Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Jenkins, VBHMA Win

The Virginian-Pravda brings us the story of how the Virginia Beach Development Authority (VBDA) has chosen a developer to build at the Dome site http://hamptonroads.com/2008/05/1st-chance-remake-dome-site-goes-texan For those of you without an ear on the Resort Area gravevine, here's the inside story.

First, innkeepers have been pushing for entertainment venues. Not only to lure Summer visitors, but - more importantly - to draw bus tours during the off-season. Therefore, the VBDA decision is being toasted on Atlantic Avenue.

Second, Dome site redevelopment has been the top issue for the Resort Area for over 2 1/2 years now. Therefore, it's a question of "how", not "if", it gets done.

The amusing part is that the time frame makes it unlikely that the matter will come to City Council until after the November Council election. Can you imagine a lame duck Council approving Dome site redevelopment and a light rail DEIS in December? Merry Christmas, VBTA!

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'll bet the oceanfront community is thrilled about the project. However the employees and taxpayers are just waiting for the election cycle to start. I expect to get each candidate to make a public comment on funding/not funding these projects before Election Day. With a very public position on these types of projects, we'll have the names of the candidates to be endorsed by the employee groups. The city cut the pay raise percentage, threw out the entire merit program and put ALL health insurance increase costs on the backs of 17,000 employees so the council candidates need to understand what they are facing. I hear from employees everyday who are not happy about what has taken place.

Anonymous said...

Henry, it isn't the VBTA that needs to worry about such misplaced priorities - it is all beach families that will continue to suffer from such wasteful city spending and the ever growing city debt.

As William points out, these non-essentail "wants" by the Oceanfront busienss lobby will be campaign issues in theNovember elections.

-Reid

Anonymous said...

Reid: what Henry was trying to say was that IF Moss & Co. was elected*, he could quickly dismantle light rail + Dome Site plans

The sooner we get evening/Sunday buses, the sooner we can talk to the Feds about light rail. The sooner it happens, the better. It's telling you know nothing about being stranded at night.

* which will never happen thank goodness

Avenging Archangel said...

Anon 7:31,

Not exactly: I was simply taunting the VBTA about what will go down after the election they lose badly.

I'm glad the transit scenario (which you repeat) is becoming common knowledge: hopefully transit supporters will vote heavily (and anti-VBTA) in November.

Reid,

Make up your mind which way you want it. Out of one side of your month you attack businesses for bringing in foreign student workers, who leave at the end of the season, not giving us off-season social problems. Out of the other side of your mouth you attack every effort to make us a year-round resort, which would make such employment more attractive to locals.

You're simply part of the 1% who is going to complain no matter what City Council does.

Anonymous said...

Yes, transit is a problem (why Moss & Co may not run this city)

My two sons and daughter share a place off the Blvd near Pembroke so they can catch a bus. Too bad there's no service to my place in Sandbridge via Downtown Pungo since now I have to transport them. Even with a hybrid, gas is a pain

My kids can drive but they like the bus

Same anon as before

Avenging Archangel said...

Anon 7:36,

I've thought a nice idea for a VBWave seasonal trolley for locals would be service TCC - Sandbridge Beach.

However, with all the transit needs Virginia Beach has, such a route is a "want" that shouldn't be seriously considered until the long term.

Michael Ragsdale said...

Sandbridge sounds like a nice long term idea. Via Downtown Pungo (yes, I know what Downtown Pungo means)? In the long term, that might be something to look into, but not right now.

Hourly TCC-Pungo-Sandbridge-Little Island Park via Sand Fiddler might be something. The question is: can an Opus or Gillig Hybrid fit on those narrow roads?

Michael Ragsdale said...

Correction: Sandpiper, not Sandfiddler. Oops.