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Fitness center, library planned for former Military Circle Mall in Norfolk
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander last week updated his city on plans to redevelop MacArthur Center mall and the former Military Circle Mall site. During his State of the City address on Friday, Alexander announced that Norfolk is planning a “state-of-the-art” fitness and wellness center and library for the east side of the city at the […]
Military Circle plans shift in new direction
The fate of Norfolk‘s closed Military Circle Mall has yet to be determined, but city officials are considering how the property could leverage sports tourism and offer retail and housing options. The city bought the 54-year-old, long-declining mall building and the surrounding 73 acres in 2020 for $11 million. As Norfolk seeks to repurpose the […]
Norfolk looks to renovate Scope, Chrysler Hall instead of building new arena
Norfolk no longer plans to build a new arena after Military Circle Mall is torn down, and instead is seriously considering renovating two city-owned venues downtown: the 53-year-old, 10,000-seat Scope Arena and the nearby 52-year-old Chrysler Hall, a 2,500-seat theater. “The participation of the public dollar that we would need on the arena is more […]
Not by coincidence
Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander has a vision for his city that includes increasing revenue without creating additional taxes for residents. His focuses in achieving that goal include tourism, hospitality and entertainment — familiar parts of neighboring Virginia Beach’s economy. However, unlike Virginia Beach, he points out, Norfolk doesn’t have a reliable seasonal tourism ba[...]
Demo begins on Military Circle Mall with site’s future uncertain
Norfolk started the first phase of demolition of Military Circle Mall Friday, but the future of the property remains unclear. Demolition will continue through late June, according to the city. The first phase will start with separate buildings on the property, including China Garden, Martin’s Café, and The Military Circle Shoppes, with additional demolition to […]
Vantage point
Norfolk leaders have high hopes for redevelopment projects that will reposition older properties — from an aging mall to an underused marine terminal — to better match modern market demands. “We are always asking, ‘What can we do that allows for some sort of creative transformation to actually happen?’” says Sean Washington, the city’s acting […]
Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall headed for wrecking ball
Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall will close by the end of the year to make way for its demolition in the first quarter of 2023. The decision to close the mall came after Norfolk Economic Development Authority members toured the aging facility on Wednesday, Norfolk Economic Development Director Jared Chalk told Virginia Business. EDA members voted […]
Creating community vibes
In Virginia Beach, most tourists flock to the Oceanfront. But just a couple blocks west, you’ll find an area that feels a little more artsy and a lot more local. In the 15-block ViBe Creative District, situated between the Virginia Beach Convention Center and the Oceanfront, coffee shops and restaurants operate out of former industrial […]
Proposals for Norfolk’s Military Circle Mall redevelopment narrowed to 3
Three groups have submitted full proposals to the city of Norfolk to redevelop Military Circle Mall. In late 2020, Norfolk put out a call for developers to turn the struggling mall into a thriving mixed-use community. The city narrowed the list to four, but on Friday, just three proposals were released by the city, including […]
