PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) – Mayor Shannon Glover told a luncheon crowd of 650 at Rivers Casino on Friday what Portsmouth needs to do before it can realize what it can be.
Glover said violent and property crime are both down from 12 months ago, but he still has great concern over the current level of crime overall.
“I take it extremely personal, and keeping our citizens safe is our number one priority,” he told reporters after the presentation. “If we can’t have a safe city, we can’t have a prosperous city, we can’t have a growing city. We won’t have businesses coming to our city.”
Glover also described the rough edges of the plan for the city jail and surrounding government buildings, waterfront property that — like 43% of Portsmouth’s real estate currently — generates zero tax revenue. The first step will be to get the jail moved to the former Hampton Roads Regional Jail off Victory Boulevard.
“On the timetable my understanding is actually moving by year end of 2024 that transition will hopefully be done,” he said.
In its place — the proposed Crawford Bay, a multi-use complex that will attract new visitors and new residents with housing, retail, entertainment and a hotel with at least 100 rooms to bookend the Renaissance Hotel already in that area.
Glover several times used the term “maritime epicenter,” his goal for Portsmouth to leverage its resources in shipping and shipbuilding and repair.
He cited cooperative efforts involving Tidewater Community College and local firms including UNIS Logistics, Mills Marine and Ship Repair, JRF Ship Repair, Crofton Construction Services, Inc., and Fairlead Integrated to promote shipbuilding trades in the “blue economy.”
“We’re really coming together to create a talent pipeline,” Glover said.
Glover says the Port of Virginia will soon be able to handle ultra-large container ships – even bigger than the one that collapsed the Key Bridge in Baltimore, but pointed out that Hampton Roads doesn’t have the obstructions they way Baltimore does.
Glover also mentioned that Rivers Casino has been a game changer for Portsmouth and will spur further development along Victory Boulevard; the establishment of a Level 2 trauma center at Naval Medical Center Portsmouth; and an Innovation Center taking shape along High Street.
Continue to check WAVY.com for updates.
