Virginia Beach officials who are considering ideas for the future of Virginia Moka’s property – the Virginian pilot

Virginia Beach – the Naval Museum, the theater of Performing Arts or something else.

Virginia Beach City leaders are beginning to think about what the Virginia Contemporary Art Museum (MOCA) on Avenue Parks, which will be free, could be free.

Emily Archer, Deputy Director of Economic Development, informs the City Council on variants and two unsolicited proposals on Tuesday, which the city has received.

The Art Museum announced in 2023 that it would move to Virginia Weslian University. His new home is under construction and plans to be completed next year.

Two non -profit organizations have offered applications for the 38,500 -foot building, including the Naval Museum and the Performing Art Theater. Mayor Bobby Dyer said the United States Naval League set the idea of ​​the Naval Museum.

“I have heard many of many people who are interested in this property in terms of the arts,” said adviser Worth Remick. “This building is beautiful and I think it has to be celebrated and store as it is. I think we have to go out officially and see who is interested. “

Advisor Stacey Cummings agreed.

“This is a special property in Virginia Beach,” he said. “If we try to do something different from something similar to its current use, we will be expiring outside the city.”

The Council agreed to issue a formal request for ideas.

The Mocha lease with the city for the Parks Avenue property ends on April 30, Archer said. Moca will not free up the premises before moving to a new facility, she said.

The city is limited in how it can use the land based on zoning. The Earth contains approximately 9 acres and is zoned to save. Residential, commercial, mentors or office uses are not allowed in a conservation area. If the city resonates the land, the use of residential and meetings will not be allowed as it sits in an area with high noise from the naval station of the ocean.

Significant environmental restrictions exist for 2200 Parks Ave., Archer said. Almost the entire property is within the flood danger area, approximately 3 acres contains wetlands, and another 3.5 acres are within 100 feet from the resource protection zone in Chesapiq Bay.

The city is studying the possibility of using parking lots as lakes for retaining rainwater and restoring a tinge channel that passes through the property, said the director of the public work LJ Hansen.

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The property is adjacent to the entrance to the Interstate 264 west of the ocean, and the city estimated the value of the land and the building to $ 7.1 million. The MOCA building was built in 1989. Any proposal that would require the expansion of the existing building would face challenges, Hansen said.

“It would be easier to withdraw the print,” Hansen said.

According to the current leasing with MOCA, the city is collecting $ 1 a year and is responsible for the maintenance of buildings and ground and certain utilities. It costs more than $ 200,000 a year to maintain, Archer said.

Windows and doors must be replaced, and the roof guarantee must be renewed at a total price of $ 900,000, she said.

Stacey Parker, 757-222-5125, [email protected]

Originally Posted: February 4, 2025 at 16:31 EST