The City of Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander, Boyd Gaming, and the Pamunkey Indian Tribe held a ceremonial groundbreaking in downtown Norfolk to celebrate the new resort and casino that will transform a 7.1-acre parking lot into an economic engine for the city. This new destination will bring more than 2,850 construction jobs, 850 permanent jobs, millions in tax revenue, tourism, entertainment, and recreation. VHB’s integrated services team worked alongside HKS Architects and SWA Architects to prepare the master development plan for the build out of the site to advance the infrastructure needed to support the phased development of this $750 million investment.
The site selected for the resort and casino is currently an existing parking lot at Harbor Park Baseball Stadium located on the banks of the Elizabeth River east of the Waterside District. Its location on the coastline required the project to meet new regulations for development. VHB collaborated closely with the Army Corps of Engineers, the Virginia Marine Resources Commission, Norfolk Wetlands Board, and the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality to secure the necessary approvals to advance this development and protect its shoreline.
“As our economy continues to evolve, underutilized assets are being reimagined to serve new purposes that bring properties back to life,” said Ken Rodman, VHB Mid-Atlantic Real Estate Market Leader. “VHB has a long history of successful collaboration with the City of Norfolk and community stakeholders and our knowledge of the development process was key to keeping this project on track and moving through regulatory approvals. In addition, VHB leveraged our sports and entertainment experience, to bring insights on mobility, which were crucial to the site’s functionality.”
The project officially began in November 2020 when residents voted in favor of a referendum to allow the city to obtain a gaming license and construct the venue in the Harbor Park area. When complete, the Norfolk Resort and Casino will offer a 200-room full-service hotel, eight four-star restaurants and food and beverage options, approximately 1,800 gaming positions, greenspace, and a riverfront promenade along the Elizabeth River that connects to the Elizabeth River Trail. Its location is bordered by a plethora of transportation services—the Amtrak Norfolk Station, The Tide light rail Harbor Park Station, the Harbor Park Ferry, and I-264.
In addition to the Norfolk Resort and Casino, VHB has worked in Norfolk on several revitalization projects that have strengthened the community. Major developments include the Eastern Virginia Medical School (EVMS) Waitzer Hall; the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughter Mental Health Hospital; Gravity, the new luxury apartments which recently opened across from the Waterside District; and Unity Place Mixed-Income Apartments that will include new housing units and infrastructure upgrades when complete. VHB also collaborated on the Ohio Creek Watershed project that involved a living shoreline restoration and infrastructure upgrades in the Chesterfield Heights and Granby Village neighborhoods.
Contact Ken Rodman or Jess Ewing to learn more about this project.
