Plan OK'd for residential complex on Norfolk's southern end

Posted to: News Norfolk Norfolk News
Login or register to post comments

By Harry Minium
The Virginian-Pilot
© November 23, 2011

NORFOLK

The City Council approved a plan Tuesday night that will bring the first large residential development to the city's southern end in years.

By a 7-1 vote, with Councilman Paul R. Riddick dissenting, the council approved a rezoning that will allow a Virginia Beach developer to build a 246-unit apartment complex just south of the Campostella Bridge.

The Water's Edge Apartments, to be built on a finger of the Elizabeth River, would draw rents averaging about $1,300 per unit, developer John Napier said. Planning Director Frank Duke said the project would house between 600 and 700 people.

"This is going to breathe new life into the community," Councilwoman Angelia Williams said.

The 17-acre site was previously zoned for commercial use. It was the home of an old Giant Open Air Market and was last used as a flea market.

Riddick said he opposed the development because it will depress housing values in Campostella Heights. However, the apartments were endorsed by the Campostella Heights Civic League and the Southside Coalition, a consortium of civic leaders in the Berkley-Campostella area.

No members of the public spoke out against the project.

That was not the case with another issue - a proposal from Norfolk Christian schools to rezone several lots of vacant property. Norfolk Christian wants to use the land for athletic fields and to construct a new athletic building.

Several members of the adjacent Bollingbrook neighborhood spoke out against the rezoning, saying it would infringe on their neighborhood.

Norfolk Christian officials said they met with community leaders and agreed to reduce the size of the rezoning, plant landscaping around the project, fence in the property and reorient the placement of the athletic building.

A vote on the issue was postponed from July in order to give school officials more time to work with the neighborhood. Planning officials said there have been at least three meetings since.

The rezoning passed, 5-3, after a lengthy debate. It previously passed the Planning Commission, 7-0.

Riddick voted no, as did Williams and Theresa Whibley, who represent the neighborhood.

"This was a very difficult vote," Whibley said. "I have the utmost respect for Norfolk Christian."

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

COMMENTS ADVISORY: Users are solely responsible for opinions they post here; comments do not reflect the views of The Virginian-Pilot or its websites. Users must follow agreed-upon rules: Be civil, be clean, be on topic; don't attack private individuals, other users or classes of people. Read the full rules here.
- Comments are automatically checked for inappropriate language, but readers might find some comments offensive or inaccurate. If you believe a comment violates our rules, click the report violation link below it.

Life is great

Submitted by taxpayerinVB on Tue, 01/31/2012 at 11:01 pm.

in Section 8. Thanks Paul Marion Barry Riddick

Buried with the fishes

Submitted by rickm on Wed, 11/23/2011 at 4:49 pm.

This story got buried faster than Bin Laden. Perhaps it was not being received in the manner the editors of the Pilot had hoped. It appears somebody is looking out for somebody.

Depress property Values? C'mon man

Submitted by barry403 on Wed, 11/23/2011 at 9:43 am.

The property values in Campostella Heights are the tied for the lowest in the city with Park place and lamberts point. Any new construction would only improve the values. Mr. Riddick, you are a dinosaur about to become extinct. You are so out of touch with reality. What would you rather see go on that property, another strip center with a Kappatal cuts and a family dollar? I am now going to research your district and find somebody to run against you. Your time is up.

Riddick-ulous

Submitted by kevinm77961 on Wed, 11/23/2011 at 6:24 am.

If Riddick doesn't like it....it must be good for the city!

Norfolk's ball and chain - Paul Riddick

Submitted by rickm on Wed, 11/23/2011 at 6:08 am.

Paul Riddick relies on public housing residents and others on the lowest rung of society to keep him in office. He makes promises that he’s “looking out for them” and will provide for them and without him they would be worse off, as if that were possible. The residents of this new development, if they can afford rents of $1300 a month, are the type of self sufficient people who would see Riddick for exactly what he is: a selfish ego who always votes his own best interest above the welfare of the city at large and even his own constituents. Riddick knows that this development will bring 700 people into his ward that he cannot control. And even though this is a good thing for the community it’s a bad thing for him and that’s all that matters.