Four disagreed: Barbara Henley, Jennifer Rouse, Chris Taylor and Sabrina Wooten voted against the study, which is estimated to cost about $200,000.
Taylor said he believes the area has been studied enough and that this latest one is “being strategically done to defer the Capstone proposal.”
Washington-based Capstone Development was the only respondent of a city “request for letter of interest and qualifications” for a mixed-use development adjacent to the convention and sports centers in 2022. The company has proposed a convention center hotel, apartments and retail on the land next to the convention center.
VIRGINIA BEACH — The seventh time’s a charm for a study of the Virginia Beach Convention and Sports Center district, according to seven City Council members who voted Tuesday to proceed with yet another evaluation of the area.
Four disagreed: Barbara Henley, Jennifer Rouse, Chris Taylor and Sabrina Wooten voted against the study, which is estimated to cost about $200,000.
Taylor said he believes the area has been studied enough and that this latest one is “being strategically done to defer the Capstone proposal.”
Washington-based Capstone Development was the only respondent of a city “request for letter of interest and qualifications” for a mixed-use development adjacent to the convention and sports centers in 2022. The company has proposed a convention center hotel, apartments and retail on the land next to the convention center.
Mayor Bobby Dyer said a decision on what do with the land will include public input and that the analysis will help the city “take this piece of clay and mold it into what we need” to generate new revenue sources to help paying for the growing costs of running the city.
Six studies over the past two decades all concluded the convention center, which is about a half-mile from the beach, needs a headquarters hotel and a bigger, mixed-used project that can go along with it, according to the city.
The study approved Tuesday will look at several elements. First, it will hash out the economic impact of the Capstone proposal to determine if it will be profitable for the city.
The study will also help provide direction on land uses in the resort area. It will specifically focus on city-owned properties between 17th and 22nd streets, including the Virginia Museum of Contemporary Art and the Visitors Center.
The resolution approved Tuesday calls for the study to review uses that are “compatible with the Virginia Beach Sports Center and possible action sports uses.” It also requires the study to include input from the historic Seatack community.
City parks and recreation officials have tossed around an idea to build a large-scale action sports facility to draw out-of-town athletes and spectators in Virginia Beach, but the City Council instead decided last year to focus on enhancing its existing facilities rather than build new ones.
