Governor McAuliffe Announces New Tourism Development Financing Project in Newport News

Oyster Point section of Newport News, VA (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

~Proposed City Center at Oyster Point Entertainment District to create 525 new jobs, projected tax benefit of more than $2 million~

NEWPORT NEWS -- Governor Terry McAuliffe today announced the certification of City Center at Oyster Point Entertainment District Tourism Project, a project funded by the Commonwealth’s Tourism Development Financing Program (TDFP). The program provides gap financing for larger-scale tourism development projects and is done in partnership with developers, localities, financial institutions, the Virginia Tourism Corporation, and the Virginia Resources Authority. This is the second project approved under the Commonwealth’s TDFP.

The four-component project reflects a total capital investment of more than $26 million dollars and a projected tax benefit of more than $2 million in its first full year of operation. Two of the components are already open for business. Once all four components are open, the project is estimated to create 525 new jobs.

The new businesses developed include:

▪   Toby Keith’s I Love this Bar & Grill: 17,000 square foot live-entertainment venue and restaurant (open now);

▪   Tucanos Brazilian Grill: 8,000 square foot Brazilian churrasco restaurant (open now);

▪   Paragon Theater: 12-screen, all-digital, “affordable luxury” movie theater, which will also include two restaurants -Neo Kitchen & Bar, and My Pi Custom Pizza & Tap House (open May 2014);

▪   Travinia Italian Kitchen and Wine Bar: 7,000 square foot contemporary American-Italian restaurant (open July 2014).

The Virginia Tourism Development Financing Program works by allowing approved tourism projects to temporarily retain a portion of state and local tax revenue generated from the project, combined with a matching contribution from the developer to provide gap financing for up to 20% of the project's total cost.

“The multi-billion dollar tourism industry in Virginia is an imperative component of a robust and diversified economy, and provides thousands of valuable, important jobs across the state,” said Governor McAuliffe. “The Tourism Development Financing Program helps increase tourism and new business in Virginia. The project announced today in Newport News will allow for more visitation in the city, and will bring greater economic growth and opportunity to the region.”

“Virginia’s travel and tourism industry is an instant revenue generator,” said Maurice Jones, Virginia Secretary of Commerce and Trade. “In 2012, visitors in Virginia spent $21.2 billion, supporting 210,000 jobs and contributing nearly $1.4 billion in state and local taxes. Governor McAuliffe and I will work hard to  maximize the impact of tourism in Virginia and support the development of new tourism product, which is so critical to our economy.

“The City Center at Oyster Point Entertainment District will not only provide important economic development in the city of Newport News, it will also contribute to enhancing the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. Today, Governor McAuliffe and I congratulate the city of Newport News on such an exciting new project that will bring good, quality jobs to the region.”

“We are delighted that the City Center at Oyster Point Entertainment District project has been certified under the Commonwealth Tourism Development Financing Program,” said Newport News Mayor McKinley L. Price, DDS. “This vibrant location, a proven success story with its office, residential and hospitality aspects, will be enhanced by the new restaurant and entertainment options.  Tourism is an important part of our local, regional and state economy.  The Entertainment District project will increase the number of visitors who come to our city, and will provide new and exciting options for our citizens and businesses.   Always a leader in innovation and creation, Newport News continues to be a place where great things are happening.”

For more information on the Tourism Development Financing program, please click here.

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Hampton Roads Leaders Applaud Governor McAuliffe

I-64 on the Hampton Roads Beltway, north of I-264 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Governor McAuliffe’s recent appointments of G. Robert Aston, Jr., Alan Diamonstein, Gary McCollum, Val McWhorter, and John Milliken to the Virginia Port Authority Board received resounding praise from Hampton Roads leaders. Governor McAuliffe’s appointments reflected his vision of bringing leaders with strong business backgrounds and institutional knowledge of the port to the board in order to turn the page on recent port performance and usher in a new era of economic growth to the region and the Commonwealth. Below are statements from leaders in the area in support of the announcement:

Senator Kenneth Alexander, Norfolk:

“The importance of a strong port for this region’s economy cannot be emphasized enough. I applaud Governor McAuliffe for taking the lead in making sure our port is revitalized through the selection of these business-focused appointments. To ensure that our port can steadily grow, there must be a Port board whose membership posses the business oriented vision to guide the Port of Virginia in a productive and fiscally responsible fashion.”

Mayor Linda Johnson, Suffolk:

“Governor McAuliffe has shown a clear vision for the Port of Virginia through his appointments made to the Virginia Port Authority Board. Bringing back fiscal responsibility through a business-oriented approach catalyzes this vision. The Governor and his administration have shown commitment to ensuring that Virginia is the number one agriculture exporter on the East Coast, and the only way to accomplish that is with a successful Port.” -Mayor Linda Johnson - Suffolk

 Mayor Paul Fraim, Norfolk:

"The Port of Virginia is a strong selling point when encouraging businesses and other entities to locate to the Hampton Roads region. Governor McAuliffe and his administration continue to take strong steps forward to safeguard our economic and business interests, and this is shown through the appointments made to the Virginia Port Authority Board. These individuals will bring their strong business acumen and move the Port towards sound profitability and sound financial success. I strongly support the Governor’s vision for diversifying Virginia’s economy and that is demonstrated through his commitment to strengthening Virginia’s Port.” 

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Save Edge Hill Service Station? Gloucester, VA, More Information

We have continued to dig up information on this site and oh what we have found.  In a past article we pointed out that we had heard that this property had sold for over four hundred thousand dollars.  That did not make sense since the building on the county tax map shows it's value to include it's present value at under one hundred thousand dollars.  Well it turns out that this property is a combination of 3 lots.  The car wash is part of that ownership and where the real price came into play.

  So Fairfield owns a for profit business.  Now from everything we have been able to see so far, even though Fairfield owns the car wash, it looks like they may have subleased the business out to someone else.  It's interesting that you have never read this in the local news anywhere.  But here are the backup facts straight from the county.

Fairfield Edgehill Texaco Station Info, Gloucester, VA from Chuck Thompson

If the information proves tough to read, you can blow the above into full screen mode.

Why this property was divided up the way it was does not make sense.  At least the sale price of the property now makes more sense.  But wait, it gets even more interesting.  Gloucester County officials, after Fairfield bought this property, submitted this property to VDOT for a special preservation grant.  Why did the county do this for Fairfield?  Not only that, but the grant was approved.  Don't take our word for it, we got the evidence straight from VDOT themselves.  A copy of the email is below.

Our records indicate that an award was made to Gloucester County for this project in June, 2012 in the amount of $384,000.  Realize however that this is a reimbursable program and no funds are awarded up-front.  Funds must be expended and then a request made for reimbursement.  For further details regarding the Transportation Enhancement – now the Transportation Alternatives – Program and past allocations, please see our website atwww.virginiagot.org/business/prenhancegrants.asp .

 

Thank you,

 

Pam Liston

Wow, all Fairfield has to do now is sucker people in to produce the matching funds and they have a windfall business free and clear.  Why they are not using any of the profits from their car wash business is a question we have.

  There has been a lot of interest in keeping this corner tied up.  Now in all fairness it does have a viable but probably a very poorly performing business on this corner lot.  The service station itself, as we have shown has no real historical value.  So why is the corner lot of such great concern?  Oh, it's coming.  But not just yet.  We have a lot more.  Keep an eye on the areas we told you are eyed for future development.  Therein lies the master key in our opinion.  And does this have anything to do with the new Page Middle School?  Remember that question.  It may just have something to do with keeping traffic tied up on the 17/14 corner during rush hours and forcing new road construction through certain properties, located close to TC Walker school, who's ownership may prove revealing.  It's amazing how things start to tie together.

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Gloucester, VA Container Use Ordinances and Codes Updated

17 Courthouse Area, Container in the back visible from the highway.  

Closer view of the container on the left back side.

Route 17 south, Ordinary.  Container to the left in back.  Visible from highway.

As the one directly above only more of a side view.

Route 17, south, Gloucester Point.  Container next to billboard.

Route 17 South.  Container barely, but, still visible from highway behind shop.

Route 17 South, Container sticks out just enough from side of building to be seen from highway.

Route 17 South.  One container stuck out from side of building just enough to be visible from highway.  When we went back behind area this is what we saw.  4 Containers.

Route 17 South.  S&B Muffler and Brakes.  To the right of the building behind little dumpster.  Very visible from highway.

Again, we are not picking on any business by any means.  The board of Supervisors are looking at ordinances that will affect the future use of containers on any property in the county.  At the moment, every single one of these businesses are in violation of county ordinances.  The county does not enforce these ordinances in any way unless of course, you are foolish enough to ask for the county's permission.  Best advice?  Do not ask for permission, just do it.   If you get questioned, refer them to this site.

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Gloucester, VA Storage Container Use Ordinances

Gloucester, VA Zoning Codes For Containers, 2014 from Chuck Thompson

Above are the present ordinances for the use of storage containers in Gloucester County and the proposed new ordinances for the use of storage containers.  Below is a series of pictures that show a complete lack of anyone following present use ordinances or proposed new ordinance guidelines.  So what is the sense of even bringing it up?

As seen right on route 17 south, Gloucester.  Hayes area.  Not one, but two.

Two storage containers right there in plain view on route 17 South in front of a vacant business.  Vacant.  Where is the compliance?  Where are the required permits?  These have been here for over one month.

Wait, there is more.

Two more storage containers in plain view from two roads, one of which is route 17.  These are located on the grounds of the Salvation Army.  We are not picking on any business for this report.  We are showing that there is no enforcement of present ordinances, and that these containers would still be in violation of any changes to the present ordinances.

The above two pictures are showing yet another container located on the property of Franktronics.  Visible from two roads including route 17.  Again, this is not to pick on any business.  But it becomes a fair point to ask, are a few exempt from the laws of the many?  Is this sound business?  What messages are you giving to potential new businesses that are looking at Gloucester as a potential area to expand into?  They can but you can't?  Laws only apply to those we choose to make them apply to?  The land of the chosen few?

  And what messages are you delivering to present business owners in the area?  Again it becomes the same mantra.  The land of the chosen few?  Ask not what Gloucester can do for you.  Ask what Gloucester may do to you?

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