South Norfolk Technical Assistance Panel

On March 7 and 8, 2012 the Urban Land Institute (ULI) of Hampton Roads conducted a 1-1/2 day Technical Assistance Panel (TAP) sponsored by the City of Chesapeake to provide a reality check on the desired redevelopment of the Poindexter Corridor and Historic District of South Norfolk. The panel was comprised of diverse and regionally recognized development experts from throughout Hampton Roads.

For three months prior to the TAP, Andrew Keeney of Kaufman & Canoles and Michael Molzahn of HBA worked with the Chesapeake Planning Department and other key individuals at the City of Chesapeake to develop key issues for evaluation:

• Evaluation of the Localized Market Area and Regionalized Market Area
• How perceptions of the area can be changed
• Recommendation for immediate (6 to 12 months) actions for the Poindexter Street Corridor
• Evaluation of the merits and intrinsic value of the South Norfolk historic district
• What scale of investment is feasible for the area

The panel convened Wednesday afternoon March 7 and began with a very informative guided tour of South Norfolk hosted by the Chesapeake Planning Department. Later in the evening the panel met for a dinner, got to know each other, and had a frank discussion of pertinent issues with William Harrell, Chesapeake City Manager.

Thursday morning various individuals from the City of Chesapeake and from the community were invited to express their experiences and ideas for improving South Norfolk. The panel then convened behind closed doors for an intense work session to present recommendations at a 4:30 PM press conference that afternoon. The Virginian Pilot story can be found here.

The final ULI report will be issued in about a month.