VP Editorial on Wards Corner

January 20, 2012

Michelle Washington, a reporter and editorial writer for the Virginian-Pilot and apparently a resident of Wards Corner, wrote an editorial in today’s edition of the paper about Wards Corner.  The article can be read here.

Selected portions:

Once again, we are all, old residents and new, eyeing the future of Wards Corner with hope.

The city’s confirmation last week that developer Chris Perry would bring a new $18 million Harris Teeter to the southeast corner of the intersection brought me wild imaginings of what else the development might draw. Perhaps excitement about a grocery store is merely a strong indicator of how much time I spend at the grocery store. It could also be an indication that folks nearby will support not only an upscale grocery store like HT, but a number of other restaurants, bars and retailers that would benefit from the foot traffic generated by a supermarket.

Instead of a string of disappointments, Wards Corner residents have recently witnessed a series of victories. Last summer the city bought seven apartment buildings in Denby Park, an area that has long struggled with blight and crime. Norfolk Collegiate School is constructing an $8.5 million arts center on Granby Street just blocks from Little Creek Road.


Chris Perry revealed his timeline for Harris Teeter

January 12, 2012
The new shopping center will replace the entire block, marked in red.

The new shopping center will replace the entire block, marked in red.

Chris Perry, on behalf of Suburban Land Management, attended the  Wards Corner Taskforce meeting this morning.  Suburban Land Management now owns the entire block bounded by Granby St on the West, E. Little Creek Road on the North, Virginian Drive on the East, and Louisiana Drive on the South.

Mr. Perry and his partners, who attended the meeting, provided an  approximate timeline for the demolition and construction of the new shopping center.  Harris Teeter is expected to be the new anchor.  According to the Virginian-Pilot, Harris Teeter has agreed in principle to build a 53,000-square foot outlet and the entire investment on behalf of Harris Teeter and Suburban Land Management will be $18 million.

The plan is for Mr. Perry to attend civic and community meetings in February and go before the Planning Commission and City Council and March and April, respectively.  The project must go before the Planning Commission and Council because a number of properties that will be included in the new development need to be rezoned.

Demolition is expected to begin in the summer of 2012 and Mr. Perry is hopeful that the new shopping center will open in 2014.

Wards Corner Now will be posting a schedule of civic and community meetings in the near future where Mr. Perry and Suburban Land Management are expected to reveal initial designs of the new development.

 


Norfolk Collegiate Center for the Arts groundbreaking

November 8, 2011
Norfolk Collegiate Center for the Arts

Norfolk Collegiate Center for the Arts

Great news for Wards Corner.  Norfolk Collegiate has scheduled a groundbreaking for their Center for the Arts.  The groundbreaking will be on December 16, 2011 at 9:15am.

This 31,000 square foot fine arts center will have a 425 seat theater, an on-site student art gallery, classrooms, workshops and practice studios. The facility will be made available at night to the community for a slight charge for security and janitorial services.

The floor plan can be viewed here.


nTelos proposes 100ft cell tower at Masonic Temple site

June 6, 2011
A flagpole cell tower in Willoughby, similar to what is being proposed at the Masonic Temple

A flagpole cell tower in Willoughby, similar to what is being proposed at the Masonic Temple

Ntelos is proposing to build a 100 foot tall stealth cell tower at the Masonic Temple at 7001 Granby Street.

The Planning Commission voted in favor of the tower, with the following conditions:

a)  The communication tower shall be a 100 foot tall flagpole antenna and supporting equipment located in the front of the property.

b)  The site plan must be approved by the Site Plan Review Committee including a review to ensure that adequate landscaping has been provided.

c) If the tower is not utilized for a period of 6 consecutive months, it will be removed.

d) The holder of this special exception will construct the tower in a manner which will accomodate future multiple users in an effort to reduce the number of similar towers in the immediate area.

e) The holder of this special exception shall be obligated to maximize co-location of antennae on this tower at market lease rates.

The proposal must now go before City Council for approval.


The Movie and Music Exchange opens Saturday

December 13, 2010

Ward’s Corner welcomes “The Movie and Music Exchange”:

Movie & Music Exchange

Movie & Music Exchange

The Movie and Music Exchange is having it’s Grand Opening in Ward’s Corner this Sat. Dec. 18.  We hope to be a postive force in Ward’s Corner by transforming a vacant store into something everyone can enjoy.  We are a family friendly store with a kids area in the back.

This area is conducive to constructive activities for children and also contains a wonderful mural of some popular animals that can be found in movies and the Norfolk Zoo.  Come see the largest selection of DVDs and CDs for sale in Norfolk. We have 1000’s of great titles in stock. You can trade yours for ours or just buy them outright. The
Movie & Music Exchange is connected to our sister store, The Book Exchange at 116 E. Little Creek Rd. Call us at 583-2667 or see www.bookexchangenorfolk.com for directions. We guarantee you will like this addition to Ward’s Corner!

Thanks,
John