The Public Weighs in on Virginia Beach Project
On February 14, 2018, the last of the participants in a written survey turned in their answers to the question: What should be done with the old Dome site in Virginia Beach?
The “Dome” was the nickname given to the Alan B. Shepard Convention Center, also known as the Virginia Beach Civic Center, which was built in 1958 between 18th and 20th streets. The 1,000-seat facility at the oceanfront was the site for concerts and events but was torn down in 1994.
The City of Virginia Beach contemplates transforming the vacant site into a mixed-use, family-friendly destination. To that end, City officials put out a survey asking residents what they would like to see built at the 10.35-acre location. More than 2,500 people responded. Here are a few of their suggestions:
- Live music venue
- Entertainment venue and cafes with a “park feel”
- Skate park
- Areas for food trucks and outdoor dining
- Surf park
Only 12 percent of the respondents turned thumbs down on a surf park. However, water was high on the list of priorities: More than 90 percent of respondents wanted refill stations for water bottles. Many survey participants also liked the idea of accessibility with bus or trolley service, bike racks and the availability of bike rentals.
The City of Virginia Beach will take the results of the survey into consideration as they go forward with planning the rebirth of something new and different at the old Dome site.