South Norfolk redevelopment project aims for revisions

CHESAPEAKE

Nearly three years since Belharbour Station at SoNo secured council approval, the $200 million redevelopment project isn't off the ground yet.

The developer said he has spent more than $1 million removing truckloads of contaminated soil. But that's the only dirt that has moved so far on a mixed-use development that's the linchpin in the city's plan to revitalize South Norfolk.

Soon, Truxton Development LLC will go in front of the council for the second time in two years to seek approval on a revised plan.

Paylor Spruill, managing member for Truxton, said Monday that he is still trying to line up financing for the project but is confident Belharbour will succeed.

"I think the project is a good project," Spruill said. "South Norfolk is one of the better redevelopment areas in all of Hampton Roads. We're excited about going for it, as soon as the economy can cooperate."

The concept behind Belharbour has been contentious since it was proposed. Critics questioned who would want to live in condominiums and apartments situated in the middle of an industrial area in South Norfolk. City officials hailed it as visionary and signed off on $35 million in public improvements that will be funded by money from a special South Norfolk taxing district.

In 2008, Truxton won the council's OK to delay building the project's first 120 condominiums by a year. Now, the firm is seeking to renew its expiring conditional-use permit and get permission to build 150 apartment units, 20,000 square feet of retail, and a marina before it begins work on a parking garage, office tower and condominiums. In total, the project is slated to have as many as 693 residential units, many of them condos.

Spruill notes that the project will be enhanced by the construction of a new Jordan Bridge, which will send more drivers past the new development as they cross between South Norfolk and Portsmouth. The developer said he hopes to work on the first phase later this year, which could mean that the bridge and mixed-use project will be under construction at the same time.

The economy isn't the only factor creating problems for Belharbour. Part of the holdup stems from a lawsuit over a piece of land, owned by a railroad, that the city wants to condemn for use as Belharbour's main entrance. The case is now pending before a U.S. District Court judge.

Pilot writer Tim McGlone contributed to this report.

Mike Saewitz, (757) 222-5207, mike.saewitz@pilotonline.com