The City of Norfolk poured millions of dollars into the area now known as East Beach. Some $55 million, according to this 2006 article, was spent “tearing down 1,600 homes and buildings and relocating hundreds of low-income residents.” At that time, City Councilman Randy Wright, who represents Ward 5, said, “It is everything we could have hoped for and more”
Fast forward just a year later and we learn that all is not well in East Ocean View, which is where the upscale neighborhood of East Beach is located. On the evening of July 28, three people were attacked in EOV, resulting in the death of one of them. The attack brought to light that the problems of EOV had not gone away:
He [EOV resident Tommy Smigiel] said he is often awakened by gun shots and arguments. Sometimes there are rowdy parties in the middle of the night at a nearby apartment complex. Large groups of teenagers wander through the streets, smashing sticks and bottles against street signs.
In the wake of the July incident, two separate Town Hall meetings on the issue of crime in EOV will be held this week. The first, hosted by the East Ocean View Civic League, will be held Wednesday, August 15, from 6pm-8pm at the East Ocean View Community Center located at 9520 20th Bay St. Confirmed attendees include Mayor Paul Fraim; Council members Randy Wright and Barclay Winn, who represent EOV; Police Chief Bruce Marquis; Sheriff Bob McCabe, himself a resident of EOV; Delegate Paula Miller and State Senator Nick Rerras, both of whom represent EOV; and representatives from the Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office, zoning and code enforcement. Following the meeting, attendees will participate in a Community Walk from the Center to the location of the attack.
The second town hall meeting will be held Saturday, August 18. This meeting will be hosted by Mayor Fraim and Councilman Wright. This meeting will begin at 8:30am at The Banque located at 1849 E. Little Creek Rd.
Both are open to the public.
VIVIAN J. PAIGE | All Politics is Local 
Hi Vivian,
Thanks. Finally – a mention of EOV. I have to admit I was wondering when (or if) you were going to post on this one. I haven’t seen any local bloggers comment on last month’s attack or any other recent events in OV, for that matter.
Virginia Beach’s R&HA supporters have tried to hold EOV up as an example of what could be done with a R&HA. You mean everything isn’t dandy? ROFL!
jobs, jobs jobs, need more jobs in the area better public transportaion, to get to the jobs.
TB – I’m not sure what I can add to the conversation regarding EOV that hasn’t already been said in the newspaper. It’s a sad situation, really.
HMR – I think the idea of East Beach, and the cleaning up of Ocean View in general, was a good one, although I never was happy that it didn’t include some more affordable housing.
East Beach (and all the surrounds it, I suppose) was to be like South Beach. Nothing but rich people, no need for affordable housing. The planners of this are the successors to the same great minds that destroyed Norfolk’s historical buildings to put up parking garages and other eyesores in the 1960’s. Sometimes, I just sit back in amazement at the decisions that the authorities in power in Norfolk make.
VJP – With all the great discussions and policy debates on your site, I was just surprised to see so little mention (in general, not by you personally) of some of the things going on in OV (for or against). I guess I was looking for something along the lines of what Sweatin’LikeNixon wrote.
how soon we forget.