Norfolk casino moves forward amid design concerns

NORFOLK, Va. (WAVY) – The Norfolk casino is one step closer to completion, but there are still concerns with the current proposed designs.

In a 6 to 1 vote, the Architectural Review Board approved the Norfolk Casino project to move forward to the Planning Commission. 10 On Your Side spoke with the board, and members said that while this will be an important addition to the waterfront, it has to be done the right way.

“It’s going to be an icon on the waterfront, it’s going to be a symbol on the intercoastal waterway,” said Gregory Rutledge, an Architectural Review Board member. “These buildings [have] got to be right, it’s got to look right, it’s got to stand up for the test of time, so these details matter.”

Therefore, the approval to continue the project comes with conditions:

“We just want to see the details developed further so we can understand what they’re concepts are,” Rutledge said. “They presented several concepts for the building, some materials concepts and concepts that really drive the architecture of the building without any sort of detail to back that up.”

Some of those concepts include clarity on foot traffic, the seawall, a more realistic design, how the sun reflects off the building and the building materials. The Cape Henry Audubon Society also said the design presented Monday evening can harm birds.

“They become exhausted from the light and swirling and going nowhere then they start crashing into buildings,” said Pat Scanlon with the Cape Henry Audubon Society.

Rutledge said the city needs to see more design specifics.

“If we were to approve this at this level and never see it again, we’d have no idea that the finished project would look like what we saw today,” Rutledge said. “We have several specific details that we want them to come back and show us how they’re developing the exterior design of the building, but also come back and what we call a design development phase of the project. Not quite 100% design, but it’s further along than what we saw today.”

Boyd Gaming declined to comment.

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