Newport Ave near the Fitness and Wellness Center will close to through traffic starting next week for utility work related to the new pump station being installed. The closure is expected to last until July / August 2012. Detour routes will be posted.
The community and residents will still have access to the Fitness and Wellness center.
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The April 2012 civic league meeting will be held on the 16th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes: Superward 6 Candidates Forum. The following have been invited: John Amiral, Marcus Calabrese, Jesse Scaccia, & Barclay Winn. Chris Perry will also be attending to present updated designs of his proposed shopping center.
Here is President Jim English’s message for April 2012:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
In case you hadn’t noticed, the business of redevelopment in the Wards Corner Business District is starting to pick up. Ah, yes, and just in time for spring cleanup.
As I have reported in the last two newsletters, we know that Bon Secours DePaul Hospital and Chris Perry are both in the works to redevelop their properties starting very soon with completion dates in the 2013/2014 time frame. City Council and Planning Commission actions will occur very soon on the Perry Property.
The following is taken from the Wards Corner Now website.
“A special joint meeting of the Planning Commission and City Council has been scheduled for April 24, 2012 at 7pm in City Council chambers. The meeting was scheduled at the request of City Council in an effort to speed up the approval process for Chris Perry’s project at the southeast corner of Wards Corner which is slated to be a Harris Teeter anchored shopping center. The public is encouraged to attend and express their concerns / opinions.
The City of Norfolk has received the following applications regarding the new Harris Teeter anchored shopping center planned for the southeast corner of Wards Corner:
1. Conditional Change of Zoning. The applicant is asking to rezone the entire block to Conditional C-3 with conditions that the property shall be developed generally in accordance with the layout attached as Exhibit A, that the outparcel will be single user, and that the buildings constructed will be consistent with the appearance in the rendering attached as Exhibit B.
2. Adult Use Special Exception for the sale of Alcoholic Beverages for off-premises Consumption. The applicant is requesting to be able to sell Beer and Wine from 6:00AM to 12:00AM daily at Harris Teeter.
3. Special Exception to Operate a Retail Establishment After Midnight. The applicant is requesting to operate a full service Harris Teeter from 12:00AM to 12:00AM daily.
4. Special Exception to operate a Commercial Drive-Through Facility. The applicant is requesting to operate a branch banking facility with drive-through lanes to serve customers, including automatic teller machines.
5. Special Exception to operate a Commerical Drive- Through Facility. The applicant is requesting to operate a drive through out of the end unit of the shopping center serving food and beverages. The hours of operation indicated are from 6:00AM to 11:00PM. The exhibit to this request indicates a “COFFEE HOUSE” in that location.”
If you wish to hear more about the Perry Redevelopment Project, please join us for an update at the April Civic League meeting on April 16th.
Also, on March 16th, 2012 at 130PM a press conference was held in the parking lot in front of the old People’s location in the Midtown Shopping Center (northeast corner of Wards Corner). There, acting Department of Development Director, Chuck Rigney, announced that Joan Dalis plans to spend more than 1 million dollars on a new facade and a redone parking lot, to include new lighting. Some photos from the press conference are below. She also plans to add new tenants as she upgrades improvements to her property. This is indeed welcome news and we look forward to the new look at the Dalis property. She expects the work to be completed in six months. Please follow my messages here or on our website http://www.wardscorner.com or www.wardscornernow.com for updates as we learn of them.
We are grateful and thank both Mr. Perry and Ms. Dalis for upgrading their property. We look forward to the completion of these projects and the attraction of new tenants into the business district. We also thank the city of Norfolk for their continued purchase of the troublesome properties in the Denby Park area. All of these actions toward redevelopment of the Greater Wards Corner area make us all more optimistic than ever about our neighborhoods.
Finally, we have a very important election coming in May for our Superward 6 councilman. We will hold a candidate forum at our next civic league meeting on April 16th at 645Pm at the Wellness center.
Councilman Barclay Winn is being challenged by three candidates: John Amiral; Marcus Calabrese and Jesse Scaccia. Please join us at this very important meeting to hear what these candidates have to say about how they will improve Wards Corner and the city of Norfolk.
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The March 2012 civic league meeting will be held on the 19th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes: VA General Assembly update from the following invited representatives: Delegates Kenny Alexander, Linwood Lewis, and Senator Ralph Northam. Additionally we expect updated renderings of the Harris Teeter anchored shopping center from Chris Perry
Here is President Jim English’s message for March 2012:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
Congratulations and thank you to the alert neighbors on Maycox Ave, Burleigh Ave, and Ruthven Road who notified the police about a burglary in progress on Maycox Ave, Thursday, February 23, 2012. 
Because of their steady, constant and persistent vigilance and after numerous calls to the police dispatcher, the police arrived and two of the three young dysfunctional punks who tried to break in at a Maycox address were apprehended at the time of the break-in. To the victim, I am sorry this happened to you. The victim has placed the following sign in his yard as a reminder that it pays to know and look out for your neighbors. I couldn’t agree more. This is what neighbors should do. We should watch out for each other and when we see a problem that needs police intervention call, and call and call until we get them there. While it is frustrating to not get the police there on the first call, if we see a crime or potential crime in progress the only way to get action is to continue to make repeated calls to 911 until someone from the police department shows up. My sincere kudos to all the neighbors involved in this incident for doing what good neighbors do. Being persistent and not giving up when a crime is in progress is what is needed. Let’s all learn from their example.
The following is from the Bon Secours Hampton Roads website and is provided as an update on the construction phase of the medical center campus. You may see more plans on the website: http://wardscornernow.com/
Bon Secours Virginia has announced the beginning of the second phase of the campus development plan for Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. 
The health system plans to break ground on a 105,000 square foot, four-story medical office building, which will be located on the medical center campus, just off Granby Street at 150 Kingsley Lane, by late summer or early fall of 2012 with occupancy expected to be available for occupancy by fall of 2013.
The $25 million new office building will be home to specialists and primary care physician practices. At the core of the facility will be a comprehensive cancer center, which will place state-of-the-art technology in the hands of cancer experts, enabling them to address the unique needs of those battling cancer.
“Over the past three years, Bon Secours has continued to demonstrate its commitment to the Norfolk community by making a series of investments in programs and services at Bon Secours DePaul,” said John E. Barrett, CEO, Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center. “With the first phase of investments completed we are looking forward to the development of our new medical office building, which marks the start phase two. Our final phase of development will be the construction of the new Bon Secours DePaul to allow us to better serve our community.”
During phase one developments at DePaul in 2011, the health system invested in a variety of new equipment, facility upgrades, and other expansions, including:
• A neuroscience intensive care unit
• New cardiac catheterization laboratory
• An interventional neurovascular laboratory
• Hampton Roads first low-dose 64-slice computerized tomography scanner
• A state-of-the-art robotic surgical system for the minimally invasive surgery program
• Renovations on the patient care units
• Recruitment of numerous physician experts
• Significant site preparations and extensive planning with the Norfolk Planning office and DuanyPlater-Zyberk
I am happy to report that Vision, the night club in the 100 block of E. Little Creek Road where 5 people were injured as a result of multiple gunshots, has CLOSED and will not reopen. Good- bye and good riddance. This property was recently purchased by Mr. Perry and is part of his plan for demolition when he rebuilds his “corner” with the new Harris Teeter as its anchor. Mr. Perry was at our last civic league meeting in February and we anticipate his return at the March meeting for an update on his plans which should include a new design rendering of the building. Please join us and voice your opinion of his plans.
If case you hadn’t noticed, new curb and guttering has been install at Ruthven and W. Little Creek and Grantham Roads. I am sure this makes Ray Duron happy because it makes this once street eyesore look good. He has been asking for this improvement for some time. Enjoy Ray!
Finally, at the March meeting we will have our annual Virginia General Assembly update with our local delegates Kenny Alexander and Linwood Lewis and state senator Ralph Northam. Please join us and see what our Virginia lawmakers have been doing for us this year. It has been a tough year for getting things done so their discussion should be very interesting.
Hoping to see you at the March meeting.
Sincerely,
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The February 2012 civic league meeting will be held on the 27th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes: Chris Perry with the Harris Teeter plan.
Here is President Jim English’s message for January 2012:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
I have been writing this column for our newsletter for 12 years now. During that time I have always given you updates about potential and real progress concerning redevelopment opportunities for the Wards Corner Business District. The revitalization of the business district has been painstakingly slow to say the least. Moreover the opening of new businesses into that area has been rare. This slow growth of redevelopment in the area has been indeed frustrating to all of us.
Yet with the Wards Corner Comprehensive Plan that was issued in November of 2003 many of us have tried to be optimistic and stay positive as we pushed our ideas with our city council representatives. We have also always tried to emphasize our position with the various city departments in a positive and productive way as well. This also has been frustrating and it has seemed at times that our push for redevelopment was falling on deaf ears. Again this has left us frustrated but nonetheless we have stayed the course and continued our efforts to revitalize the area.
Now it appears that redevelopment may indeed be coming to Wards Corner. On February 7th several of us met with Chris Perry who unveiled his redevelopment plans for his property to us. His property is the southeast corner of the business district where AJ Gators currently is located. Included in that group were Jim McDonnell, President of Talbot Park Civic league, Tim Fox, President of Suburban Acres Civic League, Martin Thomas Jr., Vice President of our Civic League, Barclay Winn, City Councilman, and me. What we heard and saw from Mr. Perry was his footprint plan for his property as well as a draft rendering of what the site might look like with the Harris Teeter Store and the out parcel stores (yet to be named). We all had a good discussion about his plan, time table for development and the pros and cons of what we saw. Not a one of us gave our endorsement for his project at that time but instead wanted it first to be presented to the surrounding and neighboring civic league groups. Following that, we will make our recommendation to Mr. Perry on the project design. It is now time for Mr. Perry to present his ideas for this property to the community. He will be presenting his plan to us at our next Wards Corner Civic League meeting on February 27th at 645PM at the Wellness Center. I would encourage all of you to come out and hear what he has to say and see his provisional drawings for the property.
This is the first major news of redevelopment for the Business District in many years and we must ensure that the property owner and the city get it right for us. Since we all will have to live with the redesign of this property for 50+ years, we must all ensure that we like Mr. Perry’s proposal and he has an opportunity to hear us. If we don’t like his design and layout we must recommend alternatives for him to consider. Now is the time for you to have your input into this project. I urge you to attend the next civic league meeting as announced in this newsletter.
Finally I wanted to give you a brief update on the pump station and gravity sewer project along Newport Avenue. According to Rick Dempsey, Project Engineer with the Department of Utilities, work on the pump station at the Norfolk Fitnessand Wellness Center is anticipated to start at the earliest in March 2012. The gravity sewer project along Newport Avenue was expected to start in January, however the contract is still in processing and construction should be starting within the next month to two months.
Let us all hope that this is the year for redevelopment of the business district in Wards Corner. We have waited a long time for this.
Thanks and see you at the next meeting.
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The January 2012 civic league meeting will be held on the 23rd at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes: possibly the City Manager.
Here is President Jim English’s message for January 2012:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
What will the New Year bring to Wards Corner and the city of Norfolk? As we begin a New Year will we look forward to increasing progress in the redevelop-ment of Wards Corner? As you read my wish list for Christmas and for the New Year, I wonder if any of these will indeed come true in 2012. Remember they were:
I and many others have been at this task for the revitalization of Wards Corner for some 12+ years now and have seen improvements, although it has been very slow in coming. I am going to keep track of my wish list to see how many of these are addressed by years end.
During 2011, we had an interesting and productive civic league year. Below are highlights from last year’s meetings:
January 2011: Voted against FORKIDS coming to the business district. I then presented highlights of the 2010 year.
February 2011: Recognized 3 Granby Elementary Students for their Science Award achievements in the State Science Fair. Heard a presentation from Norfolk Police Officers McKenzie and Davis on their policing activities in Wards Corner.
March 2011: Our guest speakers were Senator Ralph Northam and Delegates Kenny Alexander and Paula Miller who discussed the highlights of the 2011 Virginia General Assembly Session.
April 2011: Councilman Andy Protoyrou was our guest and he discussed with us the redistricting plan for the cities Electoral Wards. Despite the changes, Andy will still represent our area. Members of the Department of Utilities also made a presentation regarding the proposed new sewer pump station to be located on or near the Wellness Center
May 2011: Our guest speaker was David Setchel, Administrator with Bon Secours DePaul Medical Center who briefed us on the plans for the new Medical Center Complex. We also had an update from the Utilities department on the proposed pump station.
June 2011: Our guest speaker was Stanley Stein, Deputy City Manager who spoke about the Neighbors Building Neighborhoods program. We also had updates about theproposed sewer pump station and the Food Bank’s Emergency Food Assistance Program.
We do not hold our meeting during the months of July and August.
September 2011: We again heard updates on the sewer pump station and the land acquisition of property in the Denby Park neighborhood. We have finally agreed on the design and location of the sewer pump station as of this past summer.
October 2011: We held a candidate forum for those candidates running for the Virginia General Assembly this year with elections in November. Meeting with us and discussing their platform were incumbent Delegates Kenny Alexander and Linwood Lewis who were running unopposed. Running for the Senate were incumbent Ralph Northam and challenger Ben Loyola.
November 2011: Our speakers were Councilman Andy Protogyrou and Brad Robinson who spoke about the resignation of the Norfolk Superintendent of Schools. Councilman Protogyrou also spoke about other issues pertinent to Wards Corner.
December 2011: Our guest speaker was Chuck Rigney, Interim Director of Development who spoke about the operations of the Planning Department. We also held our elections and all of the incumbents were again elected for another one year term.
As the New Year begins we will once again pro-vide you with speakers on timely and relevant issues at our civic league meetings. We also want you to attend and bring your issues and concerns to us so that we may help address and/or rectify those issues and pro-blems. You may keep track of the civic league hap-penings in this monthly newsletter but your presence at the meetings is greatly appreciated. Please consider attending. Please also visit us at www.wardscorner.com.
Finally, please note that our meeting dates for January and February have changed due to holidays on our regular meeting days. The January meeting will be on January 23rd at 645PM and the February meeting will be the 27th at 645PM. Both meetings will be at the Wellness Center.
Thanks for allowing us to continue to serve you as officers of the Wards Corner Civic League
Happy New Year to all and wishes for a prosperous and healthy year.
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The December 2011 civic league meeting will be held on the 19th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes TBA
Here is President Jim English’s message for June 2011:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
Holiday Greetings to all. The holiday season is once again upon us. It is a time for great anticipation, reflection and joy as all of us celebrate our respective traditions and religions. It is also a time that we need to reflect on those in our community, city, nation and world who may not be celebrating a joyful season and reach out to them when and if we can do so. Helping those who are in need or are shut-in is perhaps the best gift we can give them. Thinking of those still fighting a war in the far away Middle East and being thankful for those returning from a war ending in Iraq and helping or assisting their families if needed is the best way we also as neighbors can support them. As we gather with our own families this holiday season let us not forget that there are those folks out there who may not be able to celebrate. They need our thoughts and prayers. A simple smile, hello or can I help you goes a long way to show them that someone cares. Let us also pray for all of our city, state and national leaders that they can make sensible and responsible decisions for all of the residents of Norfolk, Virginia and the United States in the coming year.
As I make out my Christmas list this year I wish for:
Do you think I am asking for too much? I am trying to cut back in my wishes this year!
Perhaps you can add to this list.
Again this year, instead of my normal message, I thought I would use the space to share with you some old and new ideas on going “green” for this Holiday season in case you were looking for some ways to protect our environment this season. I am a firm believer that environmental protection leads to the betterment of the public’s health through sound environmental practices. I also believe we all can do something, if even so small, to make a difference in protecting our environment for everyone. The following tips are taken this year from the Sierra Club website. Also remember the quote by C.S.Elliotton Have an Eco Friendly Christmas.“Christmas is a holiday noted for conspicuous consumption.” Show your respect for the planet by adopting some new Christmas traditions this year. Going green is becoming more popular, but even more important, it’s good sense: for you, your family, and the entire world.
http://www.sierraclub.org/tips/holidays.aspx
Make Your Own Wrapping Paper
Most mass-produced wrapping paper you find in stores is not recyclable and ends up in landfills. Instead, here’s a great chance to get creative! Wrap presents with old maps, the comics section of anewspaper, or children’s artwork. Or use a scarf, attractive dish towel, bandana, or some other useful cloth item. If every family wrapped just three gifts this way, it would save enough paper to cover 45,000 football fields.
Buy Energy-Saving Holiday Lights
Now you can decorate your house with LED lights that use 90 percent less energy than conventional holiday lights, and can save your family up to $50 on your energy bills during the holiday season! LED lights are available at many major retailers, including Target, Costco, and Ace Hardware.
Add Organic and Local Foods to Your Holiday Feast
Support local family farmers who grow sustainable meat and produce. Not only does it taste better, you’ll be doing your part for the planet too. Looking for an organic turkey or ham for Christmas dinner? Find out where to get local green products in your neighborhood.
Do a “Cool Home” Tour with Our Energy-Saving Checklist
Take a pledge this New Years’ to reduce your home energy use by buying energy-efficient light bulbs. Installing only 6 compact fluorescent light bulbs will save the average American family $60 per year.You can also use our handy “Cool Homes” checklist to see what easy things you can do in your home to save energy. If there’s a fire in your fireplace this Christmas, turn down that thermostat! Lowering the temperature even five degrees can take 10% off your energy bill. Check out a complete list of energy-saving tips.
Stocking Stuffers: Test Your Eco-Knowledge
Do you have a family member who loves the outdoors? Stuff their stockings with Sierra Club Knowledge Cards, which come in a variety of outdoor themes ranging from survival skills to baby animals. Another great stocking stuffer is “guilt-free” chocolate! Give the gift of organic, fair-trade chocolate and you can eat your way to a better planet.
Give a Gift that Gives Back!
Help support the critical work of the Sierra Club and give an eco-friendly gift at the same time! Sponsor a Wild Place this holiday season and share our country’s most special wild places and national parks with friends and loved ones. Sponsorships start at $20 and come with a range of special gifts, like a photo, plush animal, certificate of sponsorship, or a backpack. For last minute shoppers – or the most eco-conscious person on your list – download a virtual version and print or email your gift right from home
Get a Pesticide-Free Tree
Demand is on the rise for Christmas trees that are not covered in chemicals; some growers use 40 different pesticides, as well as chemical colorants. The good news is that there are now a number of tree-farms that sell pesticide-free trees, so ask your local Christmas tree seller, or search for an organic tree farm near you.
Recycle Your Christmas Tree
Ninety-eight percent of Christmas trees were grown on farms, not in forests, so at least it’s not as if you’re cutting down an ancient tree. Each year, 10 million Christmas trees end up in the landfill. While your tree won’t fit in the recycling bin with your newspapers and bottles, you can recycle your tree: many cities offer programs to turn your tree to mulch or wood chips. Call (800) CLEANUP or visit www.earth911.org to find the tree-recycling program near you.
Donate Your Time or Money to an Environmental Group
Get into the holiday spirit by volunteering! There are countless ways to help improve your community- and the planet – from cleaning up a local river to helping inner city kids experience the outdoors for the first time. Contact your local Sierra Club to find out about volunteer opportunities near you. A donation in honor of a loved one can also be a special holiday gift.
Recycle Your Old Cellphone
Getting a new cell phone for Christmas? Not sure what to do with the old one? Now, you can drop off that old phone at any Staples store, as part of the Sierra Club cell phone recycling program. Each year, 130 million cell phones are thrown out, weighing approximately 65,000 tons. Recycling your old phone prevents hazardous elements like mercury, cadmium and lead from ending up in our landfills. Find out more.
Last but not Least! Get Ready for Dinner-Table Debate
Are you likely to be the lone environmentalist at the dinner table sometime soon? Win arguments and influence people with our famous holiday survival guide. You’ll find ready responses to the predictable dinner table arguments that’ll be directed at you. Who knows, you might even make a few converts!
Finally from my family to yours, please have a safe and enjoyable holiday season with the best ofwishes for a prosperous New Year.
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Second phase of the Wards Corner sanitary sewer infrastructure improvements to being in January 2012
The City of Norfolk Department of Utilities has hired Gaston Brothers Utilities to begin the second phase of a $4.4 million project to replace aging sewer ppies and provide fully resurfaced streets in the area shown on the map to the right.
In January 2012 construction will begin on Newport Avenue and last through summer; work on the remaining residential streets will follow and is expected to be finished by Summer 2013.
If you have questions you can contact the on-site construction inspector, Gary Kimber, at 464-1659 or the project Manager, Rick Dempsey, at 664-6719.
A flyer regarding the project can be viewed here (PDF).
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The November meeting will be held on November 21 at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center on Newport Ave. Dr. Richard Bentley, Superintendent of Norfolk Public Schools, has been invited.
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The October 2011 civic league meeting will be held on the 17th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes a Q & A with Delegate Kenny Alexander, Delegate Lynwood Lewis, Senator Ralph Northam, and Ben Loyola.
Here is President Jim English’s message for June 2011:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
As fall approaches, so does election season. At our October meeting we hope to bring all of the candidates who represent us in our civic league area to our meeting. We are inviting the candidates who are running unopposed as well as those who are running with opposition. Invited are Delegate Kenneth Alexander and new Delegate Lynwood Lewis who is replacing Paula Miller as a result of redistricting. We are also inviting Senator Ralph Northam who is running against Ben Loyola. I am asking them to debate the issues for our area in a structured forum format as we have done before in our candidate forums. I am hopeful all of these folks will come to our civic league meeting.
At our September meeting I discussed the rumor and non-rumor mill that has been circulating around Wards Corner regarding future development in the business district. While I don’t want to beat a dead horse, I do want to share with you what I said at that meeting for those of you not in attendance. So here it is.
It was reported in the Virginian Pilot on September 15th that an Upscale Grocery Store was coming to Wards Corner. You may remember the headline.
“Harris Teeter to Wards Corner? September 15, 2011
The Virginian-Pilot is reporting that Chris Perry has plans to begin demolishing a dilapidated shopping area in Wards Corner within six months. He would replace it with a shopping center anchored by Harris Teeter.”
While we have known for some time that Mr. Perry does have plans for making extensive changes to his property, most, if not all of what is out there regarding his plans is rumor until he makes the announcement. Unfortunately, the civic league president from Suburban Acres Civic League made this announcement at his September meeting that was also attended by the reporter who broke the story in the Pilot. The problem with breaking this story is that it is not from Mr. Perry himself. If indeed he is negotiating with Harris Teeter to build a store on his property and the deal is not complete, the irresponsible release of this information, whether true or not, could kill the deal. That would be very unfortunate.
What is not rumored and also verified by me is that most, if not all, of the tenants on his property have been given 6 months leases and must vacate their businesses after their lease expires. Some may stay longer until the changes to the property are complete or under way. I also know that those current tenants that I have talked to plan on staying and relocating in the Wards Corner business district.
Therefore, what we know is that Mr. Perry is planning on redeveloping his property – and soon. What we don’t know is who will be there and what the new Perry shopping center footprint will look like. It is exciting to know that Mr. Perry is moving forward with the revitalization of Wards Corner. We have been waiting for something like this to happen. Hopefully this may encourage other large property owners in the business district to do the same – and soon. Some of them may need that encouragement to redevelop their properties. We can only hope that this will be the start of the revitalization that we have been working on for the past 15 years.
Regardless of whatever happens in the business district, we should be cautious in what we say and not spread rumors about possible land or business deals that may be in the works. To do so may kill any potential deals. It is the responsibility of the property owner to release this information when they are ready to do so. For anyone else to do so is irresponsible!
Please enjoy the information in this newsletter and I hope to see you at our next meeting.
Sincerely,
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The September 2011 meeting will be held on the 19th at 6:45pm at the Fitness and Wellness Center.
The Agenda includes an invitation for the City Manager, Marcus Jones, to present.
Here is President Jim English’s message for June 2011:
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE
Dear Neighbors,
The summer of 2011 is now almost in the history books as it has once again sped by very rapidly. I hope your summer was enjoyable and relaxing. Now that we have survived one hurricane named Irene, one earthquake, and an intermittent barrage of smoke from the continuing fire in the Great Dismal Swamp, I hope you are ready to begin the fall activities. Let’s hope we don’t have any more hurricanes this season. With fall fast approaching, school is in session and the Wards Corner Civic League will begin holding its regular meetings again beginning with our meeting at 645PM on September 19th to be held at the Norfolk Fitness and Wellness Center. While we have not had a meeting in two months, our board members and members of our civic league have been busy working on issues to make our area better. This newsletter reflects some of these issues and concerns that we have been involved in and working on.
Over the summer two major accomplishments were realized that impact all of us.
First, we finally reached an agreement on the design and location of the new sewer pump station that will be located on the property of the Wellness Center. After several meetings, including those at our regular civic league meetings and others following, a final compromise was reached. We wish to thank Kristen Lentz, Director of Utilities and her staff for working with us so closely in reaching this compromise. They all deserve a healthy sincere thank you as they represent the best in our city government. The new pump station will be located just inside the entrance road to the Wellness Center to the north and slightly inward of the road. Its design will be brick and as much as possible blend in with the architecture of the nearby homes across the street and neighborhood. The next steps for final approval will be a review and approval by the Norfolk Design Review Committee and final approval by the Norfolk Planning Commission. Once these approvals are met, construction on the pump station could begin this fall. This of course is in preparation of the new sewer lines that will be placed throughout our neighborhood beginning with the streets of Burleigh, Maycox and North Shore. This construction will also begin late this fall.
Secondly, the city has finally agreed to start acquiring property in the Denby Park/Texas Street area of Wards Corner. This area, of course, has been the major source of crime in our neighborhood. In accordance with the 2004 Wards Corner Comprehensive plan, the City is purchasing property in Denby Park.
As quoted in the Virginia Pilot and the Wards Corner Now website.
“City Council members and the Wards Corner Task Force have partnered on the need to acquire properties within the Denby Park neighborhood, specifically the Texas Streets section. The acquisition is part of the city’s plan to build safe, healthy neighborhoods that will sustain future generations.
Total units being acquired are 68 apartment units located in seven buildings and the grounds. The parcels include 316, 320, 324, 336, 340, 360 and 362 San Antonio Boulevard.
My best to you,
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Wards Corner Now Norfolk News
Wards Corner Civic League 