I just knew that Norfolk used to be king of the hill for shopping, and we lost that. That elusive effort spans nearly 30 years, tracking the steady hemorrhage of residents and stores from downtown to suburbia. Other cities have embarked on similar spending sprees using tax dollars, with varying degrees of success. In Norfolk's case, officials say, priming the pump has proven essential to attracting the private investment that has flowed downtown. They include the Waterside Festival Marketplace, Town Point Park and marina, Harrison Opera House, Nauticus, the Waterside Marriott convention center, the Harbor Park baseball stadium and a network of high-rise parking garages, streets, utilities and landscaping.
Rice is optimistic about downtown's prospects.
Gradually, private investors have come back, building hotels, apartment complexes and office buildings, and buying and renovating existing retail space. More people feel comfortable coming downtown, which officials say has been plagued by false perceptions that it is crime-ridden. Based on attendance figures at events at Town Point Park, Harbor Park, Waterside, Nauticus and the Boathouse music club, officials estimate that 3 million people visited downtown in 1997. Market takeover City officials say they now plan to step back and let market forces take over. Except for needs such as parking, officials said they don't anticipate spending huge sums to draw more businesses downtown.