Virginia Beach, Virginia · the action plan for The Resort Area 2. Direct the City Manager to...

Virginia Beach, Virginia

Renowned for decades as the Best Family Beach in America

1927 - 2020

1927 to 2016

Our BeachMust Remain Our #1 Priority

America’s BeachClean, Safe, and Wide 2

#2 PriorityMust maintain a World Class Boardwalk

Clean, Well Maintained, Welcoming and Safe 3

#3 Priority

Our Front Door – Atlantic Avenue 4

5

#1 Priority – Our BeachMaintain the Best Beach on the East Coast

6

Operation “Big Beach”

Our Successful Re-nourishment Program 7

#2 Priority – The Boardwalk

8

Hugely Successful Boardwalk Revitalization 1995

Widened boardwalk, added bike path, granted cafe permits, enhanced green belt, dedicated Resort maintenance personnel 9

10

11

#3 PriorityAtlantic Avenue Beautification 1990

New sign ordinance, widened sidewalks, buried utilities, decorative streetlights, connector parks, Resort Programs Office, entertainment funding, open space, boardwalk parks

12

13

14

Revitalization and Investment in the Resort “Pays Off”

15

16

17

Top 10 Best Boardwalks in America

18

19

$125,000,000

$145,000,000

$165,000,000

$185,000,000

$205,000,000

$225,000,000

$245,000,000

$265,000,000

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020

Hotel RevenueVirginia Beach Oceanfront (23451)

Hotel Revenue

The investment in tourism pays off Hotel Revenues $145m to $265m

A growing and expanding tourism market while experiencing a national crisis and economic downturns

9-11

The Great Recession

20

We have lost all pride in our Resort district

• Substantially reduced city services• We used to thoroughly clean our sidewalks and streets nightly. They were spotless and

well maintained. Current service levels are not adequate. • Atlantic Avenue, our beaches and boardwalk should be immaculate all of the time.

• Lack of zoning enforcement

• Maintain pedestrian flow on Resort sidewalks

• Our parks were filled with residents and guests; today they are empty

• Families covered Atlantic Avenue each evening for entertainment - Magic shows, movies, street performers, etc. These programs have become a low priority and underfunded, even though the program funding is available through dedicated tax.

21

Over the past 5 years, the resort district has largely been neglected

Reduced cleaning, limited entertainment, constant behavioral issues, detrimental impact to businesses 22

Insufficient City Services

Funds for Resort maintenance, upkeep, and entertainment have been diverted to lower priority projects and “new” ideas and developments. 23

The previous Resort Programs Office

had an office, staffed with zoning enforcement, budget personnel, a dedicated project & maintenance team, and a dedicated team to ensure the Resort vision and priorities

were executed and accounted for. 24

Lack of attention | Deferred maintenance Business neglect | No zoning enforcement

AndLittle Resort Advocacy

25

26

27

No Zoning Enforcement• Illegal signs (sign ordinances need to be

strengthened)

• Merchandising on public property

• Profanity on sidewalk, on merchandise, etc.

28

While we were asleep at the wheel,

The problems grew!

These are not new issues to the Resort Area.

29

As a result of the lack of involvement of private and public leadership, issues of the past have slowly crept back into our Resort front door

These are not new issues…. 30

31

32

33

34

35

36

Families must navigate through very intimidating crowds

37

Groups harassing families and selling “merchandise”

38

Employee beaten leaving work

39

Video40

Then there goes the businesses, many of which have been at the oceanfront for decadesThe repeated refrain from the business community:

• “It’s not safe”

• “My employees are fearful for their safety”

• “There used to be families here, they are gone”

• “My City used to care – they have given up”

• “I cannot build a business in this environment”

• “Behavioral issues are getting worse”

• “I give up”

41

In the past, finding store space on Atlantic Avenue was impossible.

There are so many empty spaces in current environment.42

43

44

45

46

47

48

49

50

51

52

The behavioral and environmental problems are not new to Virginia Beach!

We had them before, and we fixed it!

We must do it again, and now!

Or all the benefits that the citizens of Virginia Beach enjoy as a result of taxes earned at the oceanfront will be gone…

53

CVB-RAR

Gross Tax

Daily Rental 1,392,093.64 $14,397.54

Lodging Room Tax 1,392,619.40 $2,784,827.68

Meals Tax 200,703,806.02 $11,033,867.57

Transient Occupancy 223,306,710.83 $17,862,318.71

Admissions Tax 19,396,332.77 $1,938,496.45

Participatory Sports 7,965,219.97 $397,169.21

Total 454,156,782.63 $34,031,077.16

Published: 7/29/2020

2019

CVB Resort Area Report

Fiscal Year

54

Our Goal:Our priorities of the past must remain our priorities of today• Safe, welcoming diverse family environment

• Maintain the Best, Cleanest and Widest Beach Possible (our #1 asset)

• Clean, Well Maintained Boardwalk (our #2 asset)

• Welcoming, Safe and Vibrant Family Friendly Atlantic Avenue (our front door)

• Expand Our Season (Conventions, Sports Center, Groups)

55

If environmental and behavioral issues are not addressed, our ability to grow our tourism base

And expand our season will be lost! 56

Our investments in The Convention Center, The Sports Center and Virginia Marine Science Museum

Are dependent upon a vibrant, clean and safe Resort area57

Summary:The tourism industry of Virginia Beach and the affected civic organizations are united in asking for support. Specifically:

1. We request City Council’s support of RAC’s resolution of August 6, 2020 as the action plan for The Resort Area

2. Direct the City Manager to re-institute the Resort Programs Office in the Resort Area and to hire a Resort Manager to refine and implement the RAC Resolution and RASAP Plan including a finance plan as a priority.

3. Develop and implement an immediate action plan for the 2021 Season to address:• Safety and law enforcement• Cleanliness and Resort maintenance• Restoring and adequately fund a robust family entertainment program on Atlantic

Avenue and in the Oceanfront Parks

58

Community Support

Virginia Beach Hotel AssociationVirginia Beach Restaurant AssociationAtlantic Avenue AssociationVIBE17th Street Gateway Association

Civic LeaguesCondo AssociationsBusiness Owners Community Leaders

59

END

60