A lot is going on in the City of Norfolk, and City Manager Chip Filer hit the highlights and answered an array of questions at the October 12 Rotary Club of Norfolk meeting. He was introduced by new Rotarian Amanda Workman, who joined the city budget office about the same time Filer came on board in September 2019 from Old Dominion University. Here are some of the main points Filer made during his talk and Q&A session:
- The city expects to receive $152 million from the federal American Rescue Funds program designed to help with pandemic relief. The funds come with lots of strings attached but will help with needed projects and the city budget. He is hopeful the federal infrastructure bill will pass and provide more needed funding for the city.
- Some federal rescue funds may be used for Chrysler Hall's much-delayed $30 million renovations. This will fix backstage issues that will prevent shows like "Lion King" and "Hamilton" from coming to the city's aging theater. The renovate will add additional aisles to make it easier for patrons to access their seats.
- Norfolk is ahead of many cities with its coastal risk management plan. It includes costly plans for a downtown flood wall to run from Harbor Park to the Army Corps of Engineers headquarters near Colley Avenue. Plans also call for a surge barrier on the Lafayette River to run from Terminal Boulevard to West Ghent. Filer predicts these measures could save 40% of the city that is prone to flooding. While federal infrastructure funds could help pay for these projects, the city would have to come up with a 35% match.
- The city continues to work to speed up economic recovery for businesses and citizens. One example is the "Streateries" Program, which helps restaurants create permanent outdoor dining spaces.
- The casino coming to the downtown waterfront will be one of the biggest projects the city has ever had. The casino project near Harbor Park is moving slowly while waiting for the state to issue a gaming license.
- There are three proposals to redevelop the Military Circle area, which is on the highest land in the city. Two proposals include building an arena and one includes an amphitheater. Housing is also part of all three plans, which are on the city website for review. The city is working with the Virginia Department of Transportation and Hampton Roads Transit to address future traffic issues in the redeveloped area. Expanding Light Rail to the area is a possibility.
- Filer believes increased housing will encourage more families to live in Norfolk, which has an abundance of childless young professionals and retired empty nesters.
- Redeveloping MacArthur Center is complicated due to the financial structure of the mall. The city owns the land under it but not the mall.
- Related to downtown issues, parking is going to stay on Boush Street, and the city has not been able to attract a grocery store downtown despite growth in residents.
- Norfolk's aging water pipes have been upgraded over the years and the city continues to look for funding to do even more to keep drinking water safe. Filer is happy Norfolk's water is ranked No. 1 in Virginia for its taste.
- Filer thanked First Presbyterian Church and its pastor, Jim Wood, for housing homeless people nightly for eight months while the city figured out solutions. The city has purchased a motel on Tidewater Drive for homeless housing and has RFPs out for redeveloping the old Greyhound Bus Station, which was a temporary tent home for people during spring and summer.
- The city is working to rehire staff for its libraries and is increasing hours of operation. It is also resurfacing tennis courts and trying to restore recreation programs halted during the pandemic.
- The park and flood control project going on in Chesterfield Heights and Grandy Village will be a model for dealing with flooding and making waterways more accessible to residents.
Business Meeting
- We welcomed two guests -- Dr. Randall Garrett, a former Rotarian and a guest of Brian McGuire, and Roberto Westbrook of Atlantic Coast Mortgage, a guest of Laurie Harrison.
- President Michael noted that a kidney stone sent Lorna Cochrane to the hospital after she played a round of golf. She is home and doing better.
- Sigur Whitaker was surprised to have no notes to write thanking Rotarians for their donations to the Rotary International Foundation since none were made in the last few months. Our club's goal is $22,000 for the year with only $4,361 donated to the RI foundation far. Our club has raised as much as nearly $29,000 in a single year for the Foundation, which funds projects globally and in our area. Donations can be made online or by check.
- Informal votes showed members interested in a Portsmouth ghost tour and having an evening holiday social in December.
- Rotarians are needed to help with foodbank packaging on October 15.
- Sally Hartman received a check for $799 for winning the big pot in the club raffle. She then managed to have the winning ticket for the daily pot of $17 for the meeting raffle.
- 22 bike riders enjoyed the Elizabeth River Trail ride and happy hour on Indigenous People Day. Kelly Stefanko organized the social.
Happy bucks:
- Alan Nelson for his trip to Paris and his 61st reunion of his Port Arthur, Texas class. His most famous classmate was the late singer Janis Joplin.
- Sally Hartman celebrated her and Ron's 39th wedding anniversary.
- Chris Bugg was happy about having covered parking at Scope on a rainy day.
A book in our speaker's name was donated to Fairlawn Elementary School.