The Virginian-Pilot
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The redevelopment of St. Paul's Quadrant got a boost Friday as Norfolk became one of the nation's first recipients of a federal grant aimed at transforming troubled areas.
The city for five years has been working on plans to remake 100 acres just east of downtown into a mixture of affordable and market-rate housing, offices, and stores. The ambitious vision includes tearing down all 618 apartments within the Tidewater Gardens public housing complex.
The $250,000 grant will help the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority plan and possibly implement the first round of services aimed at assisting residents in the targeted area and in neighboring Young Terrace. The services will include job training, literacy programs and financial counseling.
It also puts the city at the front of the line to potentially receive millions through a new program called the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative. That money could help Norfolk finally take on the major development project.
"It definitely positions us in a much better place when the next round of implementation funds comes along," city planning director Frank Duke said.
"The city doesn't have themoney, NRHA doesn't have the money, and right now I'd question whether the private sector has the financing available to undertake this," Duke said. "It's going to take us going after any pot of money we can to make this a reality."
The quadrant spans from Brambleton to City Hall avenues and from St. Paul's Boulevard to Tidewater Drive. It encompasses the public housing complex, vacant land, a number of historic churches, several successful businesses and a post office, school and YMCA.
The city in 2009 created a community panel composed of all those groups to help advise during the planning process, Duke said. They submitted suggestions and plans to a consultant, who will deliver a plan to the city this summer.
Chief among the city's priorities is building replacement housing for all the Tidewater Gardens residents who'd like to return to the area.
The first phase of developing St. Paul's Quadrant will include trying to sell the city-owned surface parking lots along St. Paul's Boulevard, Duke said. Norfolk hopes a private developer will buy the land and develop it according to the larger master plan.
The city then could use the money to help pay for future redevelopment work there.
Norfolk was one of 17 U.S. cities - and the only one in Virginia - to receive a planning grant under the new federal Housing and Urban Development department program.
The initiative is a successor to the HOPE VI program, which provided $20 million to Norfolk in 2000 to help create the Broad Creek neighborhood off Princess Anne Road and Ballentine Boulevard.
Meghan Hoyer, (757) 446-2293, meghan.hoyer@pilotonline.com
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The Gardens
I think they just need to be torned down and start over the building are from the 1800's cement, bad pipes, out of date The drugs and crime is everyday. They have the Handicap and elderly among the large families noisy loud nowhere for the elderly or handicap to park. It's a eye sore to the Downtown community. I am not heartless I know people need housing but if there not going to improve it It needs to go. Dirty Old. Something needs to be done soon.
The Plan
The area needs to be turned into a money maker for the City. Affordable housing should not be on prime real estate downtown, but another development like Broad Creek would be great, in another location. The people there work and they're trying to move ahead. However, in many cases, their homes are nicer than those of us who work ourselves half to death and pay taxes to pay for this affordable housing. The playing field needs to be leveled.
There is a need for low income housing, but not downtown. And a shopping complex around it is not a good idea. The Downtown Plaza's stores had metal gates and boards across their windows and doors for a reason. Additionally, monthly drug testing should be mandatory for people in public housing.
I mean really
I'm starting to think a portion of tax money is strictly dedicated to financing consultants and marketing firms. I thought city councils to make decisions? All they do is pay a consult to tell them what to think. I can't believe we are throwing more money into planning again. I get the impression anyways that the city council only wants to build new projects with a few new strip malls in it. Do it like little creek rd, and virginia beach blvd. Line it with thrift stores and put public housing in the back, bam new street. I tell you this, there is NO WAY Norfolk will remain the economic center of the region if they do not expand their DT. Va.beach has already started nipping at that market and have way more land to do it.
The brick apartments have
The brick apartments have nothing to do with the people living in them it is the sytem by which the apartments are managed. There is no such thing as affordable housing when you are a single or married and both work in fast food with children to care for. this makes the projects one of the only places you can or will live or you will be homeless. Many times college students that can not live in our economy with entry level incomes. All sounds good but we have homes downtown, church street, broad creek, oceanview and plenty of other areas new and old that no one lives in nor can they afford to live in them. So if we are not building new projects where are the lower income supposed to go. Crime is going to increase greatly...
I understand
I do understand what your saying but the crime is in the projects. The drugs are in the projects. I do understand about affordable housing needs but some people dont want to work or even try I've witnessed it myself. The projects is there life.
Thank you
Now only if NHRA new that. For them, that state is ROCKET SCIENCE. I do not know much about the inner workings of Norfolk City, but I believe NHRA is one of the work. I second the motion made to do an inside story on NHRA, I would love to know what they do on a daily basis as they seem to have a shield built around them.
no child left behind always has job security
In 'Laughfolk'..12 years and counting..wait! Do they still teach 'Rithmatic'?
The city doesn't have the
The city doesn't have the money and NRHA doesn't have the money so where are these 618 families supposed to get the money from to find housing after you tear their present homes down. This is not the time to tear down any housing people have no jobs or sources of income and things are ver frail at this time. Norfolk has a homeless initiative and can not provide much for them why add to an increasing issue. The affordable homes in Norfolk already built sit empty who is supposed to buy the new empty ones to be built.
I "make too much"
Why do people on Government subsidized housing get to live in nicer places than people who have busted tail to get where there at in many cases?
Out of school my options were 1. a poohole 2. leave Hampton Roads. I left, because I "made too much money" too stay in the brand new apartments with the swimming pools and garden crew... Sad. Give the $250k back to the Feds so those of us who actually pay taxes can keep a few bucks.
We don't want the Feds Tainted money
Give it back. Raze the public housing complex to the ground and sell of the land to the highest bidder. Perhaps that way we can pay off our debt for the choo choo train before it gets out of control.
Why would the City voluntarily take on such a financial responsibility?