Midtown...The right place, the right time.

Midtown Portsmouth is on the move. Plans, proposals, and purchases are underway to improve this area of the city. 

Focal Area Plan
In 2005, the City hired Wallace, Robert & Todd, LLC (WRT), an urban planning and design firm, to create the Midtown Focal Area Plan. The plan outlines several key development programs to transform Midtown into one of the region’s premier retail and mixed-use destinations. It establishes an overall vision and implementation strategy for the revitalization of Midtown consistent with the goals and policies of the City’s recently adopted Destination 2025 Comprehensive Plan.

The plan addresses, and the City has budgeted $2.5 million for aesthetic gateway improvements along the Frederick Boulevard corridor.

Retail Anchors
Due to the City’s active role in redeveloping Midtown, this area is now seeing renewed interest by national retailers. In May 2005 the City joined the world’s largest retailer in announcing its plans to buy the former MidCity site and build a 204,000 square foot Wal-Mart SuperCenter. Complete with groceries, general merchandise, gardening supplies and pharmaceuticals, Wal-Mart will become the anchor in Midtown’s redevelopment initiative. The superstore is scheduled to open in January 2007.

Additionally, Bayside Harley-Davidson has relocated and expanded its Midtown dealership. Ranked among the nation’s top 10 Harley-Davidson dealerships, the new 30,000 square foot store and service center includes a unique five-story tower displaying the latest motorcycles. Highly visible from the interstate, the new, cleverly designed tower is fast becoming an icon along I-264.

Neighborhoods & Shoppers
The Midtown sub-market draws customers from nearby well-established neighborhoods such as Mount Hermon, historic Port Norfolk, Waterview and Glenshellah.  Additionally, residents of Downtown Portsmouth’s historic Olde Towne and historic Park View, and the new apartment community, The Myrtles at Olde Towne, are all within 3 miles of Midtown’s growing retail businesses.  Midtown also draws residents of numerous Churchland subdivisions, including Green Acres and Sterling Point, who pass through Midtown looking for places to shop and dine. Also, new citizens with demand for household furnishings will be moving into New Port, a new 1,600-unit neighborhood currently under construction.

Plans for two new communities will add shoppers to Midtown, too. Jeffry Wilson is a recent recipient of a $20 million HOPE VI grant from HUD to completely redevelop and revitalize this neighborhood.  Relocation of current residents is underway and will be completed by early 2008. And plans call for the new community to be finished and occupied by 2011.  Additionally, a private developer has demolished the former Howard Homes apartment community and will construct the new Crescent Place Apartments in 2007. 

Medical Facilities
In addition to the residents in area neighborhoods and nearby subdivisions, Midtown also offers retailers access to consumers visiting and working in the growing Maryview Medical Center. Owned by Bon Secours Health Systems, Maryview is a full service, private hospital employing over 2,200 healthcare professionals and undergoing extensive growth.

MIDTOWN NEIGHBORHOODS