New City Department Focuses on Creating Neighborhoods of Choice

The new Department of Housing and Community Development held its first staff meeting in August. Staff from the St. Paul’s Transformation Office and the HUD initiatives team, formerly a part of the Office of Budget and Strategic Planning, came together to introduce

themselves, share information about existing work, and set the foundation for collaborative and focused work to support Norfolk’s neighborhoods and communities. The Department of Housing and Community Development’s mission is to improve quality of life for all Norfolk residents and strengthen city neighborhoods through people-driven community and physical transformation by increasing access to quality affordable housing opportunities in thriving, resilient, and connected communities of choice. The department is working towards becoming fully staffed and is excited to serve residents in this capacity.

HUD Entitlement Grants, A Year in Review

With the help of community partner organizations, the city invested over $11 million of U.S. Housing and Urban Development grant funds into Norfolk during FY 2021, primarily supporting community infrastructure, economic development activities, affordable housing, public services, and homelessness reduction. The complete draft of the FY 2021 Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report (CAPER) for the city’s HUD Entitlement programs will be available for public review and comment from September 15, 2021 through September 29, 2021. Copies of the report will be available for review on the City of Norfolk’s webpage https://www.norfolk.gov/hudentitlement.

Public Input Needed for Tidewater Gardens Redevelopment

There are three surveys currently open for community feedback on aspects of the Tidewater Gardens redevelopment in the St. Paul’s Area. Please use the links below to access the surveys, we want to hear from you!

· Tidewater Gardens VisionSurvey Help refine the vision forthe neighborhood and initial housingdesign options in the TidewaterGardens neighborhood footprint.· Resilience Park (Blue-Greenway)The Resilience Park will be a 26-acre park that will protect theneighborhood from flooding bymanaging stormwater and will alsoserve as a great community amenity.Tell us what a great day in the parklooks like to you!· Roadway Network Provideyour feedback on the Department

of Transit’s design for the new multi-modal roadway network that will support the neighborhood.

Dogs Stretch Their Paws at Norfolk International Airport

Emmett Moorhouse approached Parks & Forestry Operations of Recreation, Parks & Open Space for his Eagle Scout project. Moorhouse is a 15-year-old sophomore at Maury High School, and a member of the Troop 1, Boy Scout troop in Norfolk. Moorhouse came up with the idea to create a dog park at Norfolk International Airport for traveling pets to get fresh air and exercise in between flights with their owners. Parks & Forestry provided and delivered 25 cubic yards of mulch needed to complete the project. The dog park is located to the right of the United Airlines departure terminal.

Residents Connect at Annual Neighborhood Expo

On Saturday, September 11, the Department of Neighborhood Services hosted the 2021 Neighborhood Expo and Lakewood Park. Over 40 community exhibitors, including 10 civic leagues, from

around the city provided information and resources to an estimated 300 residents. During the Expo, the department held the second annual U.P.L.I.F.T. Awards which recognized 28 organizations or individuals who provided services in a way that promoted Unity,

Public Service, Leadership, Innovation, Friendship, or Teamwork. IKEA also sponsored the event again this year by donating a raffle prize - a SYMFONISK wifi bookshelf speaker - to a lucky U.P.L.I.F.T. award winner. A complete list of award winners is available at www.norfolk.gov/expo.

Back to School with People First!

As a part of the St. Paul’s Transformation efforts, People First Empowered by USI held a back-to-school supply giveaway event for former and current Tidewater Gardens families on August 25th. Approximately 81 youth were provided backpacks and school supplies in preparation to head back to school this fall. People First will continue to provide students with school supplies and support families as they prepare to transition into the new school year.

During the event, residents engaged with the Department of Transit to provide feedback on the design of the new multi-modal roadway network that will be part of the redevelopment. The new roadway will be elevated out of the floodplain, realign Church Street, and re-establish safe neighborhood connections.

Tidewater Gardens Genealogy Program

Don’t Duck History, a local non-profit history organization, hosted a genealogy workshop with Tidewater Gardens residents last Saturday. The workshop introduced the significance of genealogy and an overview of resources that can be utilized to find information and trace family lineage. The workshop opened with a live chat with an expert in West Africa who spoke about the impact of the slave trade on Africa. Don’t Duck History is a recipient of a People First Micro Grant to provide this programming to residents to learn more about their family histories and ensure that the history and identity of the community is documented and celebrated. More information on the People First Micro Grant program can be found here. Don’t Duck History’s mission is to promote and facilitate the learning and sharing of American history, along with its personal and social implications, and to highlight the history of Americans whose stories are not often presented in traditional American history textbooks.

Economic Inclusion Virtual Lunch & Learn Series

The Department of Housing and Community Development and the Procurement Office hosted a virtual webinar focused on doing business with the City for Minority-owned and Women-owned businesses on August 26th, as a part of the St. Paul’s Transformation – Build Your Business Build Your Community campaign. During the event, Chief Procurement Officer Michael Bevis provided an overview on the city’s procurement process, understanding city contracts, how to get connected to opportunities, and concluded with a question-and-answer session. This was the third webinar in

a series of virtual lunch & learns the department is hosting to support the city’s economic inclusion efforts. The St. Paul’s Transformation project is the pilot for the city’s inclusive procurement policy passed by City Council in December that set citywide contracting goals for Minority-owned and Women-owned vendor participation.

Help Needed to Paint the Pavement

Volunteers are still needed to help Norfolk Arts and Norfolk State Alumna, Britney Gatewood paint the 3rd and final Bloomberg Asphalt Art project in Denby Park September 22-24. Sign up here: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/10c094baaab2ea0ff2-volunteer1

Join us for a Community Celebration & Bloomberg Asphalt Art Dedication September 25th 1-3pm with free food from Guads Wards Corner, Copsicles courtesy of the Norfolk Police Dept., music, photo booth, face painting & more. Location: Corner of San Antonio Blvd. & E. Little Creek Rd. Free & open to the public.Share your ideas on steps you think the City of Norfolk should take to help revitalize this area: https://www.opentownhall.com/portals/77/login.

Norfolk Arts Wins Grant for Ohio Creek Watershed Project Public Art

Norfolk Arts and the Elizabeth River Project has received a $75,000 National Endowment for the Arts Our Town grant to create public art installations in neighborhoods susceptible to flooding. This is one of 63 grants nationwide that the NEA approved in this category to support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes; ultimately laying the groundwork for sustainable systems change.

What the Water Wants will infuse art in the Ohio Creek Watershed Project. In collaboration with the Elizabeth River Project, residents, the design team, and the City of Norfolk Office of Resilience, the project will be a catalyst to share the story of the river, create public art, improve access, and engage the community in environmental stewardship.

What the Water Wants will enhance pedestrian routes along the waterfront, improving perceptions of safety and increasing connectivity with nearby neighborhoods. The project will include community engagement activities intended to spark dialogue around adaptation to sea level rise in this low-lying coastal region.

A call to artists will be posted in the coming months.

Budget Engagement Wins National Award

During the 2021 3CMA Conference in St. Louis, MO, Norfolk’s Department of Communications received a Silver Circle Award during the annual Savvy Awards for the 2019 Budget & Brews. The awards competition recognizes the creativity, effectiveness, and success of government communication programs.Each year, the Budget Department seeks to connect to residents in a meaningful way both to explain the budget process and to hear from taxpayers about their priorities for how the City of Norfolk spends tax revenues. Engagement efforts have included public budget hearings, civic leagues, and community groups. The budget team also uses online “budget tools” to allow residents to create their own city budget as well as receive an itemized “receipt” for their city tax payments.

In 2019, staff decided to try a new method of reaching residents with a series entitled “Budget & Brews.” The events were hosted at local breweries and coffee houses in neighborhoods all around the city at different times of day where residents and staff could talk over a beer or a coffee. (Budget staff paid for their own beverages.)

Each of the events focused on a budget theme, such as infrastructure, arts, or economic growth. But they were all open to any resident who wanted to know more or ask questions about the budget.

Norfolk Recognized for Veteran Hiring Program

The winners of the 2021 Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Awards were announced during the 2021 Virginia Veterans and Military Affairs Conference, presented virtually on September 15. The Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) recognized selected Virginia employers for their exceptional commitment to the Virginia Values Veterans (V3) Program and their hiring of Virginia military veterans, transitioning services members, and their spouses. The City of Norfolk received the 2021 V3 Hire VETS Now Fellowship Award in recognition for establishing a fellowship program for transitioning service members in partnership with the Virginia Chamber Foundation and the Virginia Department of Veterans Services. The annual conference was hosted by the Virginia Chamber of Commerce and Virginia Chamber Foundation in partnership with the Virginia Department of Veterans Services (VDVS) and the Virginia Veterans Services Foundation (VVSF). Virginia Governor Ralph Northam, Virginia Acting Secretary of Veterans and

Defense Affairs Kathleen Jabs, Virginia Department of Veterans Services Commissioner John Maxwell, Deputy Commissioner Annie Walker and other VDVS program leaders announced the awards.

NORFOLK HAPPENINGSSkip the Straw! With Keep Norfolk BeautifulNow – October 2 Norfolk restaurants, food trucks, and food vendors can participate in our Skip the Straw challenge this fall. Have staff ask if one is needed or wait to be asked. Register your business to receive free window clings and table tents to promote the challenge. Your business will also be highlighted on KNB social media!Register your business now and commit to skipping the straw at https://www.norfolk.gov/FormCenter/Keep-Norfolk-Beautiful-35/Skip-the-Straw-Business-Registration-620. During the campaign, Norfolk residents can Skip the Straw for a chance to win a prize! Share a picture of you skipping the straw on Facebook or Instagram. Each picture tagged with @KeepNorfolkBeautiful and the business is a raffle entry!

NashFest Music & Food FestivalSeptember 18 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM @ Town Point ParkHot chicken, hard drinks, and Music City sounds! The first-ever NashFest 757, a one-day festival celebrating the iconic culture and cuisine of Nashville, will take place on Saturday, September 18, 2021 at Town Point Park along the Downtown Norfolk Waterfront! Fusing together all of the elements that make Nashville one of America’s most popular cities, NashFest 757 will offer an experience similar to an evening stroll down Broadway, featuring national and local recording artists, mouth-watering hot chicken, barbecue, and biscuits, line dancing, craft beer and whiskey tastings, bull riding, and much more for what promises to be one of The 757’s hottest new summer events!

Volunteer to help Norfolk Arts create the 3rd Bloomberg Asphalt Art mural in Denby ParkSeptember 22 -24 1:00 PM - 5:00 PM @ Corner of E. Little Creek Rd. and San Antonio Blvd. Norfolk Arts is seeking volunteers to help paint Asphalt Art in Denby Park near Wards Corner in Norfolk, VA on the corner of San Antonio Blvd. & E. Little Creek Rd. All ages & skill levels are welcome. All materials provided. 2hr. time slots are available 09/22-24. Feel free to just stop by if you have a few minutes to spare on those days. We appreciate any time you can share with us!

Open House on Granby Street Bike Lane Design Concepts between Willow Wood Drive and Admiral Taussig BoulevardSeptember 22 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM @ Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (Picnic Shelter behind church)The Department of Transit is hosting an in-person Open House for the Granby Street Bike Lane project on September 22, 5:30 - 6:30 p.m., at the picnic shelter behind the Blessed Sacrament Catholic Church (6400 Newport Avenue, Norfolk). Grab some fresh goodness from the Talbot Park Farmers Market and stop by the Picnic Shelter to discuss the proposed Granby Street Bike Lanes with City of Norfolk representatives. This proposed project would repurpose one vehicle lane in each direction into bike lanes on Granby Street between Willow Wood Drive and Admiral Taussig Boulevard. Please RSVP at https://bit.ly/3yPdMKg or by calling 757-664-7300.

Denby Park Art DedicationSeptember 25 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM @ Corner of E. Little Creek and San Antonio Blvd. The community is invited to celebrate the new Denby Park Asphalt Art Mural! food from Guads Wards Corner, popsicles courtesy of the NPD, music & more. This Asphalt Art project is supported by a grant from the Bloomberg Philanthropies Asphalt Art Initiative which helps cities use art & community engagement to improve street safety & revitalize public space, with funding awarded to Boys & Girls Clubs of Southeast Virginia & Norfolk Arts to create a mural in each of the 3 Norfolk Police Patrol Districts.

International Coastal Cleanup September 25 9:00 AM – 11:00 AM @ Harbor ParkJoin The Elizabeth River Trail Foundation and Keep Norfolk Beautiful in the world’s largest volunteer effort for ocean health. Volunteers will meet in the parking lot by the Norfolk Boxing Center. The cleanup area can be muddy, so please wear appropriate shoes.Advance registration is required. Children ages 8+ with adult supervision are also allowed. Sign up online with Keep Norfolk Beautiful here: https://norfolk.gov/FormCenter/Keep-Norfolk-Beautiful-35/International-Coastal-Cleanup-Volunteer--639Registration deadline is Wednesday, September 22ndRain date: Saturday, October 2nd