Council to hear Waterside proposals

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) - The Norfolk City Council will hear five proposals for the Waterside property on Tuesday.

A committee is reviewing the proposals for the property. On Jan. 24, Norfolk's City Manager will present the committee's review to city council. A final recommendation will be made no later than March.

The President of Harvey Lindsay Development , Bill Hudgins, confirmed to WAVY.com Tuesday that HLD submitted one of the proposals.

Norfolk Assistant City Manager Stanley Stein admits business and foot traffic has waned at The Waterside and decisions about what to do with the property were delayed for legal reasons.

The city shut down Bar Norfolk and Have a Nice Day Cafe in 2009. Stein says those legal cases were still active until recently.

A committee is now reviewing five proposals for The Waterside.

The proposals are as follows:

Harvey Lindsay Development Proposal

• A conference center in place of Waterside
• An overhead walkway linking the conference center to the existing conference center at the Marriott
• Two mid-size hotels
• Parking
• An office building
• A seafood restaurant at the marina

Beach Music Awards Proposal

• A beach-themed cocktail lounge and restaurant.
• Three restaurants, food court, sports bar and Tiki bar
• Retail stores on the first floor

Drakkar America Proposal

• Entertainment and multi-use Pro Sports complex
• Option to seek a NBA franchise.

Project Neptune III Proposal

• 150-room hotel
• Three large night clubs
• One private members club
• Two large restaurants and a sushi & oyster bar
• Imax theater

Cordish Proposal

• Entertainment and restaurant-themed experience
• Live entertainment on first floor, plus seven restaurants and a small food court
• Six restaurants, including event room on second floor

"No decision has been made about what will go there yet. We still have to do our due diligence. We have to talk with our policy makers, our City Council, and from there the public will have some clear and concise information to react and say whether they like it or dislike it," Stein said.