They’ve done some other really fancy stuff too!
Check out their portfolio here.
Author Archives: Tim
What’s up with the fancy lighting on Lesner? Check out the plan.
#LESNERBRIDGE update about paving from Project Manager
Screen shot of construction cam on Nov 27 ’18 at noon.
Update from email:
Folks,
We are at a point where the last of the surface pavement is ready to be placed on the project. Beginning at on Tuesday, 11/27/2018 paving work will take place on WB Shore Drive between Page Avenue and East Stratford Road and is expected to be completed by 11/29/18. Since nighttime temperatures are expected to be below 40°F, this work will take place during the day between the hours of 9:00AM and 3:00PM. The paving schedule is as follows:
11/27/2018, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
WB Shore Drive between the Bridge and East Stratford Road (in front of 3556 On The Bay Condominiums)
Pave the LEFT TURN lane and the INSIDE thru lane on Shore Drive11/28/2018, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
WB Shore Drive between the Bridge and East Stratford Road (in front of 3556 On The Bay Condominiums)
Complete paving of the INSIDE thru land on Shore Drive then pave the OUTSIDE thru lane on Shore Drive and East Stratford Road (between Chesapeake House and 3556 On The Bay Condominiums)
WB Shore Drive between Page Avenue and the Bridge (in front of Overture Apartments)
Pave the INSIDE thru lane11/29/2018, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
WB Shore Drive between the Bridge and East Stratford Road (in front of 3556 On The Bay Condominiums)
Place permanent pavement markings
WB Shore Drive between Page Avenue and the Bridge (in front of Overture Apartments)
Pave the OUTSIDE thru lane11/30/2018, 9:00 AM to 3:00 PM
WB Shore Drive between Page Avenue and the Bridge (in front of Overture Apartments)
Place permanent pavement markingsThis schedule may change due to weather.
Please drive carefully when travelling this portion of Shore Drive!
-Chris
Christopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Trees are the answer for Overture at the Lesner Bridge
You may remember the proposed Ocean Shore Shoppes LLC which was to be located next to Overture at Ocean Shore Ave & Cherry Tree Place near intersection on east side of Lesner Bridge.
The property will NOT be developed. Thanks to all who helped make this happen.
Ocean Shore Shoppes LLC has sold the lot to Greystar, owners of Overture, for permanent preservation including 2 gorgeous live oak.
Photo from application to BZA
Planning Commission will be holding a workshop on “Short Term Rentals”, Thursday, November 29, 2018 at 5 p.m.
Planning Conference Room, Building 2. The public is invited to attend, but there will be no public comment.
“Text-to-911 is part of the Next Generation 9-1-1 (NG9-1-1) project. It is the ability to send a text message to reach 911 emergency call takers (911 telecommunicators) from your mobile phone or device.”
Here are a few tips and suggestions that will help citizens use the tool more efficiently and effectively if needed:
Texting should only be used for emergency situations that require an immediate response from police, fire or emergency medical services. Non-emergency issues should still be communicated by calling the non-emergency number, 385-5000.
Calling 9-1-1 is quicker, more efficient and preferred, so texting to 9-1-1 should be reserved for those who are deaf, hard of hearing, unable to speak and those who are in a situation where speaking is unsafe.
Provide the location and nature of the emergency in the first text. This will enable help to be dispatched as quickly as possible . . .
Virginia Beach is among only 10% of municipalities in the nation where this is possible. It’s always better to call if you can, but you do have the option to text if you can’t.
Coverage of Shore Drive Phase III at 13 News Now
Brief update on #LESNERBRIDGE from Project Manager about paving
From an email:
Regarding Lesner Bridge:
Placement of the remaining sidewalks on the north side of Shore Drive between Page Avenue and East Stratford Road is taking place this week and will be completed by next Friday (11/16/2018).
On Sunday night (11/11/2018) between the hours of 9:00PM and 5:00AM, Public Utilities will be working in the inside lane of Shore Drive installing a valve into the new 16-inch water main located approximately 350 feet west of the Page Avenue/Shore Drive intersection. After this valve is installed, McLean is on schedule to pave westbound Shore Drive between the Page Avenue/Shore Drive intersection and the WB Bridge and between the WB bridge and the Shore Drive/East Stratford Road intersection. McLean anticipates the paving of Shore Drive to take place over two evenings, 11/15 and 11/16/2018. All required jackhammering will be performed during the day prior to the nighttime work.
Once this work is completed, only the landscaping and boardwalk remains to be completed for the Lesner Bridge Replacement Project.
Thank You,
-Chris
Almost done!
Screen shot of construction cam shot on Nov 9 9am
“Thanks to a $1.5 million gift, the school system could soon start an environmental studies program at one of the world’s greenest buildings. The division hopes to debut the program at the Brock Environmental Center in 2020.”
Learn more at Pilotonline.com article:
But few, if any, have access to a facility with the Brock Center’s acclaim. In 2016, it became one of the first 11 projects in the world to pass the “Living Building Challenge,” considered by many to be the highest honor for green buildings.
That news is outstanding! However . . .
Not all of Pleasure House Point is permanently preserved yet.
Note photo on this page. There is also private property located just off Dinwiddie Road next to Brock that is not permanently preserved. There’s also an opportunity to preserve what’s known as PHPN located next to 7/11 on Shore Drive & Shady Oaks and a slimmer chance of preserving 2 lots located next to Pleasure House Creek overlook on Shore Drive.
Note the amount of trees and vital habitat that is at risk for destruction. Birds, including those migrating in the Atlantic Flyway, depend on Pleasure House Point and it’s open space to survive.
November Baylines from Bayfront Advisory Committee
View November 2018 Baylines. (4 pg PDF)
Phase III Shore Drive work to go to bid
The long-delayed third phase of the Shore Drive improvement project is expected to go to bid in February, with construction on the highway segment between the Lesner Bridge and Beech Street tentatively set to start next summer…
#LESNERBRIDGE update on paving and single lane traffic
From an email:
Folks:
As with every project where there are many players, schedules change – this one is NO EXCEPTION. Some of the paving work that was supposed to have been completed last night wasn’t; therefore, our paving schedule for tomorrow has changed a bit.
Here are the details:
Beginning tomorrow, 10/25/2018 at approximately 9:00 AM and ending at approximately 12:30 PM, the final course of pavement will be placed on Vista Circle between Shore Drive and Cape Henry Drive, as well as Cape Henry Drive from Vista Circle to the entrance to Bubba’s Restaurant. This work will require intermittent street closures of both Vista Circle and Cape Henry Drive, so please plan accordingly.
Paving crews will move to the west side of the bridge (East Stratford Road) immediately after paving is completed on Cape Henry Drive.
Paving work on East Stratford Road and Piedmont Circle will begin tomorrow, Thursday 10/25/2018 at approximately 1:00PM. Therefore, beginning at approximately 1:00 PM and ending some time near 10:00 PM on 10/25/2018 expect East Stratford Road to be CLOSED between Piedmont Circle and Shore Drive and Piedmont Circle to be CLOSED between East Stratford Road and the showers at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp while paving operations are underway. Paving crews will also attempt to pave the RIGHT TURN lane on eastbound Shore Drive at East Stratford Road (the one in front of J&A Racing) during this same time period.
Finally, on Friday 10/26/2018, expect single lane closures on both eastbound and westbound Shore Drive between Vista Circle and East Stratford Road between the hours of 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. On eastbound Shore Drive crews will be placing the permanent pavement markings on the asphalt pavement between East Stratford Road and Vista Circle. On westbound Shore Drive crews will be working on sidewalk and utility work along the north side of Shore Drive.
We will continue to provide updates on anticipated lane/street closures as we near the final stages of this work.
PLEASE Drive Carefully through this work zone as we complete this work.
Sincerely,
-ChrisChristopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
Update about jackhammering in the middle of Monday & Tuesday nights by LBR&BF
From an email:
Folks:
Hopefully everyone has been enjoying the new eastbound Lesner Bridge since its opening on Labor Day weekend. First of all, I want to apologize to all of you who live in Ocean Park that endured the noise from road work on East Stratford Road in the early morning hours of Monday 10/22 and Tuesday 10/23. Several lines of communication within the project team were broken and resulted in not just one night of disturbance, but two. For that we sincerely apologize to everyone affected.
We scheduled this night time work on East Stratford Road to minimize the disruption of operations of the Lynnhaven Boat Ramp and American Brew. However, in order to minimize the night time noise created by this milling and paving work, we are going to complete the paving work on East Stratford Road and Piedmont Circle during the day on Thursday 10/25/2018. Therefore, beginning at approximately 9:00 AM and ending some time near 6:00 PM on 10/25/2018 expect East Stratford Road to be CLOSED between Piedmont Circle and Shore Drive and Piedmont Circle to be CLOSED between East Stratford Road and the showers at Lynnhaven Boat Ramp while paving operations are underway.
Piedmont Circle Closure at Lynnhaven Boat Ramps for October 25, 2018
Piedmont Circle Closure at East Stratford Road for October 25, 2018
East Stratford Road Closure for October 25, 2018
Paving work is also taking place TONIGHT, 10/23/2018. Beginning tonight about 8:00 PM and lasting until 5:00 AM, road crews will be preparing to place the final asphalt surface course on eastbound Shore Drive located between the bridge and Vista Circle. This paving work will also include the intersection of Shore Drive and Vista Circle, Vista Circle between Shore Drive and Cape Henry Drive, and Cape Henry Drive between Vista Circle and the entrance to Bubba’s Restaurant.
Another update will be sent out once we have a firm schedule for the upcoming paving work for westbound Shore Drive between Page Avenue and East Stratford Road.
Thank you all again for your patience as we push through the final stages of this multi-year project.
Sincerely,
-ChrisChristopher J. Wojtowicz, PE
Engineering Construction Manager
City of Virginia Beach
Department of Public Works
Engineering Division
2405 Courthouse Drive
Virginia Beach, VA 23456-9031
Office: (757) 385-5785
Fax: (757) 385-5668
Email: cwojtowi@vbgov.com
“The Virginian-Pilot has found mounting evidence that real estate values across Hampton Roads are being driven down as a result of recurrent flooding and sea level rise.”
View article at Pilotonline.com:
Values of seemingly safe houses several blocks from the water are hurting as well.
Several recent studies have shown that impacts from flooding – from water in the basement to inundated streets – already have hamstrung property prices and cost Hampton Roads homeowners hundreds of millions of dollars in lost or unrealized values.
And:
A group of university economists published a study this summer showing that severe storms – which scientists say have become stronger and more frequent in recent years due to climate change – can have a meaningful impact on property value and how long a home spends on the market in Hampton Roads.
Properties in high-risk areas declined in value after major storms and stayed on the market longer – and not just in the initial aftermath.
In related news, UN IPCC released report illustrating we have 12 years to stop global warming at + 1.5C.
The world’s leading climate scientists have warned there is only a dozen years for global warming to be kept to a maximum of 1.5C, beyond which even half a degree will significantly worsen the risks of drought, floods, extreme heat and poverty for hundreds of millions of people.
Start at The Guardian article to learn more.
It’ll be interesting to see if stakeholders in Virginia Beach find the will to mitigate climate change & sea level rise impacts so it can exist another 50 years.
City Council passes Resolution regarding regulating Home Sharing & STR
Baylines October Newsletter from BAC
View October 18 Baylines (5 page PDF)
A proposed ordinance governing short-term rentals in residential neighborhoods has been referred to the Planning Commission for eventual return to the City Council, B. Kay Wilson, deputy city attorney told the Bayfront Advisory Commission.
The latest iteration of the city’s efforts to govern when homes are rented for fewer than 30 days, the proposal would require property owners to seek a conditional use zoning permit from the City Council, with some exceptions.
One such exception would “grandfather” owners whose properties were operating as short-term rentals as of July 1 and were registered legally and had paid applicable taxes by that deadline. Homesharing, in which an owner rents all or part of the property for no more than 30 consecutive days continues to live there during such rentals, can take place anywhere in the city, Wilson said, as long as they are registered and pay taxes. . . .
Proposed Ocean Shore Shoppes LLC headed for BZA on October 3rd
Case 2018-BZA-00056
Applicant: Ocean Shore Shoppes LLC Representative: Eddie Bourdon, Sykes Bourdon, Ahern & Levy
Address: 3301 Ocean Shore Ave GPIN: 1489-89-3069
Zoning District: B-4
Staff: Kevin KempProject: Proposed Residential Duplex and Retail Building
Request:
• 15-foot front yard setback from the property line adjacent to Ocean Shore Ave, instead of 35-feet as required;
• 15-foot side corner setback from the property line adjacent to Cherry Tree Place, instead of 35-feet as required.
View BZA Oct 3 Case # 2018-BZA-00056 (16 page PDF)
What are those blue signs on Shore Drive next to PHP ? Proposed 3925 Shore Drive single family houses & swimming pools.
3925 Shore Drive 20180924-PCD-CBPA-Staff Report (14 page PDF)
Variance Request
Encroachment into the Resource Protection Area (RPA) 50 foot landward buffer and variable width buffer to construct 2 single family residences with a shared driveway.
“Hurricane Florence no longer viewed as life-threatening for Virginia Beach, city manager says”
View article at Pilotonline.com:
Hansen said during Wednesday’s briefing that the current forecast shows conditions equivalent to “less than a nor’easter.” He said that wind conditions are not expected to reach hurricane level and “will be on the low end of tropical storm, at best,” giving him more optimism for vulnerable areas like Sandbridge and the rural areas.
“An informed citizen would probably have waited to the last movement of the storm before making that decision” to evacuate, he said.
Visit NOAA Hurricane Center for Florence.
“This graphic is created by the NWS/NCEP Weather Prediction Center (WPC) and shows rainfall potential for the United States when a tropical cyclone threatens land. The graphic is displayed as a Quantitative Precipitation Forecast (QPF), which shows rainfall totals for a specified time period, based on forecaster discretion.”
GOVERNOR ORDERS MANDATORY EVACUATION INCLUDING AREAS OF SHORE DRIVE
Baylines September newsletter from BAC
View September 2018 Baylines (5 page PDF)
As of June 9, 90 percent of the design work for the next phase of the Shore Drive improvement project has been completed, Joseph Bovee, chairman of the Bayfront Advisory Commission’s Design Committee told the commission.
#WeLoveShoreDrive 