Mike Hogan Wants To Build Convention Center, Moran Wins Straw Vote

[Wacca Pilatka]

Norfolk, heart of the metro area I call home, serves as a great comparison point as usual.

As Lake correctly notes, there is a tremendous amount of density and retail within walking distance of the Half Moone cruise terminal in Norfolk.

I don't think a downtown terminal's distance from the coast should be a major issue--Norfolk's isn't all that close to the coast either--but obviously bridge height is.

Incidentally, Waterside in Norfolk (the complex very similar to the Landing) is almost completely empty now, despite the success of the rest of downtown.  It's due to a combination of some criminal incidents and lease disagreements.  The Landing is a very healthy and vibrant place compared to Waterside.

[Timkin]

We may very well need a convention center ONE DAY.   NOT RIGHT NOW.  We have far more important issues at hand than a new convention center on Riverfront property.  Like not losing ONE MORE HISTORIC Building.  How about bringing something to downtown that will make people want to live there again (in larger numbers , than present)  How about diverse destinations which utilize some of the long-vacant buildings ?   

Putting a Convention Center on the Water is NOT going to revitalize Downtown.

[Timkin]

And at present , Moran would get my vote long before Mike Hogan.

[Dog Walker]

Norfolk, heart of the metro area I call home, serves as a great comparison point as usual.

As Lake correctly notes, there is a tremendous amount of density and retail within walking distance of the Half Moone cruise terminal in Norfolk.

I don't think a downtown terminal's distance from the coast should be a major issue--Norfolk's isn't all that close to the coast either--but obviously bridge height is.

Incidentally, Waterside in Norfolk (the complex very similar to the Landing) is almost completely empty now, despite the success of the rest of downtown.  It's due to a combination of some criminal incidents and lease disagreements.  The Landing is a very healthy and vibrant place compared to Waterside.

I was in Norfolk last fall and visited Waterside which actually has a marina in front of it.  Completely shocked!  It was a ghost town that is deader than Regency Square.  Waterfront, nearby museum, nice architecture....somebody really messed up.

[PeeJayEss]

 Nevertheless, a bad design will do harm in any location.  A good well thought of design would bring benefit.

Amen

[Wacca Pilatka]

I was in Norfolk last fall and visited Waterside which actually has a marina in front of it.  Completely shocked!  It was a ghost town that is deader than Regency Square.  Waterfront, nearby museum, nice architecture....somebody really messed up.

Not to mention the direct connection by skywalk to a sizable parking garage and the Marriott, and the Sheraton next door.

It was in OK shape until a year or a year and a half ago, but the aforementioned legal and crime issues chased out its best and most popular tenants.  And even before then, MacArthur Center and the bar/restaurant district that took off along Granby St. had stolen a lot of its thunder.

[wsansewjs]

In honor of the idiot politicians and supporters of the Dames Point Bridge, I motion for a redesignation of the Dames Point Bridge to Damn Point Bridge. If the bridge wasn't for the ultra-conservative behavior of those folks, then we would have an effective cruise port CLOSER to the bloody city.

-Josh