The Virginian-Pilot
©
NORFOLK
The City Council appears likely to approve a rezoning tonight that would allow a 7-Eleven convenience store to open in Broad Creek even though the Planning Commission recommended rejection and many residents have spoken against it.
Vice Mayor Anthony L. Burfoot, who built a home in Broad Creek, has strongly endorsed the proposal. So has Planning Director Frank Duke.
Developers have proposed building a $3 million, 3,000-square-foot store at the intersection of Ballentine and Virginia Beach boulevards to replace a gas station. Burfoot said it would be nearly twice the size and more opulent than a typical 7-Eleven.
Broad Creek is a development in which the city and federal governments spent tens of millions of dollars to tear down two public housing complexes and replace them with mixed-income housing.
"It's not your typical 7-Eleven," said Duke, referring to pricey design elements that developers agreed to include, including copper on a portion of the roof.
"My hat's off to 7-Eleven because it's a very different kind of store than we usually get from them."
The Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend rejection of the plan in November in part because civic leaders said the developer had not consulted them.
Burfoot denied that, saying developers met with neighborhood leaders.
"This is a great project," Burfoot said.
Councilman Tommy Smigiel agreed, saying, "It's clean; it's nice. I could imagine this sitting across from East Beach."
Some civic leaders said that, no matter how pretty it may be, it will still be a convenience store that will sell gas, beer, soft drinks and chips.
Cuthrell Brockington, who leads the Middle Towne Arch at Broad Creek Civic League, said: "It does nothing to enhance the community. It brings more alcohol and tobacco products into the neighborhood."
John James, who heads the Stonebridge Crossing civic league, said it will bring "panhandling and parking problems. Nobody is going to invest in our community when they see people panhandling in front of a 7-Eleven."
However, Broad Creek resident Brad Law, who is a Planning Commission member, said he approves of the project. He was not at the November meeting. He has spoken twice to the council in favor of the issue.
He said most Broad Creek residents he's spoken to favor the project.
"There's no other 7-Eleven in the area that's like this one," he said. "It's going to be state-of-the-art."
Harry Minium, 757-446-2371, harry.minium@pilotonline.com
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Gas is not a bad thing. My
Gas is not a bad thing. My car needs and runs well on gas. Beer and chips? Not a bad thing during the Superbowl. Have you ever been to a Superbowl party without beer, wine, and chips, food, etc.? You need gas to get there. I prefer red wine, which they stock, too. 3,000 sf will likely stock fresh deli foods, salad/soup bar, milk, orange juice, fresh fruit, etc., besides the regular stuff. Anytime new quality brick and morter projects come into your neighborhood, that is a good thing. Beats the hell out of a strip club, check cashing store, or adult book store. Is meeting with civic leaders a City policy / requirement to build, in addition to meeting zoning / land use requirements? Are civic leaders required to receive quid pro quo when applyin
Can you say, NIMBY?
Because the 40-year old gas station there at present doesn't detract from the neighborhood's quaint ambiance; nor does it produce any of the unsavory conditions that concern the critics of a brand new, sparkling, up-to-code building.
And it is SO much more picturesque and appealing than the proposed new business.
I thought
PANHANDLING was illegal..??
Why?
Now why in the world would anyone in Norfolk expect city council to start listening to them now? And Smeigel, there's a huge lot next to the 7-11 at the Shore Drive/East Ocean View Ave. intersection across from East Beach. Maybe they could build a giant, upscale 7-11 there. It could be the largest one in the world. Now there's some real forward thinking development
Thrillme
Thrillme - you are more than welcome to view the informal session in which my quote was extracted for this article, when council was discussing 7-11. You can watch the taped version of on Norfolk.gov. I was not proposing a new 7-11 for East Beach. There is currently a 7-11 across from East Beach that is not great condition. If that 7-11 ever wanted to rebuild I think that the one being proposed in Broad Creek is a suitable model.
Better Yet
I think there would even be room at the East Beach 7-11 for a giant ferris wheel. An entertainment complex might work there, but they could only sell alcohol until 11pm weekdays and 12am on weekends. That might make it hard to get tenants.
what about the kids
These kids will be deprived of slurpees if this store doesn't open. Do it for the children.
So????....
What's all the fuss about? There is a police car parked right in front of the store. Problem solved!!
yea, donuts, two for $1.oo
yea, donuts, two for $1.oo
Waah, Waah
"Some civic leaders said that, no matter how pretty it may be, it will still be a convenience store that will sell gas, beer, soft drinks and chips."
God forbid a store tries to sell gas and chips in the neighborhood. What kind of businesses do they expect to attract? Nordstroms? They should be glad that a business is investing in the area.