NORFOLK, Va. — 2023 brought a year of growth, festivals and new developments to Hampton Roads.
Portsmouth saw the opening of Rivers Casino while Virginia Beach saw new festivals at the Oceanfront. Some of the Hampton Roads population began shifting West to Suffolk and Isle of Wight.
So, what's to come in 2024?
Between the HeadWaters Casino and an offshore wind project in Norfolk, The Atlantic Park project and Rudee Loop announcements in Virginia Beach, and the Greenbriar area development in Chesapeake, there’s a lot to watch in the coming year.
Norfolk:
Looking first at the Headwaters Resort and Casino in Norfolk. Despite setbacks, the two-phase project aims to break ground in 2024. Developers are looking to transform the property near Harbor Park.
"The first phase would include casino floor, a restaurant, parking structure and some back-of-house operations," said Jay Smith, Spokesperson for HeadWaters Resort & Casino in a previous interview with 13News Now. "That would open in 2025."
Turning to the Military Circle Mall site. There have been three proposals on the table for months, but the city has not moved forward with any of them — leaving the redevelopment project in limbo.
The City of Norfolk purchased the MacArthur Center Mall as its final flagship store — Dillard's — announced its closure. There have been no announcements as to the future of the mall, but Mayor Alexander told 13News Now the transition for current tenants would be seamless.
On Downtown Norfolk's website, there are amendments to the 2030 Downtown Plan, recommending options of "reconceiving the property."
One option is to keep the first floor as retail space and change the above floors to offices. The second is to turn the mall into an outdoor-style shopping center. The third and final recommendation is to demolish and replace MacArthur with an "urban district with a street pattern that opens up to Bank and Court Streets to connect with Main Street and the Waterfront."
Norfolk is also getting more than $39.2 million in federal funding to finance turning the Fairwinds Landing marine terminal into an offshore wind logistics facility.
"This base will support the nation's largest offshore wind project & anchor Fairwinds Landing's redevelopment into a nationally significant maritime industrial center," the City of Norfolk posted on social media.
The city will use the funding to renovate the waterfront infrastructure at Fairwinds Landing, which officials said will have three key components revamped. The renovation aims to better port capabilities for offshore wind operations and maintenance, heavy lift operations and cable loading operations.
Virginia Beach
That announcement came shortly after Dominion Energy announced it received federal approval for a massive offshore wind farm off Virginia Beach.
For that project, the energy company plans to build 176 turbines more than 20 miles off the coast from the hotels and touristy boardwalk.
Staying in Virginia Beach, Grammy Award winner and Virginia Beach native Pharrell Williams’ surf park project is moving forward, despite higher-than-expected costs.
Venture Realty Group announced in March that it had closed on developing the $335 million surf park and entertainment venue backed by Virginia Beach native and Grammy award winner Pharrell Williams.
Virginia Beach is also taking part in building the venue, pledging $140 million toward completing the project. However as construction has started, the costs have apparently gone upwards: the number is now closer to $152.6 million.
"The challenges that we've had with COVID and with inflation and everything are changing the numbers, it was a very unsteady playing field," said Virginia Beach Mayor Bobby Dyer.
The Atlantic Park project has already broken ground and developers plan to open in 2025. Visitors will find restaurants, shops, entertainment venue and an almost 3-acre surf park. It will sit on Arctic Ave between 19th and 20th streets.
RELATED: 'We are at the finish line' | Costs are going up to finish Virginia Beach's Atlantic Park project
Also happening in Virginia Beach, council members approved taking $4 million from the city's Tourism Investment Program Fund to begin turning the undeveloped Rudee Loop at the southern end of the Oceanfront into a public park. That money specifically goes towards paying for the procurement of design services from a team "with qualified national or international experience developing iconic park spaces."
"Kept hearing the word from the public: iconic, green space, parking, surfing, fishing," said Worth Remick, District 6 Councilman in a previous interview with 13News Now.
RELATED: Virginia Beach City Council allocates $4M to begin process of turning Rudee Loop into public park
Chesapeake
Turning to Chesapeake, the city has plans to bring a new vision for the Greenbrier area to life.
The city’s project team released possible ideas for new retail space, restaurants, entertainment facilities, and more. The concepts are built off community input.
“These are kind of the first time we are putting things on paper for future consideration," said Chesapeake Planning Director Jimmy McNamara in a previous interview with 13News Now. "We have certainly heard throughout this process is we need more entertainment space, we need more places to gather."
The Greenbrier Mall site map includes a new multi-purpose event and entertainment facility for regional retail stores, dining, and a new library.
The Eden Way and Summit Pointe Map include a new convocation center for events and a tree-lined main street with dining and shops.
Meanwhile, Battlefield Center is focused on sports fields and recreation space.
Health Village is a concept that surrounds Chesapeake Regional Medical Center with age-targeted housing, and health retail.
The city has since closed a public survey and there is no slated timeline for those projects in Chesapeake.
RELATED: Reimagining Greenbrier: Chesapeake city planners want to know what you want to see in the area
Suffolk
A controversial warehouse development project in Suffolk is still moving forward.
For several months, upset citizens and a movement called "Say No To Warehouses" tried to stop the proposed Port 460 Logistics Center by protesting outside of Suffolk City Hall and attending city council meetings. A lawsuit has been filed to try to stop the project.
On Sept. 21, a majority of the city council voted to rezone a large piece of land from general commercial and agricultural use to heavy industrial use, making way for the Port 460 project.
Maryland-based Matan Companies seeks, in part, to build 10 warehouses on more than 500 acres of property near Route 460 and Route 58.
The project is still slated to move forward.