Mayor highlights Virginia Beach Trail, economic development at State of City address

VIRGINIA BEACH — At the start of the State of the City Wednesday, attendees were invited to envision a future walking trail with Salem High School student Melaina Robertson. Through a video display on two screens, Robertson meandered along the Virginia Beach Trail, a 12-mile paved path stretching from Newtown Road to the Oceanfront.

The City Council recently appropriated almost $3 million for the first 3.2-mile long stretch of the trail, which will connect the city’s western border with Norfolk at Newtown Road to Constitution Drive in Town Center.

“This approval unlocked $15 million from the federal government to make safety improvements along the Virginia Beach Trail — the largest such award in the commonwealth of Virginia,” said Mayor Bobby Dyer at the event held at the convention center.

The annual address, produced by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce, touched on myriad city accomplishments over the last year, including the recent funding for the trail, storm water resiliency projects and economic development successes. Among them, securing a new Amazon robotic fulfillment center and delivery station, which will be operational for this year’s holiday season, Dyer said.

Before the speeches got underway in the convention center, the Grammy-winning musical group Blackstreet, featuring hit music producer Teddy Riley, Chauncey Black and Dave Hollister, performed the national anthem.

Dyer and City Manager Patrick Duhaney led the program, sharing the stage and taking turns praising city departments, schools, tourism and new businesses as well as providing updates on ongoing city projects.

First they recognized the city’s emergency management and public safety teams who responded quickly when an EF-3 tornado touched down in the Great Neck area last April. Duhaney also pointed out a new fire station opened in the Burton Station neighborhood last year.

The city manager mentioned how the plans for the 5/31 Memorial, a $5.8 million park honoring the victims and first responders of mass shooting in 2019 at the municipal center are moving ahead.

“When completed, this memorial will be a thoughtful and lovely place on our municipal campus where everyone can reflect and remember,” Duhaney said.

The memorial is scheduled to be completed by May 2025.

Duhaney also mentioned recent storm water projects, including drainage improvements and a tide gate, while recognizing that the price tag for future work has increased beyond what was originally budgeted.

“We are not hiding from the fact that these important projects are now coming in at more than double the estimated cost due to inflation and cost of construction materials,” he said. “This will play a significant role in future budget decisions, but we remain committed to this major resiliency effort.”

Dyer acknowledged last year’s loss of former Virginia Beach mayor and state senator Clancy Holland and the Rev. Pat Robertson, who established Regent University.

“Both of these men were true leaders and integral parts of our past and our future,” said the mayor. “They left an indelible mark on our city and we will miss them.”

The mayor recognized Green Run High School football coach Cadillac Harris as the city’s first “Champion of Hope,” a new award for those committed to making Virginia Beach a better place.

Among the new workforce and business highlights, Duhaney and Dyer pumped up Old Dominion University’s new Institute of Data Science and the Coastal Virginia Center for Cyber Innovation in Town Center, the digital transatlantic undersea cables, Dominion Energy’s offshore wind turbine project and ZIM American Integrated Shipping Services’ of Israel relocating its corporate headquarters to Town Center.

Even the Lego store landed in the spotlight. One of only three in Virginia, it opened last November, also in Town Center. And Atlantic Park, which broke ground last year and will include a surf park and entertainment venue, was mentioned. Dyer said he and Councilwoman Barbara Henley plan to take surf lessons there.

In another light moment, the mayor was featured in a video touting the launch of Drone Up’s new drone delivery service from some area Walmart stores. In the video, Dyer runs out of coffee, places an order on his phone, and the box of the brew is lowered from a drone into his backyard.

Dyer credited his wife, Trish, who was in the audience, for coming up with the video idea.

Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com