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East Side residents urge Norfolk to fund Military Circle Mall redevelopment as council approves maintenance appropriation
Summary
Residents pushed the City Council to include Military Circle Mall redevelopment in the FY2027 CIP and warned delay would dramatically raise costs; the council approved a consent‑agenda ordinance to appropriate up to $600,000 for maintenance but gave no commitment to the larger redevelopment sum residents requested.
East Side residents pressed the Norfolk City Council during public comment to prioritize redevelopment of the long‑vacant Military Circle Mall and to put a multi‑million dollar redevelopment pledge into the cityFY2027 capital improvement program.
"It is unacceptable that the proposed capital improvement plan includes $72 million for MacArthur Center redevelopment, and not $1 for Military Circle," said Liz Albert of 5905 Appleton Drive, who told the council that downtown and west side projects account for roughly $209 million (about 62 percent) of the CIP while other areas receive about $11 million (about 3 percent). "We ask you to show us the money."
Kathy O'Hara (5915 Ocean Boulevard) told the council approving only maintenance funds for Military Circle would be "funding maintenance, but not progress," and warned that three more years of delay could add an estimated $120 million to $300 million in additional costs to a large redevelopment project. "Direct staff to act. Put this project in the CIP," she said.
Nick Marcella, an East Side resident, said any redevelopment must preserve family‑centered public amenities such as a recreation center and a library, arguing those facilities are essential to keep families in the neighborhood.
The council adopted a block consent agenda that included R‑5, an ordinance amending the FY2026 Appropriations Ordinance to appropriate up to $600,000 from the Economic Development Authority of the City of Norfolk for Military Circle Mall maintenance. Councilmember Clanton acknowledged the speakers and said residents had been "heard loud and clear," adding that he would continue working with community members as the council proceeds through budget and legal steps.
The meeting record shows the appropriation for maintenance was approved as part of the consent block but does not record any council commitment to the $72 million figure residents asked to add to the FY2027 CIP during the meeting. Several residents and councilmembers said they expected further work, negotiation and possible legal or financial strategies before a larger redevelopment commitment would be feasible.
Next steps: the CIP and the FY2027 budget process, where council priorities and large capital allocations are formally considered, will determine whether Military Circle receives the larger redevelopment funding residents requested.
