To help direct the new energy emerging in a blighted area just north of downtown Norfolk, WPA collaborated on multiple community charrettes to guide the neighborhood’s development.
The first charrette, conducted with Urban Design Associates in fall 2013, produced a “kit-of-parts”—a list of ideas that could be implemented over time to systematically revitalize the district. The team focused on connections, flood response, neighborhood identity, public safety, parking, and existing resources. A toolkit was created to help individual property owners make short-term improvements, generating enthusiasm among those eager to take action. The toolkit included parklets, planters, artistic crosswalks, temporary shading devices, murals, and sculptural bike racks.
Thanks to the city’s thoughtful investment in a community-driven planning process, the district quickly flourished. Within a year of the 2013 charrette, all vacant buildings were purchased, and millions of dollars in private investment transformed the area—now known for its large-scale murals and neon artwork. In early 2015, WPA led a follow-up charrette to review the 2013 initiatives, assess progress, and establish new investment priorities.
WPA later designed a custom wayfinding system for the neighborhood and partnered with local glass artists and metal fabricators to create a pedestrian connection between the Chrysler Museum and the NEON District. This project included 200 glass “breadcrumbs” embedded in sidewalks, installed just in time for the international Glass Art Society meeting in Norfolk in June 2017.
WPA continues to support the district’s development, applying lessons learned from the National Disaster Resilience grant project to implement effective floodwater management strategies.
