Norfolk Takes A Pounding...Literally

[@Im_Just_Renzo757]

I’m only 39; however, I’ve studied and researched enough of our city’s history to shake my head every time I’m in the downtown/midtown area. How on earth does a city almost completely wipe out almost of all its historical buildings and landmarks?

[@Im_Just_Renzo757]

@Vacreeper2021 I agree

[@GeorgeWashingtonX]

My opinion, the crosstown busing of the '7os demoralized and destroyed Norfolk in a lot of ways. The city lost a lot of residents to Va Beach (& to a lesser extent, ChesaFreak) during that era. Norfolk has never been the same since.

[@jimthompson7402]

As a former Norfolk native and long time resident, I can recall much of what no longer exists, such as the once vibrant Granby Street and Church Street with their many theaters,department stores, various small shops and businesses.With the arrival of World War 2 and the urgent need for military housing, this later combined with redevelopment, most of Norfolk's many historical landmarks and treasures were tragically lost.The many slums ringing downtown were considered by President Roosevelt's Administrator of Housing-Nathan Straus, as THE worst in the nation.1937 was the year in which a significant effort was directed towards slum clearance, but unfortunately much of Norfolk's history was destroyed in the process. It wasn't until the early 1960's that the city started to make a noticeable but slow recovery. After all these many years I still lament over the many beautiful buildings that were intentionally and needlessly destroyed in the name of "urban renewal".

[@fairfaxcat1312]

Jim Thompson Contrast today’s hollowed out Central Norfolk with the vibrant street life which existed before the bulldozer. Today’s Norfolk is an example of H.L. Mencken’s “libido for the ugly,” a hideousness which is planned and intentional, not random. Breathtakingly, the Redevelopment and Housing Authority actually wants to take credit instead of accountability for their destruction of gilded age hotels, a glorious marbled train station, two hundred year old townhouses, and beautiful 150 year-old churches.

[@shirleyanthony5840]

Born. And raise in Norfolk

[@loricrane5315]

I sure hope she and her knowledge survived the last few years. Love how she tells history.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

I'm sorry to see Peggy (a great resource and researcher) as a shill for the city of Norfolk. But if you take their gold, you pretty much have to play their tune. But she is a good person.

[@chriswilson7169]

Joe Postove ignoramus. Norfolk had worst slums in the country. Norfolk is much better for it. stop your bitching. leave Peggy alone whiner baby.

[@MrJoeybabe25]

Most of the area torn down in the Urban Renewal years were not slums. Look at the buildings in Norfolk that were taken by the city and turned over mostly to private enterprise in the name of "the public good". This was a wholesale theft by Norfolk to remake the city into what the silk-stocking crowd believed was a "Garden City" and less of the rough edged town Norfolk was famous for. That was NOT what the 5th amendment was for.

[@njaneardude]

Historian!

[@fairfaxcat1312]

I would call the bulldozing of central Norfolk a tragedy of monumental proportions except that Redevelopment and Housing destroyed its monuments. (See my comments below KZbin's "Project One" video.) What city brags about its history and turns around and destroys its history starting in 1951 with the Truman money and well into the 1970's with the leveling of the Monticello Hotel and Christ Church? There was more far life in central and downtown Norfolk in 1951 than there is today. Today's visitor asks why Norfolk, unlike Balto. and other old eastern cities, has no row houses. He sees vast open fields with few people on foot. The elimination of the terrible living conditions should have been allowed to occur organically without hollowing out wholesale the life and soul of that city.