Norfolk
Residents Permitted to Park in City Garages due to Coastal Flood Watch
NORFOLK
–In anticipation of possible tidal flooding of low lying areas in
downtown Norfolk from the remnants Tropical Storm Ida, Norfolk residents in the
surrounding neighborhoods will be permitted to park at no charge, beginning this
evening through Thursday evening, in the following City garages:
For
more information, please visit
www.norfolk.gov.
###
Parking is now on Twitter! -
(5/11/09)
Patrons can follow for
Downtown Parking updates at
http://twitter.com/NorfolkParking.
The City of Norfolk’s Division
of Parking has joined the new social media phenomenon - Twitter. “Twitter
is a service for friends, family, and co–workers to communicate and stay
connected through the exchange of quick, frequent answers to one simple question:
What are you doing?”
Parking will use this service to inform visitors, residents, monthly parkers and
others about what’s going on with Norfolk Parking. Posts or “tweets” as they’re
called on Twitter will include parking construction updates, parking
safety tips, special event parking information, parking services and some neat
parking facts.
Since this service is so new, Parking is looking for feedback from users of the
system about what they would like to see included on their Twitter site.
To submit suggestions online, please visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
Visit Parking’s Twitter
site online and signup to follow at
http://twitter.com/NorfolkParking. For information on Norfolk’s
Parking System or to request a free Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call
(757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Monticello Avenue Garage & Monticello Lot
Closure – March 29 - (3/17/08)
Parking facilities will close for
construction of the Wachovia Center.
Monticello Avenue Garage (MAG) and Monticello Lot (ML) will close on March 29
to accommodate construction of the Wachovia Center. Relocation of the monthly
parkers and communication with various businesses and event organizers has
begun.
Relocation Details:
Daily Patrons – Will be directed to park at nearby garages
including MacArthur Center, Freemason Street and York Street Garage.
Enhanced signage will be installed to direct patrons to these facilities.
Patrons will be notified by flyers given out by parking attendants at MAG
and ML, starting March 17.
Monthly Parkers – Will be relocated to parking facilities
within the Central Business District. Monthly parkers should contact the
Parking Customer Service Center at 664-6222 to make future parking
arrangements.
Special Event Patrons – Will be directed to park at nearby
facilities, including St. Paul’s Lot, Scope Garage, Brambleton Lot,
Freemason St. Garage, York St. Garage, and MacArthur Center North and South
Garages. Beginning next week, flyers will be distributed on event nights,
notifying patrons where they can park for future events.
The new St. Paul’s Lot – located
on St. Paul’s Boulevard and Wood St. – is nearing completion and will provide
over 750 spaces to support monthly and special event parking. The lot has been
well landscaped and includes enhanced lighting and security features. A shuttle
will transport St. Paul’s Lot patrons to Granby Street. The St. Paul’s Lot will
provide much needed parking supply that will address the void created during
construction.
For information on Norfolk’s
Parking System or to request a free Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call
(757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Amtrak’s Norfolk Thruway Bus Shuttle Service
Stop Relocated to North side of Bute Street - (1/9/08)
Stop formerly located on the
opposite side of York St. Garage.
As a way
to better serve its Norfolk passengers, the City of Norfolk – in conjunction
with Amtrak – has moved its pickup location from York Street to the North side
of Bute Street, just past the garage entrance, effective January 9. The stop
was relocated to York Street Garage from the Cedar Grove Lot in January 2007.
Amtrak
ticket holders will still be able to conveniently park at York Street Garage
then board the shuttle service bus that will pickup directly in front of the
garage.
Daily
Thruway Bus service is available with connections to Amtrak’s Northeast
Corridor. As Amtrak’s busiest corridor with more than 10 million passengers
traveling last year, service is available from Newport News to Washington, New
York and Boston as well as points in between. Connections may also be made to
other Amtrak services that travel across the country. Amtrak provides intercity
passenger rail service to more than 500 destinations in 46 states on a
21,000-mile route system. For schedules, fares and information, passengers may
call 800-USA-RAIL or visit
www.amtrak.com.
For
information on Norfolk’s Parking System or to request a free Downtown Norfolk
Parking Guide please call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
New St. Paul’s Parking Lot
to Open Soon - (11/9/07)
Phase I
(the northern section) of the
new St. Paul’s Lot – at the Downtown Plaza – is near completion, and is
scheduled to open soon. Once open, the lot will accommodate
monthly and special event parking. Rates include $43 for monthly parking; $4
collect-on-entry fee for special event parking.
Phase II
(southern section, near
McDonald’s and Popeye’s) Construction of Phase II will commence on November 16.
During construction period, there will be no parking in the entire area
surrounding Phase II. To properly notify the public of this project, the
Division of Parking has executed an extensive notification effort that includes
distributing flyers on a daily basis to all vehicles in the area, posting of
signage around the site, notifying area businesses and media outlets and posting
information on the City’s website. The notification period will last two weeks
at which time vehicles will no longer be able to park in the southern portion of
the lot. The parking areas adjacent to the outlying parcels (McDonald’s,
Popeye’s, Shell Station and the ABC Store) will be maintained for patrons during
the construction period.
Once completed in spring 2008,
the St. Paul's Lot will include over 700 parking spaces to support monthly,
transient and special event parking. The lot will be well landscaped, with
enhanced lighting installed to meet the standards of other downtown surface
lots. The completion of the St. Paul’s Lot will coincide with the development
of the Wachovia Center, providing much needed parking supply that will address
the void created during construction, including the demolition of the Monticello
Avenue Garage and Lot.
###
Norfolk
to Offer “Early Bird” Parking Rates for Grand Illumination Parade Attendees -
(10/24/07)
Beat the crowds and park for $1 by taking advantage of the City of Norfolk’s
"Early Bird Parking Special" on Saturday, November 17 for the 23rd
Annual Grand Illumination Parade. Patrons can come early to enjoy dinner,
shopping, or visit their favorite attraction before Downtown kicks off “Holidays
in the City” with this spectacular parade.
From 3 to 5
p.m., patrons can park for $1 upon entry at city-owned, attendant-operated
parking facilities in Downtown. At 5 p.m. special event rates ($5 or $4
depending on location) will be in effect. Early Bird Parking rates do not apply
at the following facilities: Scope Garage, Monticello Avenue Garage, the
Monticello and Brambleton Lots. Also, all Harbor Park Lots and the Harrison
Opera House Lot will be closed to the public for the entire day.
Regular
weekend rates ($1 before 6 p.m. and $2 after 6 p.m.) will be collected upon
entry at both of the MacArthur Center Garages.
Due to the
large crowds expected for the parade, Waterside Drive could be closed as early
as 6pm. Granby Street and Plume Street between Boush and Granby will be closed
to accommodate the parade. All other streets will be left open to enhance access
to parking facilities. Patrons are encouraged to take advantage of the “Early
Bird Parking Special" and enjoy the holiday atmosphere of Downtown Norfolk.
The Grand
Illumination Parade, themed “Holidays Around the World”, will begin at 7 p.m. For additional
parking information, please call 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking. For additional parade information contact Downtown
Norfolk Council at
623-1757 or
www.downtownnorfolk.org.
###
Main Street Garage to
be Refurbished - (5/3/07)
Weekend closures to take place
for improvements in May.
Consistent with the City’s
continuing efforts to improve and update its off-street parking facilities, the
interior of Main St. Garage, located on the corner of Main Street and Atlantic
Street, will be cleaned and painted during a
three–weekend period, weather permitting.
During weekend closures
throughout May, patrons are encouraged to park at nearby facilities, including
Waterside Garage (50 Martin’s Lane) or Town
Point Garage (112 W. Main Street).
Monthly parkers who hold valid access cards and hangtags should
park in the Waterside Garage during the closures. Upon exit, monthly parkers
should sign their ticket and Main St. Garage access card number to receive
courtesy parking.
For more information or to
request a Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Norfolk Introduces
NEW Meter ParkCards - (4/20/07)
It’s
Fast... It’s Easy... It’s Convenient!
No change?
No problem. Beginning May 1, 2007, Norfolk’s visitors, merchants, students and
shoppers can purchase the new prepaid Meter ParkCard. Similar to a debit-card,
the ParkCards will provide users with a cashless way to use the City’s updated
electronic meters throughout Downtown and at the ODU Village. The cards offer
convenient metered parking and allow our patrons to save money by providing a
refund of unused time at the meter.
Norfolk
will join several cities around the country including Miami, New York City, and
Philadelphia in offering debit parking cards to its citizens. ParkCards are for
use in all City of Norfolk parking meters, which will now accept the new Meter
ParkCards in addition to multiple coins, including quarters, nickels and dimes.
Drivers will be able to purchase a pre-determined number of parking minutes in
advance and also retrieve the remaining time value back onto the same card.
The Meter
ParkCards come in pre-programmed amounts of $10 or $20 and are reprogrammable in
amounts up to $300 and can be purchased at the Customer Service Center located
at 222 E. Main Street. The Division of Parking accepts cash, check or credit
cards as payment for the parking cards. For more information please call (757)
664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
Meter
ParkCard FAQs
(Frequently Asked Questions)
1.
What is a Meter ParkCard?
A pre-paid
debit-type card that can be used as payment for meters, instead of coins. The
Meter ParkCard is a convenient means of payment for frequent downtown, metered
parking patrons, whose visit is less than two hours.
2.
How does a Meter ParkCard work?
Directions are printed directly
on the back of the ParkCards, however they are as follows:
1.
Insert ParkCard
into meter (in direction shown by arrow).
2.
Card balance will
flash four times.
3.
Meter time will
then appear, increasing incrementally.
4.
Remove card when
desired time is displayed.
To Obtain Time Refund:
1.
Insert card that
was used to purchase time into meter. This must be at least 1 minute after
initial time was purchased.
2.
The meter will
display “ref” to represent refund in progress. The card must be removed
while “ref” is displayed to obtain a refund.
3.
Card will be
credited with all remaining time on meter purchased with this card, not coin
purchased time.
3.
Where can the Meter ParkCards be used?
Meter
ParkCards can be used at all City of Norfolk meters, including meters located in
Downtown Norfolk, and at the ODU Monarch Village.
ParkCards
are not for use at other parking facilities (garages, lots).
4.
Will coins still be accepted at the meters?
Yes, all
meters will still accept coins, including nickels, dimes, and quarters.
5.
Are the ParkCards reusable?
Yes, the
cards are reusable and can be reloaded with up to $300 at our Customer Service
Center.
6.
What if my card is lost or stolen?
There is a
$5 replacement fee for lost, stolen cards, or damaged cards.
Please do
not park at a malfunctioning meter. Report any meter that is not functioning
properly to the Division of Parking at 664-6222.
7.
Where can I purchase a Meter ParkCard?
ParkCards
can be purchased at the Customer Service Center, 222 E. Main Street or by
mailing in the attached order form with a check or money order.
For more
information call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
*MEDIA ADVISORY* Waterside Garage to
close for Improvements on April 14 & 15 - (4/11/07)
Consistent with the City’s
continuing efforts to improve and update its off-street parking facilities, the
interior of Waterside Garage, located on the corner of Waterside Drive and
Atlantic Street, will close for improvements
(cleaning and painting) on April 14 and 15, weather permitting.
While the
garage is closed, patrons should park at nearby facilities, including Main St.
Garage (230 E. Main St.), Town Point Garage (112
W. Main St., W. Plume St. Garage (100 W. Plume St.), and MacArthur South Garage
(500 City Hall Avenue).
Monthly
parkers holding valid access cards and hangtags can park in the Main Street
Garage while Waterside Garage is closed for improvements. Upon exit, monthly
parkers should sign their tickets and Waterside Garage access card number to
receive courtesy parking.
For more
information or to request a Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call (757)
664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Parking for Major
League Exhibition Game - (3/27/07)
Harbor Park will host sold out
exhibition game on Friday, March 30
Thousands of
baseball fans will travel to Norfolk on Friday, March 30 to view the first Major
League Exhibition game at Harbor Park, featuring the Baltimore Orioles
and the Washington Nationals at 2 p.m.
On this high
attendance day game, the Harbor Park lots will fill early due to the sold-out
status of the game. Patrons are encouraged to arrive early and take alternate
traffic routes, including the Brambleton exit (from I-264 W) or Tidewater Drive
(from south) to Park Avenue then follow to Harbor Park lots. Also, patrons
may park at MacArthur Center South Garage and take the NET,
Norfolk’s free Downtown shuttle bus, to Harbor Park. Overflow parking will also
be provided at the MacArthur Center garages.
Bus parking
at Harbor Park is available on Lot F.
Parking is
$4 at Harbor Park lots. Additional rates vary by facility.
For more
information please call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Waterside Garage to be
Refurbished - (3/19/07)
Weekend closures to take place
for improvements in March through April 8
Due to
inclement weather, the improvements to Waterside Garage have been rescheduled to
commence on Saturday and Sunday, March 24 and 25.
Consistent
with the City’s continuing efforts to improve and update its off-street parking
facilities, the interior of Waterside Garage, located on the corner of Waterside
Drive and Atlantic Street, will be cleaned and
painted during a three–weekend period, which may be adjusted because of the
weather.
Patrons are
asked to pardon our progress during the closure of certain floor levels for
cleaning and painting.
Dates Floor Level Closed Floor
Level Available
March 24,
25 3, 4, and 5
First two floors (1 & 2)
March 31,
April 1 2
First floor
April 14,
15 All Garage Closed
As
Waterside Garage will be closed during the weekend of April 7 and 8, patrons are
encouraged to park at nearby facilities, including Main St. Garage (230
E. Main Street) and/or Town Point Garage (112
W. Main Street).
When spaces are
not available in Waterside Garage, monthly parkers holding valid access cards
and hangtags can park in the Main Street Garage. Upon exit they should sign
their tickets and Waterside Garage access card number to receive courtesy
parking.
For more
information or to request a Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call (757)
664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Amtrak's Norfolk Thruway Bus
Shuttle Stop Relocated to York Street Garage - (1/2/07)
As a way to
better serve its Norfolk passengers, Amtrak – in conjunction with the City of
Norfolk – has moved its pickup location from the Cedar Grove Lot to the York
Street Garage, located on the corner of Bute and Boush Streets, effective as of
January 1.
This new
location is considerably more convenient to Amtrak ticket holders who will be
able to conveniently park at York Street Garage then board the bus shuttle
service that will pickup directly in front of the garage.
For more
information about Amtrak, visit
www.amtrak.com.
For
information on Norfolk’s Parking System or to request a free Downtown Norfolk
Parking Guide please call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
The City of Norfolk to Offer
“Early Bird” Parking Discount for the Grand Illumination
Parade - (10/30/06)
Beat the crowds and park for $1 by taking
advantage of the City of Norfolk’s "Early Bird Special" on
Saturday, November 18 for the 22nd Annual Grand
Illumination Parade. Patrons can come early to enjoy
dinner, shopping, or visit their favorite attraction before
Downtown kicks off “Holidays in the City” with this
spectacular parade.
From 3 to 5 p.m., patrons can park for $1
upon entry at city-owned attendant-operated parking
facilities in Downtown. At 5 p.m. special event rates ($5
or $4 depending on location) will be in effect. Early Bird
Parking rates do not apply at the following facilities:
Scope, Monticello Avenue garage, Monticello Lot, Brambleton
Lot and Harrison Opera House Lot.
Regular
weekend rates ($1 before 6 p.m. and $2 after 6 p.m.) will be
collected upon entry at both of the MacArthur Center
Garages.
Due to the large crowds expected for the
parade, streets will begin closing along the parade route at
approximately 6 p.m. Once streets begin to close, the
easiest access to parking is from Brambleton Avenue, Boush
Street and City Hall Avenue. Patrons are encouraged to take
advantage of the “Early Bird Special" and enjoy the holiday
atmosphere of Downtown Norfolk.
The Grand Illumination Parade, themed
“American Holidays through History”, will begin at 7 p.m. For
parade information contact Downtown Norfolk Council at
623-1757 or
www.downtownnorfolk.org.
For
parking information, please call 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Improvements made to Scope Garage - (9/27/06)
Renovations, which spanned four months, to come to end.
As
an effort to update and continuously improve
Norfolk’s parking facilities, Scope Garage –
located on the corner of St.
Paul's Boulevard and Brambleton Avenue – has
undergone major structural improvements, the first phase of
which will conclude in early October.
Improvements to Scope Garage include sealing severe
cracking and repairing spalls
(loose
concrete that pulls away from corroded reinforcing)
throughout the garage. This project, which
commenced in June, has taken approximately four months to
complete. Additional improvements to the Scope Garage will
resume in 2007.
The work, facilitated by Eastern
Waterproofing & Restoration of VA Co., LLC, will be
completed in time for the upcoming Admirals, Virginia
Symphony and the Broadway at
Chrysler Hall seasons.
Approximately
20 spaces throughout the garage will be unavailable through
October 9, after which, all 593 parking spaces will be
available for use.
Additional parking for The Scope and Chrysler
Hall is available at Brambleton Lot (100 West Plume Street),
Monticello Avenue Lot (corner of Monticello Avenue and
Charlotte Street), Monticello Avenue Garage (112
W. City Hall Avenue), and MacArthur North Garage.
For more
information about Scope Garage improvements or to request a
Downtown Norfolk Parking Guide please call (757) 664-6222 or
visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Town Point Garage to be Refurbished - (9/8/06)
Closures
to take place for improvements in September and October.
In an effort to update and continuously
improve Norfolk’s parking facilities, Town Point Garage –
located on the corner of Main Street and Waterside Drive –
will be refurbished during the months of September and
October, with work continuing to update the elevators
through January.
Patrons are asked to pardon our progress as
there will be increased congestion during the following
dates when certain floor levels will be closed for painting
and improvements:
Dates Floor Level
Closed Floor Level Available
September
9, 10 5,
6 First 4 floors
September
16, 17 4,
5 First 3 floors
September
23, 24 3,
4 First 2 floors
Sept/Oct 30, 1 2,
3 First floor
October
14, 15 1,
2 Closed
October
28, 29
1 Closed
Please note that Town Point Garage will be
closed during the weekends of October 14-15 and 28-29. The
garage will be open, however, during the Children’s
Festival, October 7 and during the Wine Festival, October
21-22. Additional parking is available at W. Plume St.
Garage (100 West Plume Street) & Boush St. Garage (112
W. City Hall Avenue).
For more information or to request a Downtown
Norfolk Parking Guide please call (757) 664-6222 or visit
www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
Monticello
Avenue Garage to close for repairs in August - (8/17/06)
Monticello
Avenue Garage will be closed for repairs
to an obstructed storm drain at the entrance and exit of the
garage during August 19-20 and 26-28.
This project, which begins Friday, August 18, is
scheduled to take approximately two weeks to complete
depending on weather and other circumstances.
The major work, including sawing and cutting through
the concrete that’s obstructing the drain, will take place
during the weekends that the garage will be closed.
Construction
will resume August 21-25, at the entrance of the garage,
where there will be one entry lane open, then again August
28 through September 1, at the exit of the garage, where
there will be one exit lane open.
Parking patrons
affected by this construction, including the employees and
patrons of TCC, Granby Municipal Building, Nauticus,
MacArthur Center, The NorVa, Downtown restaurants and
residents should park in the adjacent Monticello Avenue Lot
and/or MacArthur Center North Garage.
Additional signage will also direct traffic to these
facilities.
###
Freemason
Street Garage Opens Memorial Day Weekend
- (5/27/05)
The City of
Norfolk, Division of Parking will open the new Freemason
Street Garage for the Memorial Day Weekend beginning on
Friday, May 27 at 5:00 pm. Located at the intersection of
Boush and Freemason Streets the new garage has 617 spaces
and features the latest technology in garage equipment,
including traditional cashiering as well as ATM-like
paystations and pay-in-lane devices. This will allow
customers to pay for their parking at multiple locations
using a variety of payment methods including credit and
debit cards. This new seven-story facility replaced the
out-dated 228-space Boush Street Garage, which was built in
the mid 1970s.
Located in
the center of the downtown where Boush and Freemason streets
meet, this facility is in the heart of the Granby Street
District and is within walking distance of MacArthur Center,
TCC, Nauticus and a host of other Norfolk attractions. The
Garage will be fronted by 94 luxury condominiums, known as
388 Boush Street. Collins Enterprises LLC, the developer,
plans to wrap the four-story condos around the exterior of
the City’s new Freemason Street Parking Garage. By
surrounding the new garage with housing, this project
continues the City’s plan to create a residential
boulevard along Boush Street.
During the
Memorial Day weekend the garage will operate as special
event collect-on-entry. Beginning Tuesday, May 31 the garage
will be open to the general public with normal hourly rates
in effect. Monthly parking is anticipated to become
available beginning July 1, 2005.
For more
information, please call 664-6222 or visit us at www.norfolk.gov/parking.
###
New
Construction Project Brings Parking Changes - (3/1/05)
Several
exciting building and renovation projects are occurring in
Downtown as a testament to Norfolk’s continued
revitalization. Included in these projects is the $51
million expansion of Trader Publishing Company’s national
headquarters. In addition to the 1,100 new jobs this
expansion will bring to Downtown, Trader will construct a
21-story office tower located on the Federal Lot at the
corner of Granby Street and City Hall Avenue.
Preliminary site work on the project has begun and therefore
it is necessary to close the 62-space Lot in early March in
preparation for construction.
Simultaneously
with the closure of the Federal Lot the previously metered,
16-space Board of Trade Lot, located on the corner of
Atlantic Street and Plume Street, will become an all monthly
lot.
Since Parking
System has over 18,000 spaces available for use by its
patrons, these changes should not disrupt normal parking
patterns. However, to provide additional short-term
parking opportunities the Division of Parking opened Lot 31,
a temporary parking lot located near the corner of Granby
Street and Plume Street. This property is the site of
the old the BB&T drive-through that was purchased by the
City last year for future development. The Lot has 69
spaces and will be operated from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily.
The Lot enters and exits from Plume Street.
All affected
monthly tenants on both of these lots have been relocated.
Short-term patrons should utilize alternative parking
locations within the area. These include MacArthur
Center South Garage, West Plume Street Garage, Boush Street
Garage and the recently opened Lot 31.
The Division
of Parking offers monthly parking for most of its locations.
Simply contact the Customer Service Center at 222 East Main
Street or call 664-6222.
###
Parking
Garages Renamed
- (4/5/04)
On March 16,
2004, City Council approved an ordinance renaming several
garages located within downtown Norfolk. This renaming
effort supports the City’s Wayfinding and Garage
Identification Initiative, which is designed to make
downtown easier to navigate. Following the Best Practices in
the Parking Industry, Norfolk renamed several of its
downtown garages for the primary street they are located on
and/or for the venue they serve. These changes make locating
the parking facilities easier for tourist and short-term
parkers and support surrounding destinations by better
associating the names of the facilities to their physical
location.
Through
improved communication and synergy with visitors, the
way-finding system is intended to make downtown a friendlier
destination for both locals and visitors.
|
Former Name |
New Name |
|
Union Street
Garage |
City Hall
Garage - South |
|
East Street
Garage |
City Hall
Garage - North |
|
Boush Street
Garage |
Freemason
Street Garage |
|
Freemason
Street Garage |
Monticello
Avenue Garage |
|
Plume Lane
Garage |
Commercial
Place Garage |
|
City Hall
Avenue |
Boush Street
Garage |
|
Bute Street
Garage |
York Street
Garage |
|
###
Demo
Begins on Boush Street Garage
Demolition of
the 228-space, three-story Boush Street Garage, which was
built in the mid 1970s, commenced February 19. Clearing the
garage will pave the way for a new 617-car garage and 76
loft-style condominiums on the six acres of land at the
corner of Boush Street and Freemason Street. Construction of
the new garage is expected to last eighteen months.
Collins
Enterprises LLC, the developer, plans to wrap the four-story
condos around the outside of the city’s new Boush Street
Parking Garage. Upper floor units will offer views of the
Elizabeth River.
Construction
is scheduled to begin this fall. Armada Hoffler has been
selected to serve as contractor for the project. The City
anticipates issuing Parking Revenue Bonds this spring to
finance the new garage, which is scheduled to open in the
summer of 2005.
###
Bids
Open for Boush Street Garage
- (3/12/04)
The
bids for the Boush Street garage construction project
opened on Tuesday, February 24th. The 6-1/2 story, 617
space garage project is on schedule and will address
future demand for parking in the area. Please note that
demolition of existing buildings on the garage
construction site is ongoing. The site is expected to be
cleared and suitable for construction in early April. In a
related project phase, the financial feasibility study is
near completion. When complete, the City can issue bonds
for the parking garage project financing.
###
MacArthur
Center Garage Revenue Beats Estimate by $4.2 Million
The
number of so-called “short term” parkers who used the
garages exceeded the original projections by an estimated
2.7 million vehicles. The two parking garages are
averaging 181,516 short term parkers per month. 10 million
vehicles have parked at MacArthur since the upscale mall
in the heart of downtown Norfolk opened its doors on March
12, 1999. The two garages can accommodate more than 4,000
vehicles.
These figures do not include the number of people who rent
monthly spaces in the two garages.
Mayor
Paul Fraim said the number of people who are using the two
garages clearly shows the overwhelming public response to
MacArthur Center and the rejuvenated downtown commercial
area.
“MacArthur
Center has become the most popular shopping complex in the
Hampton Roads region,” Fraim said. “The revenues
generated by the centers businesses have also exceeded the
developer’s original projections.”
Mayor
Fraim also said that MacArthur Center has served as a
significant catalyst for the revitalization of downtown
Norfolk.
“The
downtown area has become the premier shopping,
entertainment and dining destination in the region,”
Fraim said. “The popularity of this area validates the
city’s significant investment and belief in the future
of the downtown area.”
Mayor Fraim said the successful revitalization of downtown
Norfolk has created a significant demand for housing in
the area. In less than 10 years, he said, more than 300
housing units have been built in the Freemason Harbor
area. According to Mayor Fraim, five new housing
developments will add approximately 320 new town homes,
apartments and condominiums to the downtown area. Many of
those units have already been sold or leased, Fraim said.
In addition, Fraim said a multi-million dollar retirement
center is planned for the Atlantic City of Norfolk area.
During
the 10-year period from 1993 to 2003, the property tax
base in downtown Norfolk increased from $417 million to
$807 million. Fraim said the tax base will continue to
increase as more and more individuals and businesses
recognize the value of investing in downtown Norfolk.
“The
economic development initiative in the downtown area is
generating significant revenue that is now being used to
finance neighborhood improvements throughout the
city,’’ Fraim said. “The city continues to enjoy a
remarkable renaissance.”
###
New parking
meters on Granby
- (3/5/02)
Beginning in March, the Division of Parking will begin
installing 181-metered spaces on Granby Street and the surrounding
corridor. The meters are intended to increase the availability
of high-demand, on street parking by accelerating the turnover
rate for short-term parking. The installation will continue
through June to coordinate with the City’s streetscape improvements
project. Staff will work with the Downtown Norfolk Council
and Tidewater Community College to notify businesses, students
and patrons of this initiative.
###
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