Homearama shifts attention back to Norfolk's East Beach

NORFOLK

Years ago, a group of city staffers, politicians, housing authority leaders and developers formed a unique committee that guided development in East Beach.

"It was invaluable when we got this development started," said Bart Frye, managing partner of the East Beach Company.

It was also key in helping officials navigate the difficult process of creating what was then one of Norfolk's first "new urban" developments, and getting East Beach ready for the 2004 Homearama, city officials said.

Yet in recent years, the East Beach Committee, as it was called, has become dormant.

With Homearama, the Tidewater Builders Association showcase of new homes, coming back to East Beach this fall, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's commissioners agreed recently that it's time for the group to reconvene.

"We need to see if our master plan is still good or does it need to be changed," housing authority commissioner Robert Layton said.

So far, about 300 homes have been built or are under construction, according to city officials. There are sites for about 400 more homes, and Harris Teeter has proposed building a grocery store nearby.

The homes and property are assessed at more than $178 million and generate nearly $2 million per year in real estate tax revenue, Real Estate Assessor Deborah Bunn said. When complete, it will generate more than $5 million per year in real estate taxes, officials project.

It has become one of the city's most prestigious addresses. State Sen. Ralph Northam, D-Norfolk; Sheriff Robert McCabe; Barry Bishop, head of the Greater Norfolk Corporation; and Channing Pfeiffer, CEO of the builders association, all own homes there.

The city has been able to keep a firm hand on the community's development because it cleared roughly 1,600 blighted homes, mostly apartments, and still owns the land, which it sells to Frye on demand.

Home prices generally begin at about $500,000, and some on the water have sold for more than $1 million.

Homearama this year will be held on 24th Bay Street, Frye said.

It will have about 15 homes, including some moderately priced cottages. Frye said 24th Bay Street will be rerouted to create housing lots designed around several dozen trees and some large sand dunes. Some of the trees are more than 100 years old, he said.

Although plans for Homearama have not been completed, Frye said some of the cottages could sell for $300,000, which would make them the least-costly houses in East Beach. Others will be priced at $700,000.

East Beach home prices have held up well in the downturn of the housing market, Frye said.

"We continue to sell homes," he said. "Obviously, having Homearama here again is going to boost our sales again."

Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com

 Harry Minium, (757), 446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com