city growth (Virginia Beach, Norfolk, Chesapeake: highrise, apartments, condos)

[DunnoDunne]

i went to Pembroke Mall with my friends, and all of sudden, i started to notice the downtown in Virginia Beach just got bigger. it just made my night by knowing that Virginia Beach's going to be one of major cities.

on this topic, does anybody know the upcoming new building around in downtown area? we had alot of nice resturants in the town, but dont we need to construct something different than a place where we eat at?

also i need some update information about norfolk downtown, i heard that they're building new skyscraper.

[Erma]

Actually Norfolk is in the process of getting a rail transit system. Va Beach will follow when cost from Norfolk Southern is reached to purchase unused RR system. As far as Town Center (pembroke area), we've been building for about 7 years now in that area. There are business apartments, apartments and parking garages as well as a Performing Arts Center (behind the Taco Bell on Independence).
That area has been stagnent for a long time. Pembroke Mall has taken new form since Dillards and Uptons moved out a few years ago. I like it much better than before. I have no idea what Norfolk is building a skyscraper for or what Bank/Business will own it.

[chesapeakesim]

Originally Posted by DunnoDunne

i went to Pembroke Mall with my friends, and all of sudden, i started to notice the downtown in Virginia Beach just got bigger. it just made my night by knowing that Virginia Beach's going to be one of major cities.

LOL, I hope you are joking about Virginia Beach being one of the major cities. The downtown area look nice, but not sure I would call a few blocks of fancy stores/restaurants and overpriced condos a downtown of a major city . It does beat the new "downtown" they built in Chesapeake though!

[Erma]

I don't think I'd want VB to be a major city. It would bring in all the riff raff from norfolk and portsmouth and it's not like we have enough of our own! But the thought was nice.

[citydweller]

Both VB and Norfolk are (will be building) new scrapers. This fall the old Va Pilot building on VB Blvd will be torn down and in its place will be a 22 story scraper which will be the corporate center for Gateway Bank. In Norfolk, Wachovia Bank has already started construction of an office building which will also include apartments.

[damian]

Town Center in VA Beach is less downtown and more of a densifying suburban area..think Tysons Corner in NOVA

[DunnoDunne]

Originally Posted by chesapeakesim

LOL, I hope you are joking about Virginia Beach being one of the major cities. The downtown area look nice, but not sure I would call a few blocks of fancy stores/restaurants and overpriced condos a downtown of a major city . It does beat the new "downtown" they built in Chesapeake though!

LOL of course, dude. but i'm not going to be surprised if va beach is consider as a major city in 30 years later through

[DunnoDunne]

Originally Posted by Erma

I don't think I'd want VB to be a major city. It would bring in all the riff raff from norfolk and portsmouth and it's not like we have enough of our own! But the thought was nice.

how about having virginia beach and norfolk getting in one city, i mean norfolk's land is like 50 times smaller than virginia beach. But Norfolk is one of most busy cities in virginia, while virginia beach is kind of laid back city with overload of homes. so it will be good if they unite in one

[vdogg]

Originally Posted by DunnoDunne

i went to Pembroke Mall with my friends, and all of sudden, i started to notice the downtown in Virginia Beach just got bigger. it just made my night by knowing that Virginia Beach's going to be one of major cities.

on this topic, does anybody know the upcoming new building around in downtown area? we had alot of nice resturants in the town, but dont we need to construct something different than a place where we eat at?

also i need some update information about norfolk downtown, i heard that they're building new skyscraper.

The red highrise furthest to the right will start construction this fall. It will be called "Gateway Tower" and will house Gateway Banks headquarters. The blue glass highrise furthest to the left will start in 2010.

Here's another pic of Gateway Tower.

[vdogg]

Originally Posted by DunnoDunne

also i need some update information about norfolk downtown, i heard that they're building new skyscraper.

Norfolk is building 2 new skyscrapers actually (3 if you count the long stalled Granby Tower, but that's another story). The one that is already under construction is Wachovia Center:





The other one will start construction in spring and will be a Westin Hotel and Residences (yes, Norfolk has to have one too. ).