2012 Spring Neighborhood Patterns

Neighborhood Patterns A spotlight on Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority’s real estate initiatives Spring/Summer 2012 FY12 Volume 4

Inside This Issue...

• Choice Neighborhoods Initiative - St. Paul’s Quadrant • Kroc Center • New Broad Creek Development • Builders & Designers Guild • Central Brambleton • Grandy Village Update • Senior Apartment Complex • Park Place Visioning • Monticello Ave Improvements • East Beach Homearama • Lamberts Point Townhomes • HomeNet

Consolidating for the Arts For the past several months, Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) and the City of Norfolk have been studying the feasibility of consolidating the Governor’s School for the Arts (GSA) programs within the historic Monroe Building at 254 Granby St. GSA is a program that draws from high schools across Hampton Roads, sponsored by the Virginia Department of Education and the public school divisions of Chesapeake, Franklin, Isle of Wight, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Southampton, Suffolk and Virginia Beach. The school provides a focused arts curriculum, including dance, music, theater and visual arts. The 350-student program has received national recognition, including a recent performance by its symphony students at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

Since its inception, the GSA program has operated from multiple Norfolk locations.

It has been a long-term administrative goal to consolidate GSA programs into one physical location or area. The purpose of the NRHA feasibility study was to provide a comprehensive evaluation of the six-story, 53,700 square foot Monroe Building, located in the Downtown Historic District, and in close proximity to other cultural attractions, as a possible new home for the school. The evaluation team determined the Monroe Building could be renovated to meet the program needs within the projected budget. The proposed renovation would allocate approximately 43,000 square feet to the Governor’s School and 10,700 square feet to provide ancillary space for the Virginia Stage Company (VSC) in support of its use of the adjacent Wells Theater.

Norfolk City Council and the Governor’s School Board have received presentations on feasibility study results and voiced support to proceed with renovation and consolidation. Before renovation activities begin this summer, NRHA will establish the entities necessary to utilize federal and state historic tax credits and secure project financing. Completion is anticipated in time Monroe Building circa 1915 for the beginning of the 2013-2014 GSA school year.

To see more historic photos of Norfolk, visit www.nrha.photoshelter.com

Choice Neighborhoods Planning Grant Supplements St. Pauls Area Vision NRHA and the City of Norfolk are partnering on a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) $250,000 Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI) planning grant for challenged neighborhoods just east and north of downtown.

The core area covers about 100 acres and includes the former Downtown Plaza shopping center and Tidewater Gardens apartments.

This area, known as St. Pauls, has been the subject of a multi-year study that creates a redevelopment vision and initial implementation steps.

Facilitated by the City, the planning process has involved a consortium of consultants led by the Goody Clancy firm, all working with a community task force of homeowners, local businesses, churches and other interested parties.

First priority has been given to accommodating Tidewater Gardens residents in any new development as well as identifying ways to transition the neighborhood into a vibrant mixed-use, mixed-income community. Once started this effort could take a decade to complete and will redefine downtown. Final authorization of the plan will be subject to City Planning Commission and City Council approval. Public hearings are slated for late spring/early summer.

Meanwhile, the Choice Neighborhoods component will complement and supplement the St. Pauls Area vision by filling in the detail. It will establish steps required to prepare residents and set out how to physically replace the 618 Tidewater Gardens apartment units in the redeveloped community.

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For more information go to: www.stpaulsquadr ant.com

Kroc Center Breaks Ground

Norfolk’s Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center, broke ground in late October 2011. The 80,000 square foot state-of-the-art recreation center is to be built within the Broad Creek development on Ballentine Boulevard near East Princess Anne Road. The Kroc Center will serve an award-winning community which has transitioned in the last decade from one of concentrated poverty and crime to one of Norfolk’s premiere neighborhoods.

The new $84 million facility will offer a wide vari-

ety of services and bring recreational activities, educational support, cultural art programs and strong mentorship programs to the city’s children, families and seniors. It is estimated that the Kroc Center will bring 40 to 50 full-time and 80 part-time new jobs into the community.

At his recent State of the City address, Norfolk Mayor Paul Fraim noted the importance of the project, calling it “the most significant recreational project in the city’s history.”

Mayor Fraim recognized those individuals and organizations in the community whose hard work and determination have brought the project to reality: Major Lewis Reckline of the Salvation Army, philanthropist Josh Darden, Vice Mayor Anthony Burfoot, the Hampton Roads Community Foundation, the Batten Foundation and NRHA.

New Broad Creek Development on the Horizon A developer has been selected to assist NRHA in the development of a new mixedincome neighborhood on 11 acres at 2500 Jamaica Avenue, former site of Moton Circle apartments. Upon evaluating three proposals submitted in late autumn 2011, The Community Builders, Inc. (TCB) of Boston was chosen. TCB is no stranger to Broad Creek where they have built and manage 300 apartments.

Preliminary site plans call for a total of 110-130 rental and homeownership units at final build-out.

TCB and NRHA hope to complete a Master Development Agreement by summer 2012.

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Quality and Value Live at the Builders and Designers Guild The NRHA Builders and Designers Guild is comprised of builder firms as well as architects and designers. The mission of the Guild is revitalization of Norfolk’s heritage neighborhoods.

The Guild standard is production of single-family homes that are a clear cut above common builder models, both in design and value. Thus, the Guild is a brand assuring high quality green residences built with integrity. Detached homes and townhomes start at $150,000.

For more information about NRHA’s Builders and Designers Guild, visit www.nrha.us/ content/builders-and-designers-guild. To tour homes currently for sale, visit www.nrha.us/ homes-for-sale

NRHA continually works to support Guild members...

Targeting area realtors, prospective buyers, contractors and other vendors, NRHA has developed a new website toolkit meant to build brand recognition and enhance the marketing efforts of Guild members as they tackle sluggish home sales prevalent throughout the Hampton Roads area.

The complete toolkit includes: •Builders and Designers Guild video, which can be shown to prospective buyers, contractors and other vendors as a seal of quality and craftsmanship. www.nrha.us/content/builders-and-designers-guild •Enhanced Realty Section of website, a tool for homes designed and built by Guild members to be searched and viewed online as some Guild members do not have websites of their own. www.nrha.us/homes-for-sale •Signage and bumper stickers featuring the Guild’s logo

NRHA Builders and Designers Guild Members Builders

Mid-Atlantic Custom Home Builders

Ainslie Widener

Norfolk Building Corporation

Associated Contracting Services

Richardson Homes

Beachtowne Builders

S/L Johnson Corporation

Community Housing Partners Corp.

WATAB Construction

G & J Construction Mgmt., LLC GreenBuildIt Habitat for Humanity Home Builders I Howerin Construction Hughes & Long Construction L & M Contractors Marquee Homes

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Designers Community Design Studio G.M. Frech & Associates Lyons Design Concepts, Inc. Reich Design Associates, PLC Rodriquez Ripley Maddux Motley

•Tips presented by a residential real estate marketing expert for promoting and branding the Guild.

In his blog, *Urban Underbelly, architect and blogger, Gregory Frech, recently praised the initiatives of NRHA and its Guild members and compared their efforts to the skilled tradesman of years past. “A ‘carrot’ approach is so logical it is surprising how little effort has been spent institutionalizing it, compared to the creation of endless enforcement of regulations and volumes of land use maps. Simply ask the question: How did quality building and good planning result in middle ages or other places and times before regulations? ANSWER: There was an attitude of self-regulation and workmanship pride among the tradesmen. It set a standard of quality, if not excellence.” *Urban Underbelly is a blog that seeks to share the back stories of successes and struggles in achieving the visions of New Urbanism, You can read the full posting at: http://gmfplus.com/blog/norfolk-revelopment-andhousing-authority-builders-and-designs-guild/.

Guild Stresses Customer Satisfaction Congratulations to Richardson Homes, w w w. r i c h a r d s o n h o m e s i n c . c o m , winner of the NRHA Builders and Designers Guild’s 2011 Award of Merit Among Peers. Richardson Homes’ owner/president, Jim Richardson accepted the award from NRHA CEO Shurl Montgomery at the Guild’s November 2011 meeting. The Jim Richardson Award of Merit Among Peers recognizes the firm achieving highest overall builder performance ranking, which includes customer satisfaction ratings performed by an independent survey company.

New Residences Slated for Central Brambleton For several years, NRHA has been acquiring land between Cecelia and Hanson Avenues in Central Brambleton that would be the site of 10 single-family homes ranging from $160,000 to $210,000.

In early 2012, the Planning Commission approved necessary zoning, partial street/alley closures and other conditions necessary for residential development. It is anticipated that a builder request for proposal (RFP) will be issued by early fall 2012.

$7.8 Million Apartment Complex Seeks Tax Credits

Continuing the Transformation of Grandy Village

NRHA has identified a two-acre site to construct 16-18 A proposed 43-unit senior apartment building at the energy-efficient townhomes, all with rear parking, to northeastern intersection of Tidewater Drive and I-64 be made available for income-qualified Norfolk famiadjacent to the existing 114-unit Robert Partrea apartlies. This initial project calls for the demolition of one ments won a $926,782 grant from the Federal Home existing building. The proposal also includes compleLoan Bank (FHLB) of Atlanta. The grant, which is tion of a road system to support accessibility for evencontingent upon NRHA obtaining housing tax credits tual senior housing. The Department from the Virginia Housing Developof Housing and Urban Development ment Authority (VHDA), could allow Housing Choice Voucher Video (HUD) will provide $2.7 million in completion of the site design, securconstruction funding. Once construcing necessary investment partners and tion begins, completion should take close on financing by late 2012 or early about 12 months.

2013 on the $7.8 million project. Notification of the housing tax credits is expected in June.

Check this out!

It’s Nice to be Noticed The 2011 Spring/Summer edition of this publication was named as the best newsletter among housing authorities located in the largest cities in the Southeast.

The award was presented November 6 at the Southeastern Regional Council National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (SERC-NAHRO) Fall Workshop in Point Clear, AL. Entries were judged on appearance, clarity, content and structure.

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New “Y” Re-Invigorates the Park Place Turn-Around By this time next year, a new YMCA Family Center, to be built at the corner of Granby and 29th Streets in Norfolk’s Park Place neighborhood is expected to be preparing for its summer 2013 grand opening. The new “Y” is the first step in a bolder vision plan for the up and coming Greater Park Place community.

The Greater Park Place visioning and engagement plan is being managed by a partnership led by the Hampton Roads Community Foundation (HRCF). Others include Jane Batten and the Landmark Communications Foundation, the City of Norfolk, NRHA, Old Dominion University, the Park Place Civic League and YMCA of South Hampton Roads.

The objective is to re-invigorate the turn-around of neighborhoods between Old Dominion University and 21st Street in Norfolk, which covers more than 500 acres.

CZB, an Alexandria-based urban planning and neighborhood development consulting firm, is assisting the partnership with the community engagement process.

Monticello Avenue Improvements Improvements are currently under design along the east side of Monticello Avenue between the Norfolk Southern underpass and 27th Street. These improvements will remove existing sidewalks and provide grass verges with trees to beautify the streetscape. New, wider sidewalks will be built inward of the planted verges to improve pedestrian circulation. This work will support both existing and future commercial development along the busy Monticello corridor.

Razing the Roof Newport Plaza on 35th Street and Newport Avenue suffered a severe roof collapse to the theater portion of the building, which requires demolition of that section. The commercial portion of the building along 35th Street will remain in place.

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Fall 2012 Homearama Coming Back to Norfolk’s East Beach Community For an unprecedented third time, East Beach, a community of superb planning and craftmanship in the tradition of Atlantic Coastal villages, will host Tidewater Builders Association’s Homearama from October 13-28, 2012. NRHA is proud to join the City of Norfolk as co-sponsor of this event.

Best known for its beautiful Chesapeake Bay beachfront, wide porches, parks and pedestrian-friendly streets, the continued development of East Beach is part of an on-going public-private partnership that includes the City of Norfolk, NRHA and East Beach Company, LLC. Twenty-five lots are being offered to qualified builders interested in participating in fall’s Homerama event. Price points for the lots, all located between East Beach Drive and Pleasant Avenue, range from $150,000 to $525,000, with average dimensions ranging from 3,500 to 6,300 square feet. Several bay front lots are available.

For updates as they happen and to learn more about the opportunities at the fall 2012 Homearama, visit www. homearama.tv/fall-2012/ or www.nrha.us.

Lamberts Point Townhomes First-Phase Sold Out The first phase of construction in Lamberts Point has been completed, and all seven of the contemporarystyle EarthCraft certified townhomes are under contract.

Families are scheduled to move in to the new homes through the spring and summer months of this year.

All have private garages located at the rear of the home.

Situated in a prime location – within walking distance of Old Dominion University and just a short drive into downtown Norfolk and out to Norfolk Naval Air Station, the development is considered one of the best new Like the first seven townhomes, residences being built home values in the region, with price points ranging in Phase 2 offer the option of two or three-bedrooms, from $175,000 to $215,000. all featuring high-quality interiors and two master suites.

The sales center for the new construction is open weekends from noon to 3 p.m. Interested parties should first call Bobby Howerin at 757-477-6536 to schedule an appointment. Buyer’s real estate agent receives 3% commission.

Prospective buyers are urged to call the HomeNet Homeownership Center at 757-314-4202 to see if they qualify for up to $30,000 in down payment and closing cost assistance. www.nrha.us/own/homenet 7

The HomeNet program, a partnership between NRHA, local lending institutions, housing developers, real estate firms, financial counselors as well as local, state and federal housing agencies, serves as a housing resource center, linking families to the many housing choices in Norfolk, as well as to the resources needed to make their dream home a reality.

The mission of the HomeNet Homeownership Center is to demystify the home buying process and empower participants to make informed decisions during the often complex home buying process. The program includes credit and purchase counseling, a Virginia Housing Development Authority (VHDA)-approved first-time home buyer education class, qualified lenders, realtors and attorneys, down payment assistance and closing cost assistance as well as Sponsoring Partnerships and Revitalizing Communities (SPARC) interest rate discount.

For more information, call 757-314-4202 www.homenetnorfolk.com

Vision Quality housing choices in neighborhoods where you want to live.

NRHA Board NRHA Board of of Commissioners Commissioners W. Sheppard Miller, III - Chairman Barbara Hamm Lee - Vice-chair Hattie Anderson F. Nash Bilisoly L. Robert Layton Trevor Robinson Robert Soble Shurl Montgomery - Chief Executive Officer

Mission Provide quality housing opportunities that foster sustainable mixed-income communities.

About NRHA: Founded in 1940, NRHA is a national leader in community revitalization and fostering sustainable mixed-income communities. As the largest redevelopment and housing authority in Virginia, NRHA plays a key role in making Norfolk the city of choice to build, work, live and play.

If an accommodation is needed, please give NRHA at least seven to ten days advance notice to meet your needs.

Requests for additional information regarding 504/ADA should be forwarded to Ms. Erica Alston, 504 Coordinator at 201 Granby St. Norfolk, VA 23510, 757-623-1111.

9:00 AM - 5:00 PM (M-F), TDD: 800-545-1833.

Published by NRHA Communications and Marketing Department 757-314-1682

www.nrha.us