City proposes reconnecting streets, housing and retail where MacArthur Center stands
Norfolk leaders are moving to undo a quarter-century of dead‑end streets in the heart of downtown by redeveloping the former MacArthur Center site into a walkable, mixed‑use neighborhood. The city’s plan emphasizes restoring the downtown street grid, making it easier to walk or drive between cultural institutions such as Chrysler Hall and the MacArthur Memorial and to knit downtown back into adjacent neighborhoods.
Deputy City Manager Ron Williams told city officials the goal is to "establish an urban grid again downtown to connect all of our great public amenities and to have a better transportation network." That vision, he said, traces to the city’s Downtown 2020 plan and was reaffirmed in the comprehensive plan for 2050.
"Establish an urban grid again downtown to connect all of our great public amenities and to have a better transportation network,"
The mall closed just over two weeks before the announcement, and tenants have been told to vacate. City officials said demolition could begin as early as late 2027, though much depends on planning, public input, financing and negotiations with prospective developers. For now, officials consider it cheaper to keep the structure closed while they determine the site’s long‑term use.
What the city says the redevelopment could include
- Reconnected streets—Bank Street and other current dead‑ends would be extended through the property.
- Mixed uses—the site could support hotels, multiple multifamily housing buildings and retail.
- Grocery store—city officials are actively courting grocery brands to fill a decades‑long downtown need.
Williams listed specific components he expects the site could sustain: "probably two hotels, multi‑family housing, another opportunity for multi‑family housing, and definitely a grocery store." The city is in talks with multiple national grocery brands, officials said, pointing to more than 1,000 new residents who have moved into downtown and nearby neighborhoods in recent years—an increase the city believes will support a downtown grocer.
"If you don't drive, you have to catch a bus or find a ride,"
That practical reality was echoed by new downtown resident Krystal Smith, who moved into the Kindred development across from the mall after living in the area for decades. Smith said a nearby grocery store would relieve transportation burdens for residents who rely on transit or rides from friends and family.
Local consequences and next steps
Replacing the enclosed mall with a street‑oriented plan would reverse an urban pattern common to suburbanized downtowns of the 1990s. For Norfolk, reconnecting streets could improve pedestrian access to cultural institutions and transit stops, boost ground‑floor retail visibility and create housing near jobs and services. City planners say the project could also help fill gaps left when long‑running downtown retailers closed; the last full‑service grocer in the core shut its doors in 2011.
City officials have not released a development timeline beyond the possibility of demolition in late 2027. The plan will require design work, developer selection and likely public meetings. How the city balances historic resources, traffic impacts and neighborhood concerns will shape whether the redevelopment delivers the walkable urban center officials envision.
| Proposed element | Notes from city |
|---|---|
| Street reconnection | Bank Street and other dead‑ends reopened through site |
| Housing | Multiple multifamily opportunities expected |
| Hotels | Possibly two hotels on site |
| Grocery | Active discussions with national chains; city sees demand |
The redevelopment of the MacArthur site will be watched closely across the region. It offers Norfolk a chance to reset downtown circulation and retail patterns at a moment when urban cores are competing for residents and services. For many longtime and new residents alike, the top practical measure of success will be whether the project finally brings everyday needs—like groceries—within a short walk of downtown homes.
Public meetings and additional details are expected as city planners advance the design and solicit developers.
