Sale of Virginia Beach land could bring restaurant and shops to Historic Kempsville

Virginia Beach — Virginia Beach would like to sell nearly three acres in Historic Kempsville for $1.4 million to a local company to build a mixed-used development.

Robinson Development Group has proposed building a restaurant, retail shops and a medical or dental office on the property, located on the northwest corner of Princess Anne and South Witchduck roads. The project is part of a bigger plan to transform the area.

The city has been trying to develop the land for more than a decade so the latest proposal has been a long time coming, said Planning Commissioner David Weiner. About seven years ago, Weiner said a developer planned to build a Walgreens at the site, but the deal fell apart. Weiner said the city has been working with Robinson Development Group for quite a while before the deal was ready to move forward.

“It has taken us 12 years to get to this point,” Weiner said. “We are really excited to see something move onto the property.”

The city initially acquired the land for the road realignment project of the major intersection in the Historic Kempsville area to improve traffic flow. Now that the road project is finished, the city no longer needs it, said Elizabeth Chupik, an associate city attorney.

The buyer, officially listed as Princess Anne/Witchduck Associates 1, LLC., would be required to construct at least two of the three proposed buildings within a year and a half and the project should be completed by the spring of 2023. If the developer wants to put in different types of businesses than originally proposed, it will have to get approval from the city.

The developer also has agreed to complete a remediation program with the Department of Environmental Quality to clean up environmental contamination from a dry cleaner and a gas station that had previously been at the location, Chupik said.

The developer and the city also have been working together for several years to acquire property on the northeast corner, stretching from Princess Anne and Witchduck to Bonney Road. In 2017, the group pitched building a commercial center with walking paths, canopy trees and a park. The project is still in limbo due to the need to buy up more land to carry out the vision.

Robinson Development Group could not be reached for comment.

Alissa Skelton, 757-995-9043, alissa.skelton@pilotonline.com.