Hampton State-of-the-City Address
Mayor Ross A. Kearney, II

Hampton Undergoing 'Significant Positive Change'

June 22, 2007

In his State of the City address to citizens presented on line and on TV-47 this week, Mayor Ross A. Kearney, II characterized Hampton as a city that is undergoing significant positive change.

"Great things are occurring in our community, some of them by the private sector and some by the public sector," the Mayor said.

He noted that private investment in Hampton is greater than it has ever been in the city's history.

"We have spurred investment totaling over $1.5 billion in private investment in the Coliseum Central area," he said.

He noted that the new Peninsula Town Center, which is replacing the Coliseum Mall and which will include approximately one million square feet of retail, restaurant, entertainment, office and residential space, will be far different from a traditional mall when Phase I is completed in late 2008.

"This Town Center will rival anything in the region, and we can all be very proud of this," he said, noting that the project is funded primarily with private money.

"In addition to retail, we also have seen a medical surge," the Mayor said. He pointed to the upcoming Hampton University Proton Beam Cancer Treatment Center, which represents over $200 million in private investment. There are only 5 similar centers in the country and, when completed, this will be the largest of its kind.

Other sectors of the medical community are also looking at Hampton as a place to locate, the Mayor said.

"In addition, the defense industry and NASA contractors are locating along the Magruder corridor," he said. "The National Institute of Aerospace is working diligently and providing additional jobs and training for people from throughout the world that come to Hampton to do their research, working with NASA Langley.

"We also have a great area in modeling and simulation, which is a new field that is developing."

Most experts agree that the foundation for any healthy city - no matter where that city may be located - is to have neighborhoods that are safe, clean, and vibrant, and where citizens have a sense of pride and ownership of these areas. Schools are a key part of that.

The City of Hampton has agreed to fund the construction of two K-through-8 public schools, to be completed in 2009. One will be on the site of the old Sentara General Hospital on Victoria Blvd., and the other will be adjacent to Bethel High School.

"At the invitation of the School Board I had the opportunity to travel to Florida and South Carolina where we looked at two wonderful approaches to the K-through-8 school concept," the Mayor said. "This is really something to behold."

Research indicates that the pre-K-through-8 concept makes the transition from elementary to middle school easier for students, with potential for positive results in improved student achievement.

The Mayor noted that there has also been a revitalization of the city's neighborhoods.

In a healthy city, there can be physical plans and configurations that encourage neighborhoods to succeed to their fullest potential. The master plans in Downtown, Coliseum Central, Phoebus, Buckroe, Kecoughtan, and North King Street are designed to do that, as they continue to come into fruition.

A key part of neighborhood revitalization has been the Crime and Grime initiative which Mayor Kearney identified as a priority early in his administration. As a result of this initiative, major crime in Hampton from 2005 to 2006 is down 7 percent - the lowest it has been in a decade.

The effectiveness of the Crime and Grime initiative lies in the effort of neighborhood district teams and crime and grime patrols. The district teams, composed of neighborhood commissioners, community leaders, and city staff, identify areas that crime and grime patrols should target, problem properties that require specialized actions, and issues that need to be referred to city departments.

"The community has come together to target those areas that need improvement," said the Mayor.

Efforts are being directed to address flooding issues in the city. The Mayor also expressed a commitment to find the necessary funding to open the city's waterways.

"The City Manager is studying that right now, to make a recommendation as we start to step forward with dredging. But the dredging must be done. If we are going to enhance the beauty of our area, we have got to do so by protecting our waterways."

The Mayor also addressed the increased assessments of property values. He noted that the assessed value of a home is determined by the private market, and people want to live in Hampton.

"We are close to the Interstate, we have a great quality of life, we have a wonderful citizenry, great schools, and it is an area that provides employment opportunities," the Mayor said.

He noted that with the increase in assessments, City Council has over the last four years continually lowered the tax rate. For those in need, it is committed to continue exploring tax relief programs in the future.

Regarding Fort Monroe, the mayor emphasized that the fort belongs to the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the City of Hampton will continue to be a willing and cooperative partner in the reuse planning effort.

Looking ahead, the future planning process will address important issues such as environmental cleanup and historic reservation, and how the fort should be managed in the future.

Regarding transportation, the Mayor noted that the General Assembly passed a transportation bill this year that creates a taxing Authority in the Hampton Roads Region. The purpose of the Authority is to levy new and increased local taxes and fees to subsidize area transportation projects. While the Hampton City Council unanimously voted against endorsing this Authority, its primary concern is that no improvements have been identified for the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel which is often severely congested.

"I look out the window now and I see the Bridge Tunnel backed up all the time, and that's not right. We're asking that the Hampton Roads Bridge Tunnel be included in some revitalization," the Mayor said.

In closing, Mayor Kearney thanked the citizens of Hampton for being a part of the community.

The video of the Mayor's State of the City address can be viewed at www.hampton.gov, or by watching TV-47 at 7:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m. daily.