The Regional: Norfolk wants to be an intermodal TIGER

If the feds pitch in on Norfolk’s bold new proposal, the Seven Cities will soon integrate seven modes of transportation: pedestrians and bicycles; cars and buses; conventional and light rail; and ferry service.  The $16 million first phase, to be constructed on the east side of Harbor Park, is roughly located where Norfolk’s original Union Station (1912-1963) once stood.

I’m extremely thankful to the Pilot’s Debbie Messina for giving a detailed, optimistic account of Norfolk’s federal TIGER grant application, and especially for embedding the actual proposal – all 27 pages – in her article.

Sunday Stroll: Lyon’s Point

In a forgotten sliver on the edges of Downtown Norfolk, major changes are afoot.  If you’re itching to enjoy an early fall stroll today, walk/bike/drive along Park Avenue to Harbor Park and then cross the railroad tracks on the east side.  Don’t worry, I’m not leading you into a ghetto – I’m leading you into no man’s land.

Not even Google Maps seems to have a name for this little neighborhood – likely because there are very few neighbors.  I suspect it was once part of South Brambleton, before I-264 was built through the middle, but years of neglect have left only a few anchor tenants: a church, an historical home, a shipbuilding operation, a ramshackle apartment building, and an electricity transfer station.  That’s pretty much it.

Between the interstate, a bridge and the waterfront Lyon’s Point is surrounded by connection barriers. Park Avenue provides the only entrance and exit.  While it’s hard to imagine right now, in less than three years these desolate streets, bordering block upon block of overgrown green field, will be smack next to the region’s premier intermodal transportation center.  And this, friends, is why Norfolk is quietly buying up the remaining parcels of land.  In their recent TIGER grant, mentioned above, you can see Lyon’s Point filled in with new development.

I wouldn’t want to live in Lyon’s Point right now, and neither of its two houses is for sale, anyway.  But give it a few years.

Post-Op: Hurricane Earl’s “Fury”

This week’s big event, of course, passed with little significance to the Virginia Coast.  That’s what they get for naming it “Earl.”

Like other four letter words that begin F-U-, when we overuse a word we risk degrading its meaning.  Friday morning I clicked on a weather.com photo essay, thinking perhaps that the storm’s effects had been far worse elsewhere.   The “teaser” picture was the broke-and-busted Frisco Pier in NC.  Upon closer examination this stock photo had the caption, “The pier was already damaged by past storms, but the damage became worse.”  Cool story, Hansel!

Please Enjoy,

Addy