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>>> THIS TIME ON NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES WE WILL TALK ABOUT
THE VISION OF DOWNTOWN. NOT TODAY'S VISION BUT WHAT IT
WAS A LONG TIME AGO AND HOW IT'S COMING ALIVE AND WHAT IT MEANS
TO YOU IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD. STAY TUNED FOR SOME GREAT
CONVERSATION HERE ON NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES.
WELCOME THE TO NORFOLK PERSPECTIVES.
I HAVE A SPECIAL FRIEND ON THE SOFA.
I REMEMBER DRIVING AROUND DOWNTOWN AND WONDERING WHERE WE
WOULD PUT MERMAID FLAGS. SHE WORKED ON THE FIFTH FLOOR
AND PLANNING. NOW SHE IS PRESIDENT AND CEO.
>> AM I ALLOWED TO CALL YOU MARY OR SHOULD I CALL YOU EL
PRESIDENT? >> NO.
PLEASE. >>> THAT'S WHAT OUR DOWNTOWN IS
ALL ABOUT IS TAKING PERSONALITY AND PEOPLE WHO ARE REALLY
COMMITTED ON A PERSONAL LEVEL TO MAKING DOWNTOWN WORK, RIGHT?
>> ABSOLUTELY. >> SO LET ME REVISIT MARY MILLER
THEN. YOU SPEND SOME TIME AT ONE OF
THOSE SCHOOLS UP IN D.C., GETTING A DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE
AND ONE OF THE SCHOOLS WAS WHAT? >> CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY.
>> SO HOW THE DO YOU TAKE A DEGREE IN ARCHITECTURE, A CAREER
WITH A CITY OF NORFOLK IN PLANNING AND NOW PRESIDENCY OF
DOWNTOWN NORFOLK. KHR*EBGT CONNECT -- CONNECT IT
FOR ME. >> I WENT ON TO GET MY MASTERS 33
IN CITY PLANNING. THAT BROUGHT ME TO NORFOLK MANY
YEARS AGO. MY KA TRAOER EVOLVEED WITH THE
CITY. I DID NEIGHBORHOOD PLANNING TO
WORK WITH DOWNTOWN. ONE OF THE VERY FIRST PROJECTS I
WORKED ON WAS THE NATIONAL REGISTER APPLICATION FOR
DOWNTOWN AND I DID A LOT OF WORK ON AND OFF OVER THE YEARS FOR
THE DOWNTOWN NORFOLK COUNCIL. I LOVE DOWNTOWN.
I LOVE URBAN AREAS SO WHEN AN OPPORTUNITY CAME OPEN I GUESS
NINE OR TEN YEARS AGO YOU GO TO WORK I JUMPED AT THE CHANCE.
>> SO THERE'S A YING YANG WHEN IT COMES TO DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT
AND MAKING IT NATURAL AND ORGANIC BUT AT THE SAME TIME
HAVING A SENSE OF PLACE AND A SENSE OF FUTURE.
>> YES. FROM A PLANNING PERSPECTIVE,
DOWNTOWN HAS GREAT BONES AND THERE'S PAN LOT OF TREAT
PLANNING AND WORK DONE FOR DOWNTOWN.
GREAT BUILDINGS AND A MALL, LOTS OF OFFICE SPACE DOWNTOWN, GREAT
ENTERTAINMENT VENUES BUT WHERE DOWN TOWN NEEDS TO EVOLVE NOW
AND MORE ENERGY ON THE STREET. WHERE PHYSICAL DOWNTOWN IS THERE
AN WE CODO -- WE DO NEED MORE ENERGY DOWNTOWN.
>>> IS THAT REALLY THE CHALLENGE OF DOWNTOWN NORFOLK OR
PRIVATE ENTERPRISE? >> IT CHALLENGES ALL OF US.
I THINK WE ALL HAVE TO WORK TOGETHER TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
I DON'T THINK ONE ENTITY CAN MAKE THAT HAPPEN.
WORKING IN PARTNERSHIPS WITH ORGANIZATION AND THE ARTS
FESTIVAL. 7 VENUES BUT THE MORE THAT WE 34
CAN ALL DO TOGETHER, THE FURTHER WE CAN ALL GET.
>> AIM HEARING COLLABORATIONS? >> YES.
>> WHO CAN GET CREDIT? >> NO.
ABSOLUTELY NOT. AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED THE
DOWNTOWN NORFOLK DOWN OH SILL DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE CREDIT.
MARY MILLER DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE THE CREDIT OF GETTING THINGS
DONE. IF WE GET DOWNTOWN A BETTER
PLACE WHERE WE CAN GET MORE PEOPLE WORKING IN OUR OFFICE
BILLING. MORE PEOPLE PARTICIPATING IN
GOING TO VENUES DOWNTOWN, EATING AT A RESTAURANT, SHOPPING AT OUR
STORES, WE HAVE ALL ACHIEVED OUR GOALS.
>>> SO USED TO HAVING LEAGUES AND NEIGHBORHOODS.
WHAT IS DOWNTOWN NORFOLK COUNCILLE STPH-L.
>> I NOW WORK FOR 30 PEOPLE. THE DOWNTOWN NORFOLK COUNCIL HAS
A BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND IT STARTED AS A MEMBERSHIP
ORGANIZATION AND IN 1999 WHEN IT STARTED MANAGING TIM PROVEMENT
DISTRICT IT TOOK THAT RESPONSIBILITY ON AS WELL.
THEN MANAGING THAT DOWNTOWN IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
>>> SOP LET ME ROLL BACK SOME MORE, WHAT IS THE DOWNTOWN
IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT. >>> IN THE STATE OF VIRGINIA,
COMMUNITIES ARE ALLOWED TO CREATE SPECIAL DISTRICTS WHICH
ALLOW THE PROPERTY OWNERS TO AGREE TO TAX THEMSELVES
ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF MONEY TO GET SERVICES ARE ABOVE AND ABOVE
WHAT THE CITY PROVIDE FAR BASELINE SERVICE.
THAT'S EVERYTHING FROM CLEANING STREETS TO MARKETING, TO DOING 35
OTHER INCENTIVE PROGRAMS. WE HAVE AN IMPROVEMENT GRANT
PROGRAM FOR DOWNTOWN. WE GET FRED WHICH PROVIDES FREE
RIDES EVERY DAY. OUR CLEAN TEAM.
OUR PUB UBG SERVICE AMBASSADORS AND A LOT OF MARKETING FOR
DOWNTOWN, TOO. >> THERE'S THAT ADD VALUE.
>> YES. >> AND WHEN YOU SAY MARKETING,
I'VE SEEN SOME OF THOSE COMMERCIALS.
>> WE DO TELEVISION COMMERCIALS, WE DO PRINT COMMERCIALS.
WE HAVE A MOBILE WEB-SITE AND FACEBOOK PAGE, INSTAGRAM,
TWITTER TO LET PEOPLE KNOW WHAT'S GOING ON DOWNTOWN.
>> YOU THE THIS WITH HOW MANY EMPLOYEES?
>> WE HAVE 25 EMPLOYEES. THEY ARE OPERATIONS SO OUR
PUBLIC SERVICE AMBASSADORS AND THEN THERE'S 8 OF US ON THE
ADMIN -- ADMINISTRATIVE SIDE. >>> THEY ARE RATE PAYERS SO
IT'S 14 FOR OUR MEMBERSHIP THAT ARE NOMINATED AND THEN THE
OTHERS ARE SEPTEMBER -- REPRESENTIVE OF OUR RATE PAYERS.
SO WE HAVE REPRESENTIVES -- AND OUR JON RAMSTEIN AND DARRYL HILL
WHO IS THE ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER.
>> SHE'S GREAT. SHE TOLD US ABOUT THE FIRST
FRIDAY AND WE WILL ALL BE THERE. WE WILL TELL YOU ABOUT LATER ON.
SO, YOU GOT THAT BUT BESIDES COMING TOGETHER AND TELLING YOU
WHAT TO DO? DOES THAT HAPPEN?
>> WE MEET REGULARLY. WE HAVE A VERY EVEN GAUGED
BOARD. STAFF WORKS WITH THE BOARD AND
SETTING THE WORK BOARD FOR YEAR AND THAT YEAR, WHAT WE ARE ALSO 36
WORKING ON IS THE STRA STEVE -- STRATEGIC PLAN FOR THE
ORGANIZATION. THEY HAVE NOT DONE A STRATEGIC
PLAN FAR WHILE. WITH ME AND IT'S A GREAT
OPPORTUNITY TO DO IT AND A GREAT OPPORTUNITY TO DETERMINE HOW
PEST WE ALLOCATE OVER OUR HUMAN FINANCES GOING FORWARD.
>> AS AN ORGANIZATION. >> NOT THE PLANNING DOWNTOWN BUT
AS THE ORGANIZATION, WHAT ARE WE DOING RIGHT?
WHAT DO WE NEED TO KEEP DOING AND ARE THERE THINGS THAT WE ARE
NOT DOING RIGHT? ARE THERE THINGS THAT ARE STAKE
HOLDERS AND AGREE WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING?
>> THIS ALIGNS WITH THE RENEWAL OF THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT.
IT'S ON A FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT SO IT HAS A CLAUSE.
SO, THIS CURRENT DISTRICT EXPIRES IN JUNE OF 2014.
>> WE'RE GOING TO BE ROLLING IN TO A BREAK BUT BEFORE WE GO TO
BREAK WE DO NEED TO TALK ACT SPH*G SOMEBODY WHO'S BEEN IN FOR
30 YEARS WHO OH WOULD HAVE BEEN ON THE SOFA A YEAR AGO.
>> RIGHT. >>> WHAT'S SHE DOING?
>> SHE IS ENJOYING TRAVELING AND READING AND GARDENING.
I HAVEN'T SEEN HER IN A WHILE. SHE WAS TRAVELING AGAIN THIS
SUMMER SO SHE'S ENJOYING HERSELF.
I THINK YOU WILL SEE HER GET BACK ENGAGED.
>> NO. >> WE WILL TAKE A BREAK.
I WANT TO GO BACK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT SOME OF OUR FOUNDATION
YEARS OF THE NEW NORFOLK THAT WE'VE GOT DOWNTOWN.
>>> WELCOME BACK. MARY IS JOINING US BY SOMEONE 37
WHO IS REALLY INSTRUMENTAL IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC.
YOU MAY NOT KNOW THEM OR YOU MAY.
>> I HEAD BACK DOWN HERE OWNER OF NORFOLK.
YOUR RES SPHAEU MUCH WIDER THAN THAT AND ONLY A HALF MILE SHOW.
WHAT'S THE HIGHLIGHT? >> I THINK I HAVE BEEN FORTUNATE
THAT I HAVE BEEN IN THE SPER TAEUPBMENT BUSINESS --
ENTERTAINMENT BUSINESS SINCE HIGH SCHOOL.
I MET SOME INTERESTING PEOPLE. I WAS INVOLVED AND THAT WAS A
REAL HIGHLIGHT. I THINK THE MOST IMPORTANT THING
THAT I'VE ENJOYED IS PUTTING TOGETHER VENUES AND THAT'S THE
27th VENUE THEY PUT TOGETHER.
TO ME IT'S PART OF BEING PART OF THE CREATIVE PROCESS IS VERY
EXHILARATING AND FOR ME IT REALLY SPEAKS.
>> I WANT TO HAVE YOU JOIN US ON THE SHOW NOW BECAUSE WE WERE
TALKING ABOUT BOARD OF DOWNTOWN NORFOLK COUNCIL THAT REALLY
GRAVELING WITH THE STRATEGIC PLAN WITH THE ORGANIZATION BUT
YOU HAVE TO REPRESENT WHAT'S GOING ON IN THAT, HOW MANY BLOCK
AREA? >> WELL THE IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT
IS A 48-BLOCK AREA AND THERE'S A LOT OF DIFFERENT USES IN THAT 48
THIS BLOCKS. >> A LOT OF DIFFERENT OPINIONS
OF WHAT SHOULD BE GOING ON. >> CORRECT, YES.
>>> LET ME SHARE AN OPINION OF A DEVELOPER BACK IN THE 19 --
EARLY 19 80s IN THERE WILL BE ANOTHER OFFICE BUILDING BUILT
DOWNTOWN. HOW DOES THAT MAKE YOU FEEL?
>> IT'S INTERESTING. I WAS INVOLVED IN DOWNTOWN IN 38
1980 WITH THE OLD THEATER. I HELPED BOOK THE OH ALMOND
BROTHERS AND I WOULD SAY IN THE '80s WHEN THE MALL WAS ON
BRANDY STREET IT WAS PRETTY MUCH A GHOST TOWN.
IT WAS INTERESTING WHEN YOU WALKED DOWN THERE YOU COULD FEEL
THERE WAS A REAL ATROPHY BUT WHEN I WALKED BACK IN 1998,
1999, YOU CAN FEEL SOMETHING. I THINK THERE WAS CULTURAL
CHANGE. I THINK WE ARE FORTUNATE THAT WE
HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT CALL CULTURAL CHANGE.
>> A LOT ARE THINKING THE MALL. >> WELL THE GRANDY MALL IS WHEN
A MAJORITY IS A PEDESTRIAN MALL. THERE IS NO VEHICULAR TRAFFIC ON
GRANDY STREET. THERE WERE A LOT OF RETAIL AND
THEN AS THE SHOPPING CENTERS DEVELOPED IN THE SUBURBAN
MARKETS, YOU SAW A LOT OF THOSE BUSINESSES MOVING TO THE
SUBURBAN AREAS AND A LOT OF VACANCY SIGNS.
IN THE 1970s, THE MALL WAS THE THING TO DO BUT IT DIDN'T WORK
HERE. IN MOST CITY, IN DUN TOWN YOU
CAN NEVER SAY ANYTHING IS NOT DONE.
THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO BE EVOLVING. YOU TO BE ADAPTING TO CHANGE.
THE PEOPLE'S INTEREST TANDEM GRAPHICS OF AN AREA AND PEOPLE
WHO WANT TO LIVE AND WORK DOWNTOWN.
>> I HAVE TO IMAGINE WHAT THE MOVE IS AND IF SOMEBODY MADE
THEY -- ANNOUNCEMENT AND THAT THEY WERE WITH A REAL EXCITING
CAUSE, THE COMMUNITY COLLEGE. >> IT WAS GOING TO BRING A LOT
OF PEOPLE DOWNTOWN. >> IT SURE WORKED.
>> IT DID. >> YOU LIKED IT, THESE POST HIGH 39
SCHOOL AN EARLY YEARS ARE HERE. >>> I THAT IT'S REALLY CHANGED
THE STREET BECAUSE YOU HAVE FOOT TRAFFIC.
WE REALLY LIKE IT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE REASONS WHY
WE WENT AHEAD AND BOUGHT IT. THAT WAS ONE OF THE MANY REASONS
BUT THERE'S THIS FOUNDATION BUILT ACROSS THE STREET.
>> RIGHT. >>> IT WASN'T QUITE HERE.
DOWNTOWN WASN'T WHAT WE GOT TODAY.
SO HERE'S BILL REED AND YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY OF A LIFETIME TO
DO WHATEVER THEY WANT. >> BROUGHT THE OLD DOWNTOWN
ATHLETIC -- >> DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB.
>> IT CLOSED BY THEN. >> .
>> WHAT WAS THE DREAM? >> I DON'T WANT TO ACT LIKE A
FAMILY MEMBER HERE. WHAT DO YA'LL HAVE IN YOUR HEAD?
I SAID HAVE YA'LL WALKED DOWNTOWN.
THE MALL WAS BEING BUILT. IF YOU REMEMBER, MANY PEOPLE
WERE DOOMED AND PEOPLE WON'T GO TO THE MALL OR WON'T WORK.
>> PEOPLE WERE COLLECTING PLY WOOD BECAUSE THEY WANTED TO
BOARD IT UP WHEN IT DIDN'T WORK. >> I THINK YOU HAD TO WORK AT IT
AND YOU COULD SEE. >> PEOPLE HAVE BEEN IN THE
SUBURBAN AREAS FOR A LONG TIME AND I FELT THEY NEEDED AND
NEEDED CHARACTER. I THINK THE ONLY AREA IN THE 7
CITIES THAT STILL HAS THAT CHARACTER IS GRAND BURY STREET.
ARE VACANT. SOME WERE OPEN.
I THINK A COUPLE RESTAURANTS BUT REAL PIONEERS WERE BOBBY WRIGHT
AND I THINK PEOPLE WERE YEARNING FOR THAT CHARACTER. 40
THAT'S WHAT WE BET ON. I THEY BET PAID OFF IT WAS TRUE.
THE YOUNG PEOPLE WHO WENT TO SEE MOVIES AND WENT TO MALLS -- I
DIDN'T WANT TO BUILD A MUSIC THAOET NEAR ANOTHER MALL OR
ANOTHER STRIPAL WHERE YOU WENT IN AND HAD EVERYTHING ELSE.
OUR GOAL IS TO CAPTURE THAT CHARACTER SO WHEN PEOPLE WALKED
IN THEY FELT THEY ARRIVED SOMEWHERE AND OUR FEELING WAS
THAT WE WANTED TO CREATE A MUSIC VENUE THAT HAD ROCK 'N' ROLL
AEXISTENCE IN 1917. >>> SO DEVELOPMENT FOR THE
BANKERS POINT OF VIEW YOU HAVE A GOOD BUSINESS PLAN BUT IT REALLY
HAS TO BE A VISION, TOO. AND DREAM.
>> AND A LITTLE CRAZY MIXED IN. DID YOU U HAVE ANY KIND OF
STUDY. DID YOU DO ANY ECONOMIC STUDY.
I SAID, IT'S ONE OF THOSE CLASSIC CASES AND REBUILD IT.
>> AND THEY CAME AND THEY HAD A LITTLE WRITE UP ABOUT YOU.
>> THEY DID. WE WERE VERY FORTUNATE WAS.
>>> THAT WRITE UP WAS. >> IT'S A VERY HUMBLING THING.
>> WE WERE THE NUMBER UP WITH VENUE IN AMERICA AND THAT WAS
MIND BLOWING FOR US. THERE WERE A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT
SHOULD TAKE THE CREDIT AND OUR PARTNERS AND RICK HAS DONE AN
INCREDIBLE JOB BOOKING AND MARKETING IT' JUST INCREDIBLE.
EVERYBODY IN OUR OFFICE, JENNIFER AND KELLY AND CHRIS AND
BRITTNEY AND WILL. EVERY DAY WE HAVE TO DO IT AGAIN
AND WE ARE ONLY AS GOOD AS WE ARE TODAY.
>>> WOW. WE'RE GOING TO BREAK ON THAT
ONE. I WILL THROW YOU A QUESTION. 41
I WANT YOU TO THINK OF IT DURING THE BREAK WHATEVER IT MIGHT BE.
REMIND ME AND TELL ME WHEN WE COME BACK.
>> WELCOME BACK. WHAT DO YOU HAVE TO SAY?
>>> A GREAT SUPPORTER OF DOWNTOWN.
WONDERFUL VISIONARY. VERY OUTSPOKEN ABOUT YOUR
SUPPORT FOR DOWNTOWN AND OUR ORGANIZATION AS WELL.
>> I THINK ANYBODY WHO KNEW UNCLE PETE KNEW.
>> ALSO GREAT SUPPORTIVE OF DOWNTOWN AND MORE. HIND THE
SCENES. STORE STARTED BUYING PROPERTIES
IN THE MID '80s AND HAS DEVELOPED A NUMBER OF BUILDINGS
DOWNTOWN. MANY WITH RESTAURANTS ON THE
GROUND FLOOR AND CONDOS IN THE UPPER FLOORS.
HE'S BEEN GREAT AND SERVED ON OUR BOARD.
>> I SHOULD SAY DOCTOR S T*E RSY BECAUSE HE WAS VERY GOOD DOCTOR
IN HIS EARLY DAY. WE DID A REMOLDLEING SHOW.
HERE HE IS UP TO DUST AND TALKING ABOUT -- BUT COMPARING
THAT RESTAURANT AND RES RESIDENTIAL AND GETING THAT
BALANCE. >> WHEN YOU SEE DOWNTOWN
STARTING TO HAVE A RESURGENT, ONE OF THE THINGS THAT YOU SEE
HAPPEN IS STREET LEVEL RESTAURANT AND WE'VE BEFORE VERY
FORTUNATE TO HAVE OWNER OPERATING, CHEF OPERATED
RESTAURANTS. FOR THE MOST PART THEY ARE
INDEPENDENT AND THEY ARE GREAT RESTAURANTS PROVIDING A VARIETY
OF CHOICES. >> IN YOUR SITUATION, YOU 42
DECIDED TO DEVELOP ON THE MONTECELLO SIDE.
YOU FORGOT THE RESTAURANT IS THERE A REASON FOR THAT.
>> WHEN THE DOWNTOWN ATHLETIC CLUB HAD A BUILDING THEY GOT IT.
WE WANTED TO HAVE PEOPLE ENTER IN FROM THE MALL SIDE.
THERE WAS PARKING UP THERE AND EVERYBODY'S FIRST THING THEY
WERE CONCERNED ABOUT IS WHERE AM I GOING TO STPHARBG WE ALL KNOW
THE PARKING EXAM IN DOWNTOWN THAT'S ONE OF THEM.
>> WE ALSO WANTED TO HAVE A REST THRAPBT MADE MORE SENSE BECAUSE
PEOPLE WOULD WALK UP AND DOWN GRAND BURY AND HAVE RESTAURANTS.
WE WANTED TO HAVE THE RESTAURANT INDEPENDENT AND SEPARATE AS WELL
IT WORKED OUT. >> ONE THING WANT TO GIVE YOU
ABOUT YOUR RESTAURANT IS THE URBAN SETTING IS SIT'S A HALF
FLOOR DOWN IT'S NOT REALLY THE BIG MAMMOTH RESTAURANT.
. IT CRAFTED THAT END OF THE
TRAGEDY ABOUT HAVING THE OWNER OCCUPIED.
>> RIGHT. IT WAS RESTAURANT WEEK.
IT GIVES US SOMETHING TO REALLY PITCH THAT OUR RESTAURANT WEEK
IS THAT WE PRODUCED TWICE A YEAR HAS THOSE INDEPENDENT OPERATED
RESTAURANTS. THEY THE SMALLER RESTAURANTS
IT'S SOMETHING DIFFERENT TO MARKET.
>>> WE HAVE THOSE NEW RESTAURANTS ON FOUR WHEELS.
FOOD TRUCKS. ALL THE RAVE.
THEY ARE THERE. THEY ARE DOING WELL.
IT'S A NEW PROGRAM. THEY ARE GETTING THEIR WHEELS
WET BUT IT'S GOOD. PIT'S ANOTHER NICE AMENITY FOR 43
DOWNTOWN. >>> WHO WOULD HAVE THUNK WE HAD
FOOD TRUCKS. TELL US WHAT THE MOVEMENT IN THE
'70s AND '8 # 0s WAS TO COUNTER WHAT WE HAD BEFORE WHICH
WAS THE KIND OF, NEED I SAY, TEN -- TENANT, TPH*E ON LIGHTS.
HOW DO YOU BALANCE OUTLOOKING TO THE FUTURE OF ANYTHING NEW AND
YET KEEP US ON CONTROL. IS THAT A BALANCING ACT?
>> IT IS A BALANCING ACT. >> YOU STILL HAVE TO HAVE RULES
AN REGULATIONS. IT IS TRULY A MIXED USE
ENVIRONMENT. YOU HAVE RESIDENTS LIVING UP
WHERE YOU HAVE RESTAURANTS AND RETAILERS.
YOU DO HAVE A VENUE. IT IS ALWAYS FINDING THAT
BALANCE BUT WE NEED TO BE FLEXIBLE THE TO ALLOW THOSE NEW
USES THAT SOME OF THE YOUNGER DEM -- DEMOGRAPHIC AND LOOKING
DOWNTOWN AND THAT THEY ARE IN A WORKING ENVIRONMENT.
>> E WE WANT TO TAKE A SHORT BREAK AND WHEN WE COME BACK.
>>> I WE WILL TALK TALK ABOUT FUN DOWNTOWN.
>> ALL RIGHT. .
ΒΆ >>> WELCOME BACK.
NOW WE WILL TALK ABOUT FUN. IF YOU HAVE A COUNCIL WITH YOU,
YOU PLAN THE FUN. READY?
>> A LITTLE BIT OF THE FUN, YES. >> THE PLAN FUN.
>>> BUT YOU HAVE TO LET IT WORK ORGANICALLY, TOO.
>> YOU FOUND THAT BALANCE. >>> WE TRY.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT ABOVE. >> IT'S NOT QUITE WHAT I HAD IN
MIND. >>> MY STAFF IS EVERY NIGHT. 44
>>> SO THIS IS THE PLANNING. YOU HAVE SOME COOL STUFF COMING
UP. I THINK ONE THING WE DISCOVERED
IT'S BETTER TO EXPERIENCE A -- >> YES, SO THE CITY LED AN
EFFORT TO DO THE BETTER BLOCK PROGRAM ON THE STREET IT WAS
GREAT. FRIDAY NIGHT ON A SATURDAY AND
GREAT TURN OUT, A LOT OF FUN AND REALLY BASE PEOPLE THE ABILITY
TO SEE WHAT THAT AREA IS. >> IT SURE BEATS A NINE-HOUR
PLANNING MEETING WHEN YOU GET PRETTY PICTURES.
>> NOT EVERYBODY LIKES IT. IT'S JUST SAND PICK SKHOURS TO
PHYSICALLY -- SO TO PHYSICALLY SEE WHAT CAN HAPPEN.
>> I WAS USED TO SEEING THAT WHITE TRUCK WITH THE DECAL.
THAT'S WITH THE NEAT LOGO. WHAT IN THE WORLD IS THIS THING
RUNNING AROUND WITH DOTS ALL OVER IT?
>> IT'S A FUN SPOT. IT'S A QUICK CRAZY PROMOTION.
IT JUST POPS UP AND A POP UP EVENT THAT HAPPENS FROM NOON TO
1:30 ON THURSDAY. IT'S A WAY TO REALLY THANK OUR
DOWNTOWN WORK FORCE AND BE OUT OF THEM IT' A WAY TO REACT ONE
ANOTHER OR BE WITH SOME NEW FRIENDS.
>> THIS IS A PERSONAL QUESTION. PLEASE KEEP RESTAURANT WEEK ON
THE WEEK OF JULY 16th. THAT'S MY WIFE'S BIRTHDAY AND I
CAN AFFORD TO TAKE HER OUT TO DINNER.
HOW DO THEY DO THAT. >> RESTAURANT WEEK?
>> MAKE IT AFFORDABLE. >> IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO DRIVE
NEW TRAFFIC TO THE RESTAURANTS. THEY PUT TOGETHER THEIR OWN
MENUS WHERE THEY CAN OFFER THREE-SET MEAL FAR SET PRICE. 45
THEY HAVE NEW CUSTOMERS OFF THE PROMOTION.
>>> TWO SEGMENTS AGO. THEY MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT AND
I DON'T HIT THE'S REAL. >> NOW WE'VE GOT THE NUMBER
ONE -- IS THAT WHAT YOU UNDERSTAND?
THE NUMBER ONE VENUE IN THE COUNTRY IS LOCATED IN DOWNTOWN.
>>> WOULD YOU LIKE TO ANNOUNCE THAT?
>> THE NUMBER ONE IN THE ENTIRE UNITED STATES IS LOCATED IN
DOWNTOWN NORFOLK. >> DID YOU KNOW THAT?
>> WE FOUND OUT A COUPLE WEEKS AGO.
>> WHAT DOES THAT MEAN FOR YOU U?
>> IT'S HARD TO DIGEST IT DOES MEAN THAT I THINK ALL OF WHO PUT
TIME AND MONEY AND ALL THIS DEDICATION IN TO IT SORT OF
WORKS. IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE ENJOY AND
WE ARE GETTING BACK. >> WE HAVEN'T FINISHED YET AND
WE STILL HAVE A LOT OF WORK TO DO.
>>> YOU JUST GAVE US A WARNING. BE PREPARED FOR THE FUTURE.
>> IT'S SOMETHING THAT WE FEEL IS A CONCEPT AND SOMETHING THAT
WE FELT IS A BIT DIFFERENT. WE DO THINGS THAT NOBODY ELSE IN
THE COUNTRY DOES. WE ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO ADD
MORE TO THAT LIST. >> WELL, YOU HAVE SOMETHING TO
BRAG ABOUT. I GOT ON MY CALENDAR I HAVE TO
DO SOMETHING DOWNTOWN IN NOVEMBER.
>> OH, IN NOVEMBER. GRAND ILLUMINATION PARADE THE
29th IS NOVEMBER 23rd. >> I GET TO TELL THE PEOPLE TO
STAY ON THE CURB. >> STAY ON THE CURB. 46
YOU DO OUR COUNT DOWN SO IT'S GREAT.
>>> ANOTHER PARADE. THE THEME OF THE PARADE IS GOING
TO BE? >> JINGLE BELLS, OH, WAIT, I
LOVE IT. >> IT IS AUGUST.
IT IS A JUNGLE SCENE. >> IF I RECALL.
>> YOU MAY REMEMBER IT MORE THAN I DO.
>> I THINK I HAVE MY ANNOUNCEMENT BEHIND THE MONKEY
HEAD. >> YES, YOU DID.
IT SHOULD BE A LOT OF FUN. >>> OKAY.
YOU HAVE ANY IDEA HOW THEY LIKE THE LIGHT?
ES. >> I HAVE NO IDEA BUT I'M SURE
IT'S A LOT MORE COMPLICATED. >> I KNOW.
I KNOW IT HAS SOME MAGICAL MOMENTS.
>> IS HE COMING THIS YEAR? >> COOL JACK WILL BE THERE.
>> IS HE BEYOND A NEW THING? >> CHANGE IT UP.
>> BETWEEN NOW AND THE PARADE. GET WARMED UP BECAUSE YOU HAVE
FIRST FRIDAY. >> YES.
>> SO WE WORKED WITH BILL ON GETTING FIRST FRIDAY STARTED.
WE HAD OUR FIRST ONE ON JULY 5th AND THEY ARE EVERY
FIRST FRIDAY IN TO OCTOBER AND IT'S GREAT VENT ON GRAND BURY
STREET. WE HAD A GREAT TURN OUT AND
HOPEFULLY WE WILL HAVE JUST A GREAT TURN OUT AS THE OTHER
ONES. >> WE ARE OUT OF TIME AND
THERE'S SO MUCH MORE TO TALK ABOUT.
>> SO WE'LL HAVE YOU BACK ON. >> KEEP TALKING. 47
>>> WE WILL HAVE YOU MORE. GIVE US A HOLLA AND TELL US WHAT
YOU WANT TO SEE GOING ON DOWNTOWN NORFOLK.