NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — A high end bowling alley, brewery, restaurants, shops and office space could soon be headed to a former industrial area next to the Lamberts Point railroad.
“The plan is to take five existing structures, several of which are historic, and renovate them using historic tax credits,” said George Homewood, Norfolk’s planning director, in a presentation to Norfolk City Council Tuesday afternoon.
The site sits along Hampton Boulevard between the Norfolk Southern Railroad tracks and West 27th Street. Norfolk property records state that the majority of the land is owned by Hall, Nancy B Revoc Trust Agreement.
“This is a bowling alley that currently is operating in Richmond in the Scott’s Addition area. It has gourmet foods and craft brews and things like that,” Homewood said.
It’s a total transformation of this industrial space, something neighbor Daniel Short would like to see happen. Short owns FantomWorks, a car restoration company across the street.
“The business plan for Lambert’s Point is magnificent as far as I’m concerned,” Short said. “This building was a train wreck and it turned into an absolute diamond that came out of the rough. The buildings across the street … they need the same thing, they really look bad and they could be so magnificent.”
Short does not think it will help his business, since most of his clientele aren’t from the area. But still, he’s ready for a change.
“When I look across this road, it’s worse than an eye sore. I see crime, I see abandoned buildings, I see people that are squatting and moving in, there’s beer bottles, there’s needles over there. That entire area needs to get revitalized or bulldozed and I’d much rather see it revitalized,” Short said. “I want the development of the property across the road probably more than anyone else in Hampton Roads.”
However, Robin Bernath, who lives in the Norfolk neighborhood, does not have her foot on the gas pedal.
“It would bring dollars in. I’m just wondering about the increased traffic, the noise and litter and the affect on that in the neighborhood. This neighborhood is a jewel.”
The Architectural Review Board will hear plans for the proposal in early August.
