NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) — The City of Norfolk has selected four groups to submit their plans to redevelop the Military Circle Mall property.

Those four groups include various entertainment, construction, concert producer companies — including music artist Pharrell, Oceanfront Cavalier Marriott developer Bruce Thompson, the Garcia Companies, S.B. Ballard Construction, Live Nation, NFL Hall of Famer Emmitt Smith’s real estate company and more.

The announcement from Norfolk came on Tuesday.

In November, the city’s Economic Development Authority issued a request for qualifications for the mall’s redevelopment following their combined $13.4 million purchase of the long vacant DoubleTree Hotel and The Gallery at Military Circle Mall earlier in the year.

The RFQ process was the first part of a two-phase selection process for a redeveloper. Through the RFQ, the city would be able to pre-qualify groups for the project.

The city hopes the development will create a “mixed-use community” and “walkable neighborhood.”

However, the presence of at least one concert operator and music artist Pharrell on the list indicates the redevelopment could involve entertainment opportunities as well.

Three-quarters of the “finalist” groups have partners with histories of operating large arenas, including ASM Global, Live Nation and Spectra.

Included in one of the four groups, the “Norfolk Next” group has Andrea Kilmer and The Garcia Companies — the company behind the failed City of Virginia Beach arena proposal.

During a trial over the project’s fallout last year, Kilmer said they’d “still like to build an arena.”

An arena is on the “to-do” list for the region. In 2020, Virginia General Assembly created the Hampton Roads Regional Arena Authority, calling for a 15,000-seat arena in either Norfolk, Chesapeake, or Virginia Beach.

Currently, Norfolk’s Scope is the largest arena in the region. While it has recently been home to the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference (MEAC) Basketball Tournament, it’s less than 11,000-person seating capacity limits the acts that come.

“The City has been aggressive in pursuing the redevelopment of this corridor in a way that will benefit the entire Hampton Roads region. The location provides direct access the entire Southside and we are excited to continue to move forward with this redevelopment project,” said Norfolk Mayor Kenneth Cooper Alexander in a prepared statement in a city news release.

Here are the four individual groups:

  • The Crossroads Partnership
    • SB Ballard Construction Company
    • Jair Lynch Real Estate Partners
    • E Smith Family of Companies
    • Greenberg Gibbons Commercial
    • ASM Global
    • OTM Development
    • Clark Nexsen
    • Sasaki Associates
    • AECOM
    • Walter P Moore
  • Norfolk MC Associates
    • Norfolk MC Associates
    • Gold Key|PHR
    • The Miller Group
    • EDSA (Design)
    • The Franklin Johnston Group
  • Norfolk Next
    • Bonaventure
    • BBRM Norfolk Partners, LLC
    • The Garcia Companies
    • Timmons Group
    • Hanbury
    • LORAX Design Group
    • Hammes Healthcare
    • NVR, Inc (Ryan Homes)
    • Coastal Hospitality Associates LLC
    • Shamin Hotels
    • SCI Architects
    • Civil & Building North America Inc.
    • Spectra
    • The Miles Agency
  • Wellness Circle, LLC
    • Pharrell Williams           
    • Harlo Capital / Westdale Real Estate
    • Armada Hoffler Properties
    • Venture Realty Group
    • Adjaye Associates
    • Gensler
    • Rockwell Group
    • Raymond Jungles, Inc.
    • Kimley-Horn
    • Oak View Group
    • Live Nation
    • Pacific Retail
    • Piper Sandler
    • Yellow

Stay with WAVY.com for updates on this developing story.