Wards Corner Now – Wards Corner, Norfolk, Virginia

Thanks, as always, to Karen Mayne for the following minutes.

Talbot Hall Foundation – Jay Taylor

Dr. Taylor represents a group of citizens who are trying to save Talbot Hall from development.  The property consists of 6.5 acres and the house was built in the early 1800s.  The Episcopal Diocese of eastern Virginia has hired Harvey Lindsey to study the disposal of the property, but it is not up for sale as of yet.  The Foundation is looking for community support to preserve the property for some type of public use.  For more information, go to:  http://savetalbothall.org/

Department of Public Works – Alice Kelly

Undergrounding of Utilities at Wards Corner —  The group approved the design of the concrete support poles.  The DPW will put in a budget request for the 2014 budget cycle to place the utilities on the southeast corner underground.

Red Light Cameras – Wards Corner is one of several locations being considered by the City for red light cameras.  Engineering designs are underway.  When the cameras are installed, there will be a 30 day period during which traffic citations will not be issued.

Sidewalks at Suburban Park Elementary – DPW and the Norfolk School System will share responsibility for repairs of raised sections of sidewalks at the school.  Work will be done over the Christmas break.   DPW will repair the sections of sidewalk along the street; the school system will repair the sections around the perimeter of the school.

School Zone Lights – After evaluation, DPW is not recommending additional school zone lights for Norfolk Christian upper school on Thole or the lower school on Granby because the schools are some distance from the public schools they are near and school hours and holidays are different.  They believe that additional police enforcement should help, noting that speeding violations in school zones carry a $400 fine.  DPW will look at placing larger school zone signs on Thole Street at Norfolk Christian upper school and the Norfolk Police Department will work with the school on tips for parents to improve traffic control.

Wards Corner Redevelopment – Chuck Rigney gave a historical overview of the establishment of Wards Corner from the 1940s to today.  No new information was presented other than what we have heard recently through Wards Corner Now about tenants.