This was not the best, original intent of the site - the developer had a grand vision and got screwed because the fed gov delayed the building of the site - remember, Granby Towers and Va. Beach's Westin were conceived of about the same time - construction started in Va Beach while Granby Tower fought off the fed claim of eminent domain. Now, though, with real estate prices depressed, and projects of this scale no longer profitable, might as well let the govt. take it - they did enough to screw over the city, Norfolk should just bend over, accept it, and move on.

Of course, Norfolk might use this scenario as an example to justify their own rapacious taking of Central Radio and the other business(es) near ODU - 'hey, we know it's wrong, and it screws property owners, but, hey, look what happened to us with Granby Towers...if it's good enough for the Feds, it's good enough for us....what a messed up city council.

Sure build a new condo that no one can afford. Oh wait, they tried that.

So, by moving from private development and condos which would have paid taxes to a government facility which won't pay any taxes but will use services, "the city" gains? Local taxpayers certainly won't.

should be so lucky that anybody would even want to build anything there besides more crappy condos, a dumpy bar/resturant, who wants to go down there barh

Ghent residents don't need a 3rd bank on a corner at that intersection. How about something that actually benefits the neighborhood more than just a slight step above a boarded up abandoned property?

Guess being a court house is better then being mud hole.