12 The Hampton Roads Messenger
Volume 11 Number 2 Around Hampton Roads
Applicants needed for city boards and commissions
The Chesapeake City Council is seeking residents who may be interested in serving on various boards and commissions. Boards and commissions provide a vital service to various City departments, agencies and City Council. Citizens wishing to serve must complete an application form. Applications
are due in the City Clerk’s office by November 30, 2016. City Council will appoint candidates for these vacancies during its December 13, 2016 meeting.
Applications are currently being accepted for the following City Council appointed boards and commissions:
• Chesapeake Agricultural Advisory Commission — 3 appointments • (Horticulture Rep, Farmer, Livestock Industry rep) • Chesapeake Bicycle/Trails Advisory Committee — 1 appointment • (Farm Bureau representative) • Chesapeake Cable Television Commission — 2 appointments • Chesapeake City Symbol Committee — 3 appointments • Chesapeake Commission on Health and Well Being — 5 appointments
• Chesapeake Historic Preservation Commission — 6 appointments • Chesapeake Hospital Authority — 4 appointments • Chesapeake Integrated Behavioral Healthcare Board — 3 appointments
• Chesapeake Interagency Consortium — 1 appointment • (Children/Family Services representative) • Chesapeake Youth Committee — 5 appointments • Fire Prevention Code of Appeals Board — 4 appointments • Human Services Advisory Board — 4 appointments • Library Board — 2 appointments • Transportation Toll Facility Advisory Commission — 1 appointment • (Technical Background) For more information or to apply, contact the City Clerk’s office at 382- 6151 or visit Boards and Commissions.
Major developer, architect seek options on several downtown parcels
An experienced developer that has built more than $300 million in projects
throughout Virginia is working out a deal to gain options on several downtown parcels. WVS and Saunders Crouse Architects submitted an unsolicited proposal for a six-month purchase and development option on publicly held real estate within the downtown area. The six-month period allows the developer to conduct development studies to identify market potential for residential and commercial development downtown. The proposal included property held by the Economic Development Authority, the Hampton Housing and Redevelopment Authority, and the city. The EDA on Tuesday directed its staff to move forward and negotiate the details of the deal, working in collaboration with the Housing Authority staff. “This is a major coup,” said EDA Chair Eleanor Brown. “Rather than piecemeal, separate projects in Hampton, we could be looking at an integrated, planned mixed-use concept that could be spread across the downtown area. The EDA wants to be clear that downtown is still open for proposals for any and all development during this study period,” she added. Housing Authority Chair Steve Brown said: “This project has great, great
potential to change the face of our downtown. I foresee a vibrant downtown where people come and enjoy the waterways, live, work, dine and play.” WVS’s development in Roanoke, The Bridges, is a $150 million, 10-
year project across 23 acres that is expected to include apartments, offices, restaurants and small shops in buildings both new and historic, according to
Roanoke.com.
WVS Companies is experienced in developing, financing and managing mixed-use projects in urban areas including Northern Virginia, Central Virginia, the Peninsula, and Roanoke. In the past 15 years, WVS has developed over $300 million of projects. Burrell Saunders of Saunders Crouse has been the lead architect in millions of square feet of mixed- use projects, including Oyster Point (Newport News), Virginia Beach Town Center, Rocketts Landing (Richmond & Henrico County), Innsbrook (Henrico County), and The Bridges (Roanoke).
Free rides to polls for Seniors on Election Day
Yellow Cab will give voters ages 60 and over free rides to the polls November 8th in Newport News and Hampton. The offer is open to senior citizens who don't have their own transportation to the ptaxi_ SColls. Cab drivers will wait while voters cast their ballot and riders will be asked to sign
a voucher, but not pay. Those interested should call the Peninsula Agency on Aging at (757) 873-0541 by noon November 7th. The agency will ask for a telephone number, pickup address, voting location and requested pickup time. Depending on demand, pickup times may be shuffled, and riders may need to share a cab.
Fuel assistance applications accepted through November 14
The program assists eligible households with the costs of home energy
sources including electricity, natural and liquid propane gas, oil, kerosene, coal and wood. Low -income households in Norfolk can apply online or through the Norfolk Department of Human Services for help with heating fuel costs through the Energy Assistance Program. The program assists eligible households with the costs of home energy
sources including electricity, natural and liquid propane gas, oil, kerosene, coal and wood. To qualify for Fuel Assistance, the maximum gross monthly income for
a one-person household cannot exceed $1,287. For a household of four, the maximum gross monthly income is $2,633. Last year, nearly 120,000 households statewide received assistance. To apply online or to check eligibility for services visit the CommonHelp
website at
commonhelp.virginia.gov or call the Norfolk Department of Human Services at (757) 664-6035.
Portsmouth announces receipt of largest QZAB in the Virginia
The city of Portsmouth, in partnership with the Portsmouth Public
Schools, is pleased to announce the October 26 receipt of the funds for the Qualified Zone Academy Bond (QZAB) allocation of $6,143,600 to finance the renovation of school buildings and replacement of school equipment. The QZAB bonds are a debt instrument that provides the city with extremely attractive terms because of a federal tax credit that is paid to the lender instead of interest. Branch Bank &Trust (BB&T) won a competitive bidding process to provide the QZAB funding. The QZAB allows the City to borrow at 0% interest over 15 years. The city will also earn interest via a sinking fund for the loan which will further reduce the cost of borrowing. Portsmouth received the largest QZAB award in the Commonwealth of
Virginia. A Qualified Zone Academy is a partnership with local non-profits and businesses to “better prepare students for college and the workforce”. The City’s private partners in the QZAB project are STARSHIP Victory and the Portsmouth Schools Foundation. Together, these two entities have pledged support for Portsmouth Public Schools of more than $200,000 per year for the next several years. The QZAB bonds will fund the design and construction of new roofs for Westhaven Elementary, Brighton Elementary, and Woodrow Wilson High. They will also replace the public address system at Woodrow Wilson High, HVAC system improvements at Churchland High, and replace the bleachers at Churchland Middle and William Waters Middle schools. Partnerships working together to strengthen the school system.
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November 2016
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