BOLD CAMPUS MASTERPLAN PREDICTION
After re-reading the VA-Pilot article of 3/19/12, and several of the other pdf's found here
http://www.odu.edu/about/planning/masterplan I have come up with what I consider to be a bold prediction for what the upcoming masterplan will contain.
The housing off Powhatan Ave. (Powhatan Apts. and Whitehurst Hall) were built in 1978 and 1983 respectively, and both will probably be razed. My first thought regarding this (along with several other posters) was this would be an ideal spot for our new stadium. After considering traffic flow to the site, and the probable high cost of extending 49th. St. all the way down, I no longer think that is very likely. I believe a combination of new dorms and riverside greenspace is more likely here.
I then looked at the space behind Larchmont Elementary School (another favorite stadium site of many posters.) I googled Norfolk Public Schools replacement list and found a couple of interesting links. In July of 2012 a friend of the program (Steve Ballard) proposed to the City of Norfolk that his company S.B Ballard be contracted to replace four schools, including Larchmont Elementary
http://hamptonroads.com/2012/07/contract...ew-schools. According to this
http://www.sbballard.com/news_detail.php? news=45 it appears that S.B.Ballard got that contract.
The area looks large enough, without having to ask WHRO to move, especially if the new Larchmont E.S. is aligned more closely to Hampton Blvd. I think ODU's new stadium eill have an opening day capacity of 35, 000, and will be expandible to 50, 000. If this turns out to be the case it solves the promlem of having to take our time and build the stadium in phases,
If the new football stadium is going to be on the other side of Hampton Blvd. old Forman Field/S.B.Ballard will be torn down to make way for new high rise dorms, academic buildings (as needed,) and a new light rail station.
Webb center will get a complete redux, with many of it's offices and services moving elsewhere on campus.
Finally, those in charge of the old monorail project will have to get it up and running soon, or it too will face the bulldozers.
* These are just predictions based on some study, ideas from some of my fellow posters, and a few tidbits I found snooping around the interwebs. Feel free to disagree, add, or whatever.