On two occasion representatives of the 7-Eleven Corporation presented their proposal to establish a new store on the corner of Granby Street and 21^st Street in the Ghent neighborhood.  At both presentations the plan was met with overwhelming opposition from the community.  Objections by the resident’s revolve around two basic issues:  1) concerns over operations at existing locations within the neighborhood and how that may predict what to expect from a new addition; and 2) a basic belief that the neighborhood is already saturated with 24-hour type convenience stores and the addition of one more is not in keeping with the character of this historic neighborhood.

The most frequent complaint from residents was over the persistent loitering, pan-handling and the general harassment often experienced on and around the current stores.  Whether alcohol or homeless related is not the issue, but rather the failure of the stores to maintain a safe environment supportive of their neighbors.  It was not until the current 7-Eleven proposal met with neighborhood resistance that there was an effort on 7-Eleven’s part to attempt to address these issues.   While 7-Eleven’s corporate representatives now say they “are going to resolve those issues”, they have a long history of failing to provide the kind of environment appropriate for a neighborhood such as Ghent.

The addition of one more 24-hour a day convenience store offering the sale of alcohol for off-premise consumption is another neighborhood concern.  The location of alcohol sales should take into account both the number of existing licenses and the proximity to schools and community services.  As can be seen in the figure below pulled from the 7-Eleven website, there are seven stores located within an approximate 1 mile radius of the center of the Ghent neighborhood and the proposed store location.

In addition, there is an elementary school, a high school, a daycare, a halfway house, Salvation Army Shelter and other social services all within a couple blocks of the proposed location.

Based on the history of activity on and around existing stores and the general lack of action by store employees, managers and owners, there is no reason to believe they will act any better in the future as good neighbors.  Residents’ made it clear that they have grave concerns over the possible negative impact to the character and safety of the Ghent neighborhood.  As such, we have asked that the Planning Commission recommend denial of the two requested special exceptions.

GNL Letter to Planning Commission ref:7-Eleven 1-12

Chrysler Museum of Arts 

AGENDA for January 11^th 2012

6:30pm Call to Order - Introductions of Board Members, Neighbors and Guests

PROGRAM:  

- Crime Report –Officer Laura Mason

- Ghent Issues Updates

1. Vote new member (Neil Daboul)

            2. 7-Eleven on 21^st Street (Update)

           3.  Use Table / Mtg with Tony Cetrone / City (Update     

Guests with business before the Board

            Wine / Vineyard…22^nd Street

GNL Board Reports

-Treasurer’s Report

-Ghent Task Force

-Ghent Business Association

Committee Business / Committee Chair Reports

- Community Improvement……

- Sector Representatives………

- Membership……………………

- Publicity/Social Events………..

- Communications………………

- Program…………………………

Approval of Minutes (Jan – December)

Old Business

New Business

Adjournment

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, February 8th 2012

OpSail 2012 Virginia- Call for Volunteers 11-18-11

NORFOLK

Police are asking for the public’s help to identify a man who robbed and injured a 75-year-old man shortly before noon today.

The robber knocked the man to the ground in the 400 block of Washington Park during the robbery, Norfolk police said in a news release. He was taken to Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, treated and released.

The robber was described as a black man, 20 to 30 years old, 6 feet tall with a muscular build. He was wearing a black, hooded sweatshirt, with a white T-shirt underneath, blue denim jeans, black Vans-style shoes with white soles and a black nylon do-rag on his head. He was last seen getting into the passenger side of a black Ford Expedition.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Line at 1-888-LOCK-U-UP.

Please visit http://hamptonroads.com/2011/12/robber-injures-75yearold-man-norfolks-ghent to view photos of the suspected individual.

The weekend kicks of Friday, December 2 with the Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony at 6:30pm in front of Blair Middle School. The festivities continue throughout the weekend. Visit your favorite Ghent businesses and restaurants, enjoy holiday festivities, take advantage of special promotions and start your holiday shopping. Here are just a few of the events and promotions taking place this weekend.

Acclaimed Tent, Party & Inflatable Game Rentals
Open House, December 2 & 3 – “Reserve a Wedding tent for 2012 and get a complementary rotating Gobo light that projects the word “congratulations” on the tent. www.acclaimedevents.com. 757-623-6100

AOC Salon – December 2 & 3
Purchase one gift certificate for the Holidays and get a second for 50% off. 821 W. 21st Street, 625-0055, aocsalon.com

Baker’s Fine Jewelry & Gifts est. 1919 – Celebrating 92 Years in Business!
Open House – Special Holiday SALE – Refreshments – Door Prize – Open Monday-Friday, 10-5:30, Saturday, 10-3, Sunday 12- 4. Full Service Jewelry Repair, Fine Jewelry, & Upscale Gifts. 760 W. 22 Street, 757-625-2529, www.bakersjewelry.com.

Bridget’s
Our Gift To You! Take advantage of our Jewelry Sale…Enjoy special discounts on all jewelry, December 2-4. Open Monday-Saturday 10-7pm, Sunday 10-5pm. 757-451-3148. 1911 Colley Avenue.

Decorum – What would the holidays be like without freshly baked cookies!
Decorum is teaming up with Young Chef’s Academy of Norfolk with freshly baked cookies prepared from Chef Sarah’s secret recipes. The cookies will be carefully pared with appropriate holiday refreshments and lots of cheers. To find out more about Young Chef’s Academy, please visit their location at Palace Station, Ghent. For more information visit www.decorumfurniture.com. 301 West 21st Street, 757-623-3100.

Double Take II
Open House, Saturday, De¬cember 3 – Enjoy refreshments and holiday music as you shop. 517 West 21st Street. 533-5352.

Garden Gazebo
Stop by December 2-4 during the Ghent Holiday Open House to enjoy refreshments and complimentary gift wrapping as well as a free gift with purchase while supplies last. 729 21st Street, 623-1717. www.gardengazebo.com.

East Coast Bicycles
December 3, 8:00am, Join us for an 8-10 mile Community Bike Ride (starts at the shop). Free Hot Chocolate and cookies after the ride!! This is free and open to the public. 1910 Colley Avenue, 622-0446, www.eastcoastbicycles.com.

Le Marche
invites you to join us to share in refreshments and libations while you preview our beautifully sophisticated holiday ornaments. As always, you can count on us for the perfect gift. Annual Holiday Open House, Saturday, December 3, 10:00am-6:00pm and Sunday, December 4, noon-5:00pm. Complimentary gift wrap. 1607 Colley Avenue, 625-1211.

Norfolk Acupuncture
Receive a free gift, Lavender Bath Salts, with in-house gift certificate purchases and free gift bag wrapping with purchase. Enjoy refreshments on Friday & Saturday, December 2 & 3.

Rapid Refill
Join us Saturday, December 3, 10:00-4:00 for holiday refreshments, spiced cider, coffee and hot chocolate. 1611 B Colley Avenue, 962-6030.

Urban Castaways
Expect the unexpected when you shop Urban for the holidays – browse an eclectic selection of home décor, original art, vintage and estate jewelry. Take an additional 15% off on Friday, December, 2, and Saturday, December 3. Open Monday – Saturday 10 am to 5 pm. 1904 Granby Street, 623-0100.

Hague Cosmetic Center & Medi Spa
Help us kick off the Ghent Open House weekend – Thursday December 1, 4-8pm at the Hague Cosmetic Center. Botox and filler demonstrations at 5 and 7, Laser demonstration at 6. Gift basket giveaway. Discounted products and services for sale. Loads of holiday deals. Meet and greet the doctors and staff. 400 W. Brambleton Avenue, 622-5700.

Ghent Neighborhood League

Blair Middle School Auditorium

Call to order 6:43 pm

Board Attendance – Irene O’Brien, Paige Rose, Henry Conde, Joan McEnery, Susanna Ott, Al Mc Coy, and Paul & Emily Birkness

Not in Attendance – Mike Spencer, Barbara Murphy, Amy Crowfoot

Program

Crime Report – Officer Mason – 7 commercial burglaries (someone in custody), 2 indecent exposures – appears to be same person, 2 robberies – home invasions – one in custody & another @ Blair, No issues w/ Zombie Walk, homeless issues being discussed with GTF, Bike patrol for holiday season,

Ghent Issues/Updates

Meet the City Manager, Mr Marcus Jones – Establish a data driven organization for better efficiency, shows report card of success. When came in, had $32 mill short fall.  Had $5.5 mil decrease in ongoing revenue – mostly real-estate. One time revenue of $8.5 (can’t count on in future and can’t use for future budgeting).

Real-estate revenue counts for 24% of revenue. Over 30 yr. period residential assessments had not decreased. Expect another 2% decrease. Before we have had a 6% average return on real-estate, now this has changed.

How do we achieve vision w/ challenges? a synergized norfolk gov w/in all depts. Draft new priorities w/ definitions.

? How do we improve education with little or no cost? Create a “neighborhoods building neighborhoods”.

? How does the 2030 vision work for Ghent? Look at land use. regulate by form to the specific neighborhood.

? Safe & healthy neighborhoods – It appears that city is undermining this with decisions, for example CSB being consolidated.

Comment – likes seeing the improvements

Comment – what can the people do to make this a better place to live. Knowing your neighbors and caring for each other and creating the network amongst each other. Allowing city & neighbors work together in ways that are effective.

?how can city help in aiding creating this?

PlaNorfolk 2030 – not presented

Guests with Business before the board

Robyn Thomas: Taphouse – not here

SharX – not here

7-11 follow-up – Police Officer discussed crime at current 7-11 stores. Data gathered didn’t show but a few incidents. GNL board member noted that there was a hold-up at the Colley & Gates Aves store a couple months ago. 7-Eleven representatives showed  the changes to the previous drawings. It was noted that the signage on street was lowered. Those in attendance inquired about willingness to stop selling single serve alcohol beverages in their current 3 Ghent stores. No response was given. Several others in attendance had complaints about the current locations. It was felt that while the services (coffee & snacks) and everyone seems to like the employees they felt the environment of the stores has not been an asset to Ghent and feel that another location will only worsen the issues. Issues mentioned: store appearance, banners, posters blocking visibility of parking lot, aggressive panhandling, loitering, drinking areas surrounding store on Olney, and traffic issues with deliveries all day and night.

GNL Board Reports – deferred

-Treasurer’s Report

-Ghent Task Force

-GBA

-Historic & Architectural Preservation Committee

Committee Business/Committee Chair Reports

-Community Improvements – Silke/Paige – Colonial & 21st & Llewellyn left turn signals, missed street cleaning issues resolved,

-Sector Rep – Open

-Membership – Barbara

-Publicity/Social Events – open

-Communications – Irene/Henry

-Program – Mike Spencer

Chrysler Museum of Arts

AGENDA for October 12^th 2011

6:30pm Call to Order

-Introductions of Board Members, Neighbors and Guests

Board Present – Joan McEnery, Irene Blake, Paige Rose, Henry Conde, Paul Amodio, Susanna Ott, Barbara Murphy & Emily Birkness

Not Present – Mike Spencer, Al McCoy

PROGRAM:

- Crime Report –Officer Laura Mason – 60 actions this yr. so far, robbery to individual @ bot grdns-suspect arrested, Zombie Race – be aware of the event & home owners can block access on property,

- Ghent Issues/Updates

1-Meet the Candidate.  Mr Ben Loyola is the challenger for our newly re-districted district 6 running for State Senator Ralph Northam’s seat.

Personal – born in Cuba, Naval Academy graduated, Naval Aviator, 32 yr. in service and in reserves now, married, 2 children.

Why running – Balance budget, job growth, education, and public safety.

Issues – Transportation – Tunnel, new naval carrier, interstate constructions,

Can’t represent someone you haven’t meet before, believes in communications w/ his people.

? Tunnel – Mid-town tunnel street maintenance to city streets due to traffic. -

A – Will look into if elected, Looking at reallocate funding based upon usage not miles which will give more funding to the hardest hit roads, also look at tax allocation to roads to provide better maintenance to roads that are not getting the work.

? What are your position on Don’t Ask Don’t Tell & Gay Marriage -

A – Believe it is a private matter & believes in marriage between a man and woman.

? What would U do differently with the Tide overruns? -

A – Show up to the meeting vs his opponent who showed on the a few of the several meetings.

? What is your position on off-shore drilling?

A – It stems back to EPA and land usage.

? – Flooding

A – Has been reviewing the issues.

? – Sanctuary City & illegal immigration

A – We don’t have the resources at the federal level to regulate. We have laws that need to be enforced. Current situation creates a life of slavery. Believes in tall walls and front doors. We need to plug the problem at the boarders then work with local issues.

Guests with business before the Board

-Chrysler Museum Expansion:  Presentation by Mr. Bill Hennessy. – Need more space for donated items and allow for more usage for events (food prep) & better handicap accessibility.

Building will be pushed out from front gardens by 30-ft and the gardens moved further out. This will house a full service cafe with garden entrance and a catering kitchen. Other side will allow enlarging the glass area. The center will allow for expansion.  Full handicap ramp on from and inside elevator moved to side.

Second floor additions will allow contemporary art expansion and 19th century.

Wrap up in early 2014.

? Parking & visibility to Fairfax Ave homes.  - Trying to reconfigure parking to be best used. Loading doc will be smaller – 2 30-inch wide doors. trash will be screened area.

? Parking on street near restaurant. Can it be a way to eliminate the area or times. - Currently it is 4-hr parking limit.

? Cost  - Unknown

-Coastal Imports Expansion:  Presentation by Robyn Thomas - Place a alignment machine in the ally-way (currently sends outsources). Should not see from either streets, fence covers from 21st St & entrance from 22nd st. Currently non-conforming use. GBA in support.

Proposed 7- Eleven on Granby & 21^st Street (Gayle’s Wigs n Things): Presentation Mr Steve Romine – 4100 sq ft and currently operate web business out of building. Need to rent out half the building in order to continue operations. Building is staying but getting a face lift. 7-11 would take over 55% of footprint of building.   Adding glass to ft of 7-11 & dumpster moved to internal of building. Meeting with GBA soon. Must get ABC lic.

Owner is second generation and Ghent resident. Expressed his passion for staying at location and the original sign (Wig) to stay on building. Said approached by other interested businesses but felt that 7-Eleven was the best suited offer. Owner said he will be onsite to make sure the business is operated properly.

Comments from 7-Eleven Representatives – Recently took over corporate stores in region. Store will be corporate owned. Whole new store. Willing to work on the signage. Making additional improvements to property. 

Comments - Would you upgrade existing stores? Currently the stores have trash all over with unattractive, dilapidated exteriors and interiors. – Will clean up trash and landscaping and look into the other mentioned items.

Would you be selling single serve alcohol beverages as the current three? The old stores are under a grandfather condition, the new one would not.

Would you consider eliminating single serve alcohol sales at the other locations due to the issues it causes to the immediate residents? – Would look into this.

Comment – Currently there is a problem with panhandling and loitering at the older locations, why would we want more?

Comment – There are too many right now. These stores are in bad shape and shows signs of neglect, why would we want another?

GNL Board Reports

-Treasurer’s Report – none

-Ghent Task Force – none

-Ghent Business Association – none

-Historic and Architectural Preservation Committee – none

Committee Business / Committee Chair Reports

- Community Improvement……Silke/ Paige

- Sector Representatives……..Open

- Membership………………….Barbara

- Publicity/Social Events………Open

- Communications…………….Irene / Henry

- Program……………………….Mike Spencer

Approval of Minutes (Jan through August)

Old Business:

New Business: Zombie Race – resident expressed concern regarding personal property damage that is caused by attendees, feels that the event should not be held in a residential neighborhood, feels it should move to business district vs in residential neighborhood.

Adjournment:

Next Meeting:  Wednesday, November 9th 2011

AGENDA for November 9thth 2011

6:30pm Call to Order
​-Introductions of Board Members, Neighbors and Guests

PROGRAM:
- Crime Report –Officer Laura Mason

- Ghent Issues Updates
​1-Meet the City Manager, Mr. Marcus Jones
​2- PlaNorfolk 2030

Guests with business before the Board
​-Robyn Thomas: Taphouse
​
​
GNL Board Reports
​-Treasurer’s Report
​-Ghent Task Force
​-Ghent Business Association
​-Historic and Architectural Preservation Committee

Committee Business / Committee Chair Reports
​- Community Improvement……Silke/ Paige
​- Sector Representatives……..Open
​- Membership………………….Barbara
​- Publicity/Social Events………Open
​- Communications…………….Irene / Henry
​- Program……………………….Mike Spencer

Approval of Minutes ()
Old Business
Board Vacancy / Nominations:
New Business
December Meeting: We will have a Holiday Event in conjunction with The Chrysler Museum of Arts on Wednesday the 7th of December
Adjournment

Next Meeting: Holiday Party, Wednesday Dec 7th…All neighbors are invited to the Chrysler Museum. Jazz Trio music and festivities.