DEPARTMENTS – September 2008

Riverfront Restoration

The future of Norfolk's Waterside may best be charted by an appreciation of its past.

By Michael Jon Khandelwal

But 25 years ago, Waterside began Norfolk's revitalization when it opened its doors to throngs of families and tourists. My parents took me there, and while they shopped in the unique stores, I browsed the aisles at Ramblin' Conrad's and ate hot dogs from Tony Jr's while watching the fudge shop workers create the sweet treat while putting on a real performance.

About 10 years ago, Waterside reinvented itself as a popular night spot with a food court for local workers. For a while, life teemed under the blue roof, but with the revitalization of Granby Street and the building of MacArthur Mall, the once-popular pavilion lost some of its appeal. Those who liked the original Waterside didn't come back because all the unique shops and restaurants were gone, and those who liked the nightlife slowly migrated to Granby Street.

City leaders are now struggling to find the answer to Waterside's future. Norfolk provides hundreds of thousands of dollars to the venue in subsidies each year, and even though some find this to be a concern, Waterside still gives the city back about $2 million in yearly tax revenues.

Some officials want to tear the building down and replace it with outdoor shops, a hotel, office space and condominiums. It sounds to me like they want to turn it into Virginia Beach's Town Center. But unlike Virginia Beach, Norfolk's downtown is natural and organic, reflecting what the city actually is. Why tear down a landmark and build something that looks like it could be anywhere?

The problem may be that we're thinking of Waterside in terms of what it is now. Nowadays, the only action is in the nightclubs upstairs. Visitors who don't want to worry about wearing the wrong shoes may enjoy one of its restaurants, but many of them are chains. If you live somewhere else in Hampton Roads, what makes Waterside's Outback Steakhouse more special than the one at Hilltop in Virginia Beach?

What can Waterside become? Even though we all know there is a tremendous shortage of condos in Norfolk and Hampton Roads in general, what if we go against conventional wisdom and don't tear it down to build cookie-cutter housing?

One idea that tickles my fancy is to build a large "pamper zone" to temporarily house the new downtown residents who can't help but be annoyed by downtown living. Ten years ago, only 700 people lived downtown. Now there are more than 3,800. I sometimes wonder if only whiners and malcontents moved to Norfolk. Why did they move in the first place? Harborfest and the Afr'Am Fest, which frequently incite complaints, have been going on for decades, and the variety of free and nearly free summer fun is one of downtown's appeals.

The "pamper zone" would be like the parent zones at all-day rock concerts, with nannies and jugglers, cookies and ice cream, along with sound-proof walls. Cots would be provided so people could get to bed by 9 p.m. Perhaps Virginia Beach can use this same strategy in dealing with those who move near Oceana and then complain about the jet noise.

Perhaps better solutions for Waterside might lie in an appreciation of its past and paying homage to Norfolk's heritage:

-Return it to its former glory as a destination for families and tourists. Sure, the clubs are nice, but that's what Granby Street is for. Bringing in locally owned businesses and restaurants that offer a water view would be essential.

-Part of the building could be set aside for a yacht club like the Town Point Yacht Club, re-enforcing the nautical nature of the destination. It wouldn't need the entire place, just a nice second-story space with a lounge, offices and a club restaurant. It would be an attraction for locals, tourists, and the boaters along the Intercoastal Waterway.

-The vision could really go local with a space for a farmer's market like the Five Points Community Farm Market. Spotlighting locally grown foods, it could be the tourist version of Nauticus for our agricultural heritage. Several restaurants with water views could all feature our local bounty.

-Local arts and cultural groups could be offered space in the building. A theater on the first floor could host free community events, concerts and plays. The d'ART Center could open an annex there, solidifying Norfolk as the artistic hub of Virginia.

-Radical ideas include making Waterside into Norfolk's new central library or building an indoor amusement park within its walls, with the exterior of the building serving as a home for riverfront festival games and attractions.

Whatever the solution, the timing could be perfect. This year, Norfolk will spend $11.5 million renovating Town Point Park. When the year-long project is complete, why not unveil the reconfigured park alongside a refreshed Waterside? A little renovation and renewed energy is all the beautiful building needs to bring local families and tourists back to the place that has belonged to the citizens of Norfolk—and Hampton Roads—for a generation.

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