Did I read correctly? Did someone propose turning the careworn downtown Norfolk Waterside Festival Marketplace into a community arts, crafts, and (folk) music center? Nah-ah. No way.
Yes waaaay! According to
this article in the Virginian Pilot, representatives from
Festevents recently met with local leaders from the business and arts community to propose a plan that would turn the riverfront property into a venue hosting local theater, music, dancing and other community events. Think Shakespeare, interpretive dance, accordion music, karate classes, traveling exhibits… face painting? That sort of thing.
For real??
The Waterside, once an attractive destination for conventioneers, tourists, and locals looking for a family outing, or lovers looking for a romantic date-night stroll, has turned into a dark, dingy, almost deserted, eyesore. It has gone from attracting the steak dinner crowd to attracting the “I’m-so-drunk-I can’t-make-it-to-the-bathroom-so-I’ll-go-ahead-and-do-it-right-here-in-the-parking-garage” crowd.
Look. Don’t get me wrong. I’m no angel. As a single Hampton Roads newbie some time ago, I had a jaunt or two at Waterside. I, too, have danced on the infamous bar at Bar Norfolk. But even then, “clubbing” at Waterside never felt quite right. Hammerheads at the Oceanfront, yes. Have a Nice Day Café and Bar Norfolk, no. It felt even creepier getting a scoop of
Chubby Hubby at Ben and Jerry’s the next afternoon, knowing what I had witnessed upstairs the night before.
To be sure, Waterside has its problems. Furthermore, this embattled venue’s rep hasn’t been helped by incidents like the wee hours of the morning
traffic-squabble-turned-homicide a few months ago; along with countless other police interventions that take place on any given weekend. (I’m surprised there’s never been an episode of “Cops: Norfolk”). But seriously… the idea of turning this prime waterfront property into something akin to some sort of indoor Renaissance festival is, well… with all due respect… a bit hair-brained.
Somewhere along the way, Waterside outgrew its original purpose, which, as described on the
Festival website, was to provide a
“…memorable and an entirely unique shopping, dining, and entertainment adventure…offer[ing] major restaurants, specialty retail shops, an international food court, and exciting nightlife with music, dancing, and live entertainment.”The complex is now neither memorable nor does it offer anything remotely resembling excitement. For years, the management has been scrambling to bring Waterside back to life. But the ideas, thus far, have lacked imagination or have exhibited sheer laziness in thinking... as in the latest “community center” notion. (Well, to be fair, the idea
is imaginative, I’ll give them that. Wise? I don’t think so).
Waterside can be saved. It all depends on whether the city has decided this venture will forever be
on the public dole, or if they will set it free and let it flourish. If going the community center route is a temporary fix while they sort things out, then there’s hope. If not, then Waterside is doomed. (How is this community center supposed to generate revenue anyway?)
Here are my suggestions. They are not earth-shattering, and I’m sure I’m not the first to propose them, but:
1) Let the private, profit-motivated sector acquire Waterside. The present
owners have demonstrated that they just can’t hack it.
2) Get some curb appeal! Open up the place. Let the sun shine in (I don’t remember if the structure has skylights) and give us floor to ceiling river views! Let the restaurants extend out into halls, particularly where the food court is currently housed. (And while you’re at it, give the dance clubs the boot. That business model is what got us into this mess in the first place).
3) Attract conventioneers. I am unique in that I have visited the complex as a business traveler, a club hopper, and now as a downtown neighbor. While on business, I look for a place close to the hotel where I can do some unique shopping (don’t send me to MacArthur – there’s a Nine West and Nordstrom where I came from!) I also want a place (by the water) where I can have a nice lunch or dinner and entertain clients, and not have to endure the stench of the previous night’s debauchery as I dine.
4) Attract the lunch crowd. I have no issue with Outback or Jillian’s, but mix it up a little with places like the Gourmet Gang, and other eateries offering a variety of fare (from sushi to Tex-Mex).
5) Attract locals with Sunday Jazz brunch (I now go to Oceanfront for brunch) sidewalk dining, and tasteful restaurants. The days of scantily clad waitresses jiggling their naughty bits in your face while they serve you wings are oh so passé. Let’s try something a bit more grown up, shall we? A nice upscale Italian bistro, or an exotic Ethiopian restaurant would be an interesting addition for entertaining out of town guests, or for date night. A place to buy fresh seafood, à la
Faneuil Hall would also be nice.
6) Attract families and tourists. Not with an
indoor community center (Yawn!), but with paddle boat rides, street performers, face painters, ice-cream and hotdog carts, etc.
These suggestions sure sound like the original plan for Waterside, don’t they? Waterside can thrive once more, but only if we just get back to basics.
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