Norfolk's Military Circle Mall area is an historic part of the 757 and always will be!
However, locals such as artist Pharrell are looking to revamp the area in a major way!
But a question that a lot of local business owners have is how can we include them in these big plans? Made In Norfolk owner, Amir Driver, recently interviewed with local news station WAVY-TV 10 and is all for the redevelopment, but also wants to ensure he has a seat at the table talk.
As of now there are three groups that have submitted proposals for the area. Two of the proposals include 15,000 seat arenas. The third proposes an 8,000 outdoor seating amphitheater. One of the proposals, Crossroads Partnership which include NFL Hall of Famer, Emmitt Smith's real estate company, describes its vision for the area as a wellness development. Their construction period would be from January 2022 to December 2029.
Norfolk MC Associates LLC , which includes Virginia Beach developer Bruce Thompson’s Gold Key | PHR, submitted a proposal called “The Well". This would expand Norfolk State University’s campus with an on-site business center for small business startups and other programs. It adds 40 acres of parks and open space, 864 apartments of “market, workforce and senior housing,” an outdoor performing arts amphitheater, recreation center and calls itself a “model for sustainability.”
The third proposal from Wellness Circle incudes Virginia Beach native and artist Pharrell Williams and Live Nation as partners. Wellness Circle proposes using 4.83 million square feet on 89 acres, including a nearly 500,000 square foot arena with 15,400 to 16,500 seats, 1 million square feet of office space including a medical office campus, 143,000 square feet of retail, 80,000 square feet for food and beverage, a 210 room hotel, 54,700 square feet of community space, including a YMCA facility, and one of Williams’ Yellowhab schools along with a pedestrian trail. It would also have residential space — 708 multifamily units, 147 townhomes and 288 low-income tax credit units.
The next step is to get public opinion so sound off in the comments!