NORFOLK, Va. — A $10.6 million, three-and-half-year streetscape project began construction in Norfolk's NEON District on Monday.
According to the City of Norfolk, the project is intended to provide comprehensive landscaping and infrastructure improvements, including reconstructing roadways and sidewalks, introducing a biofiltration system, and upgrading traffic lights and underground utility lines.
Construction will focus on the 700 block of Granby Street from Brambleton Avenue to Virginia Beach Boulevard.
During construction, vehicular traffic will be restricted to northbound travel (towards Virginia Beach Boulevard) and there will not be on-street parking on Granby Street. However, parking spots were added to Monticello Avenue and Virginia Beach Boulevard on May 17 – and, additionally, designated wooden walkways will be put in place to maintain pedestrian access.
This construction project comes months after a popular French café and bakery, known as La Brioche, decided not to renew their lease in the iconic NEON District in April. Instead, the company opted to relocate, and take over the old Colley Avenue Pharmacy building in Norfolk’s Ghent neighborhood.
Also in April, Norfolk officials detailed their plans to transform the former Greyhound bus station in the NEON District from a temporary homeless shelter into the “Houndstooth” apartment complex featuring 220 residential units, a parking garage, a gym, a recreation room and a rooftop deck.