'm all for cleaning up the area and trying to get rid of the crime in the area but come on, make it so that even the average income person can afford a house, or let them properly fix up their property so that there are nicer apartments for rent.
Great news!
"Wright said giving developers the right to renovate older structures will help with the crime and poverty problems and, he hopes, restimulate the housing market.
"Now that we've made this change, there are a lot of developers who will come forward with projects," he said."
---------------------------
This makes so much sense under the current economic conditions!
Thank you, Randy!
(I'll be waiting for my thumbs down from the usual negative Regs!) :)
Is Judy Boone involved in
Is Judy Boone involved in this?