What happened to ... Norfolk gateway at Willoughby?
By CONNOR ADAMS SHEETS, The Virginian-Pilot
This is the first in a series exploring five seemingly stalled construction projects across Hampton Roads.
NORFOLK
Formed from sand displaced by the same hurricane that destroyed Fort George in October 1749, Willoughby Spit seemed to be going upscale with its first major, high-end, mixed-use project, The Spectrum at Willoughby Point.
vPlans, announced in March 2005, called for more than 300 housing units, plus retail. But, as many Willoughby residents and boaters have noticed, construction stopped as abruptly as it began.
The walls for the first-floor garage are up, along with a line of tall concrete columns. But for months there has been no noticeable construction on the site, off the first exit in Norfolk after crossing the Hampton Roads Bridge-Tunnel.
In summer 2005, Rick Gregor, lead partner at the project's development firm, The Spectrum at Willoughby Harbor, was quoted as saying the first units would be ready by early 2007.
Then, in the project's newsletter this past April, Rick Payne, another partner at the firm, which is affiliated with development company The Futura Group, provided a new update. "We are solidly on target, and you can expect to see the building rise over the summer," Payne said, referring to phase one, the first of three condo buildings to be built at The Spectrum.
Now, Gregor says he "expects" the first building to be finished by fall or winter of 2008.
So what's the hold up? City approval.
The construction is on hold until Norfolk grants the developer a final building permit, then the work will resume "right away," Gregor said. The preparatory work was done under a less comprehensive permit.
The last obstacle keeping The Spectrum from getting a building permit is the city's concern about low water pressure at the site, Gregor said. The developer plans to spend $600,000 for a water tank and other equipment to fix the problem, he said.
"It's been a slow, steady process because the fire department had to be involved, the department of public utilities had to be involved and the building department had to be involved."
Gregor said, "I don't think there was any dissension. It was just a matter of how to get everyone to agree on this thing."
The current water system for the far end of Willoughby is not strong enough to meet city regulations governing minimum water pressure for fire safety. The solution arrived at has been "verbally OK'd " by key officials, Gregor said.
Gregor said Monday that new plans will be submitted this week. If all goes as expected, the building permit should be granted 30 days later and construction should resume in "late fall."
The project, billed as a gateway to Norfolk, could help further transform Willoughby Spit from a working-class neighborhood into a resort destination.
The average home price is expected to be in the high-$500,000 range, and plans call for the development to include 294 condos, 30 townhomes and four loft apartments. The project's Web site also shows plans for 22,000 square feet of retail space and a private yacht club.
Some people who have visited the project's sales model are surprised to see such an upscale development on Willoughby Spit - prices there range from the mid-$300,000 level to well over $1 million.
"We looked at the showroom, and it's very nice. I just don't know where the people are going to come from that have the money to pay for them," said Portsmouth resident Clint Kelley. "But these builders are investors. They're not coming down here for nothing."
Steve Barney, the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority's neighborhood manager for Ocean View, said he can't predict how well the development will do." But Rick's a pretty sharp guy, and I can't believe he wouldn't have done some type of market study to see if the project is viable."
As of the end of July, 50 condos had been sold for the first phase of the development, and 50 more reservations had been taken for condos in the second, Gregor said. He acknowledged the delay is generating some heat.
"I've got some customers yelling at me to get started," he said.
Connor Adams Sheets, (757) 446-2643