Lets hope that engagement in Hamilton never gets to this point.

Meanwhile, 750 miles down the road...

I loves me some serendipity.

This week, Mayor Bratina responded to The Hamiltonian's 'Perspectives Virtual Panel: On The Best Place to Raise a Child' by referencing a Bloomberg Businessweek article noting Virginia Beach, VA as one of the best cities in which to raise a child. (Truthfully, some wires have gotten crossed; I can't find the article the mayor cited; this one is 'America's 50 Best Cities'.) The city has certain commonalities with Hamilton; here's its Wikipedia page.

But I'm not posting this op-ed to flog one of the cities I'm currently visiting. This post is about a local VA Beach issue that should resonate with Hamiltonians. Here are the opening paragraphs of the Virginia Pilot article 'Virginia Beach hunts for best use for preserved land':

Meanwhile, 750 miles away...

I've been coming to Norfolk, VA for the better part of three decades. For me, one of the landmarks of the area was a major crossroads, 'Wards Corner'.

At the junction of East Little Creek Road and Granby Street, it consists of two sizeable tracts of strip-malls on the north-east and south-east corners. 

While the latter has been announced as the location of a new upscale chain development (Harris Teeter, if anyone's interested), it's the former that's always enchanted me.

Midtown Shopping Center opened in 1947, some eight years earlier than Hamilton's Center Mall. Here's a slideshow. This provides great context: at the time it was known as 'Times Square of The South'.

There used to be a mainstay restaurant there. 'Uncle Louie's'. 'Open All Night', the sign still says; it was closed a few years ago.

Here's a Google Maps view of this portion of the Center. 

And these days?

Here's a progression of articles explaining the redevelopment history of the Midtown Shopping Center. I think there are some parallels to Hamilton, and maybe some lessons to learn there, too. 

 A Dead Zone 

Plans for Overhaul 

Neighbourhood Anticipation 

New Facade Revealed 

Facelift 

Farm Fresh 

Bar Closing 

Businesses Survive Evictions



M Adrian Brassington