NORFOLK, Va. - The city is moving forward with improvements to the old site of Greenies around 1st View Street and Ocean View Avenue.
Over the next two years, crews will be restoring dunes, walkways and public space, according to the city.
Dune design began this month. Next, there will be construction of a temporary parking lot lasting from late April to June.
Dune improvements will begin later this year and last until mid-2023.
The project is costing the city $600,000.
Greenies, the iconic Ocean View bar, closed in 2018 and was torn down. Since then, the city has been getting feedback from the community about what to put there.
This is Phase One of a project to revitalize the area. Phase Two gives options to build a restaurant at the site.
"When we first moved here 20 years ago, it was a booming area. It's not so much now, but I think it has the ability come back," said Laurel Pont, who lives nearby.
Others are hoping a restaurant will one day be at the site.
"We'd love to see some new food come in. We would love to see some food trucks," said Adrienne Roof, who also lives nearby.
While work continues at the Greenies site, people in the area also want to see more development across the street. A business on the corner of the street is vacant, but there is a new restaurant opening soon.
The OV Beach Tavern is taking over the old spot once occupied by Mojo Bones.
"We don't come down here that often because there really isn't anything other than the beach, so it'd be nice if there was," Pont said.
