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Planning Commission recommends designation of South Norfolk redevelopment area as blighted/substandard
Summary
After a staff presentation, the Norfolk Planning Commission unanimously recommended the South Norfolk redevelopment area blight and substandard study, which documents multiple dilapidated structures, aging utilities and underutilized parcels across roughly 110 acres and identifies several blight factors requiring remediation or further action.
The Norfolk Planning Commission on July 7 heard a staff synopsis of the South Norfolk redevelopment area blight and substandard study and voted to recommend the study findings.
Staff member Val led the presentation in place of the primary author, noting the study area covers approximately 110 acres south of the railroad and west of South 1st Street. Val said 186 primary structures received exterior inspections to document structural deficiencies and 218 legal parcels were evaluated for land use, site conditions, debris, parking and street/sidewalk/alley surface conditions. The study categorized each blight and substandard factor as having strong, reasonable or no presence; Val reported seven factors had a strong presence, three had a reasonable presence and one had little to no presence.
Key findings Val cited included 55 structures with major or minor deterioration and 3 dilapidated structures; 149 of 181 residential and commercial structures with verifiable ages were 40 years old or older (average age reported as 83); water and sewer mains constructed of outdated materials and estimated at roughly 80–90 years old; 75 parcels (about 34.4% of the study total of 218 parcels) observed with fair to poor site conditions; and 9 parcels with major debris plus 54 parcels with minor debris. Val also said the report includes photographs illustrating deteriorating structures and debris.
The chair opened the public hearing for comment; when no members of the public spoke the commission discussed the study’s findings and purpose, with several members expressing support for redevelopment of the area. A motion to recommend the study was moved, seconded, and carried with all commission members present voting in the affirmative.
The recommendation forwards the study findings for the city’s redevelopment consideration and preserves subsequent procedural steps available under state law and city code.
