Mellen Street, the next Rehobeth Avenue or DuVal Street?
I frequently describe Virginia as a particularly non-gay friendly place to live and work. However, there are elements within the state (which obviously exclude our current Governor and lunatic Attorney General) that want to change that situation. Indeed, there is growing recognition of the importance of the LGBT community in developing communities and cities that are magnets for what Richard Florida has termed the "creative class." One example is the May 3, 2010, conference of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association held Norfolk which specifically looked at the importance of LGBT businesses and the LGBT community in the revival of areas such as Norfolk's Ghent, Richmond's Carytown, and the Del Rey area of Alexandria. The conference even included a session on "Being Out . . . and In Business" which included two members of Hampton Roads Business Outreach ("HRBOR"), Virginia's only affiliate of the NGLCC, as panelists.
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Now, for the first time to my knowledge a Hampton Roads city has specifically and enthusiastically sought the engagement of the LGBT community and LGBT investors/entrepreneurs in a revitalization effort. One June 9, 2010 the City of Hampton Department of Economic Development invited HRBOR board members - I was an attendee - to a meeting to review the investment and development opportunities in the Phoebus area of the city. Phoebus, which was a small independent city until 1952, has the potential for pedestrian friendly development like Ghent, Carytown, the historic section of Rehobeth Beach, Old Town Key West and other areas that have become thriving LGBT and artistic centered neighborhoods and/or destinations. With the U. S. Army's upcoming closure of historic Fort Monroe in 2011, Phoebus will have increased water front and beach access, increased marina space, plus the continued draw of the Casemate Museum at the 19th century fort and the newly expanded American Theater (pictured below).
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As for economic incentives, through various programs investors can pursue loan programs, grant programs, and both state and federal historic tax credits (combined a 45% credit), plus favorable zoning that allows the construction of new, green vintage look properties for first floor commercial use and second and third floor residential use. Information on these programs can be found here and here. As for marketing the area from a tourism perspective, Phoebus is centrally located and less than an hour from Williamsburg, Yorktown and Jamestown, as well as less than an hour from Virginia Beach. Situated at the first west bound exit from Insterstate 64, Phoebus offers easy access for Norfolk shoppers/restaurant goers as well as the entire Virginia Peninsula population. Additional gay friendly accommodations will obviously be needed to make Phoebus a potential gay destination, but the city is looking into exactly that type investment already. Hampton is celebrating its 400 year anniversary this summer - and also the city's first ever Pride event this coming Saturday, June 19, 2010, at Millpoint Park in downtown on the waterfront.
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Will Hampton pull this revitalization off? Time will tell, but a good starting point already exists with a diverse population and existing restaurants and art venues. For more information on these exciting opportunities that offer ground floor entry prices, contact: Don Davis, Redevelopment Manager, Department of Economic Development, City of Hampton, VA, (Tel: 757-728-5144). e-mail: dedavis@hampton.gov
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