NORFOLK, Va. (WVEC) — As early as next summer, the first 100 executives for Norfolk Southern are moving to Midtown Atlanta from their current headquarters in Downtown Norfolk.
"We're very sad, I mean all of us are very disappointed," said the Downtown Norfolk Council President, Mary Miller. "I mean for all of us though, it's our neighbors and friends,”
Miller said losing the Fortune-500 Company's headquarters, is more than personal. "We again as a downtown and city need to really make sure we're always focusing on retaining and attracting new businesses."
Norfolk Mayor Kenny Alexander said the economic impact to our city is around 6-to-7 million dollars.
He said, "it certainly is a loss.”
"Ten years ago, during the recession, it would've been a devastating loss,” said Alexander, "but Norfolk will continue to be resilient, we are thriving."
Mayor Alexander wants to reassure our community that the transportation company's 'Lambert's Point Terminal' will stay, in Norfolk.
Alexander said Norfolk Southern still has a contract to keep a certain number of job's in our city. He said, "there was no indication that they are going to default on that contract."
So, while one mayor waits to see if a promise is kept, another sees a promise fulfilled.
"Getting to this point was like watching the sausage get made, but hey it sure does taste good,” said Atlanta city Mayor Kesha Bottoms.
It'll be a process re-locating the headquarters.
Norfolk Southern's president said another 400 employees will leave downtown Norfolk, by 2021.
In the meantime, Mayor Alexander has this parting message, "we certainly wish Norfolk Southern the very best, but they will have a presence here in the city for a very long time.”