CHESAPEAKE WORKING ON NEW VISION FOR INDUSTRIAL WATERFRONT

CHESAPEAKE |Chesapeake’s waterfront along the Elizabeth River’s Southern Branch has been a hub for industry for many years, hosting companies like VMA members, Perdue, Kinder Morgan, Enviva, and many others. While other cities across the country are grappling with the challenge of redeveloping aging industrial areas, Chesapeake officials have a different vision for their waterfront. They aim to maintain the area’s industrial character while incorporating measures to address sea-level rise threats and stimulate future economic development.

The city’s project, known as the Industrial Waterfront Study, is currently underway and involves a 16-month process that includes gathering public input. The goal is to strike a balance between various demands, such as industrial, residential, commercial, and recreational uses along the waterfront. City officials emphasize the need for a comprehensive and balanced approach to ensure the area’s sustainable growth. The VMA has been working for almost a year to assist the City of Chesapeake with the study. Last summer, the VMA was invited to participate and advise the city and help key staff better understand the industrial waterfront within

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