Laura Burns

Laura Burns President's Circle: March 2023

In an effort to show our community what the Civic League does, here is what I have been up to the past few months on behalf of our residents:

  1. Asphalt Art: Colonial Place resident Melissa Seek presented her proposal regarding installing asphalt art in Colonial Place and Riverview at our February meeting and it was approved by the Civic League! Please see the article regarding this project for additional information. We are so excited to beautify our neighborhood and bring our community together!
  2. Columbus and LaValette: The city has installed a 4-way stop sign at this intersection after the civic league voted in favor of this.
  3. Membership Committee Chair: Harris Laughrey has been serving as our Membership Committee Chair and has been of great value to the Civic League. Unfortunately, the Navy has called upon him for bigger and better things, so he is leaving Norfolk. I am pleased to announce that Jay Jenkins, Colonial Place resident, will take over for Harris. Thanks, Jay!
  4. Sinkhole on the 600 Block of Delaware Ave: A sinkhole developed on the 600 block of Delaware Ave due to a collapsed pipe. Residents reported it via Norfolk Cares, but it continued to get worse. I contacted the Director of Public Works, who worked with the Department of Public Utilities to remedy the problem and ensure our community’s safety.
  5. Riverview Commercial Corridor Pilot Program: Riverview Village has been identified by the Department of Economic Development as one of two areas they are piloting a commercial corridor program. Funding will be provided for façade updates and placemaking. Pooya Mohit (VP) and I attended a meeting with the consulting group Anderson + Bohlander, the city hired to help drive this effort. Along with a few Riverview Village stakeholders, we helped the consultants understand what makes Riverview Village special, its history, and what improvements we would like to see in the area. The city will start accepting applications from business owners soon! More information here.
  6. Councilwoman Courtney Doyle: Our Councilwoman Courtney Doyle spoke at our last civic league meeting. She told us about some updates in our area, and residents could ask questions. Courtney was asked what recourse residents have when they submit a request to Norfolk Cares with seemingly no response. Courtney asked that we email her those correspondences so she can follow up and resolve them. 
  7. LeGrand Kitchen: LeGrand Kitchen is moving from Colley Ave to Riverview! The restaurant plans to occupy the space where Crackers currently resides.
  8. Advertising: With the launch of our new website and e-newsletter, Media Chair, Shannon Bowman has put together a media kit for folks interested in advertising with the civic league. If you or someone you know would like to advertise with us, please email her for more information.

The Civic League is here to serve the community. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me (president@cprv.net, 804-690-5047) and anyone from the Board (contact information is on the back of the newsletter).

News & Resources

CPRV Neighbors Toast to Six Months of Happy Hours at Perro Blanco

The Colonial Place Riverview Civic League marked its sixth consecutive monthly Community Happy Hour on Wednesday, November 5th—this time at Perro Blanco, our neighborhood’s go-to Tequila & Mezcal spot.

What started as a fun idea from Artemis Stoll, our incredible Social Events Committee Chair, has blossomed into a monthly tradition that truly embodies the spirit of CPRV. Artemis envisioned these gatherings as a way to spotlight local businesses while giving neighbors a chance to connect, laugh, and build friendships—and she’s delivered in every way. Her dedication over the years has played a huge role in helping our community grow closer and more vibrant.

This month’s happy hour had it all—a lively lounge atmosphere, friendly staff, delicious food, and a fantastic turnout. We saw new faces, familiar friends, and even neighbors who hadn’t been to an event in a while. From tacos and nachos to tequila and good conversation, it was the kind of evening that reminds us why we love calling CPRV home.

Next month, we’ll keep the fun rolling with our December Happy Hour at Fellini’s (date TBD). Follow us on social media for updates—and come raise a glass with your neighbors!

We love being your neighbor!

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Neighbors and Experts Team Up to Prune 200+ Crepe Myrtles in Colonial Place

This month, Colonial Place neighbors rolled up their sleeves and joined forces with teams from the Norfolk Master Gardeners and City Forester Steven Traylor for an educational and hands-on pruning event. Together, they carefully trimmed and maintained over 200 Crepe Myrtle trees throughout the neighborhood — keeping CPRV’s tree-lined streets as beautiful and healthy as ever.

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October 13th CPRV Civic League Meeting Recap​

Recap of the 10/13 CPRV Civic League meeting featuring Arts@ODU guests Cullen Strawn and Dr. Jasper Waugh-Quasebarth, board updates, and upcoming events including the rescheduled Front Porch Art Walk, community happy hour, waste collection day, and volunteer pruning.

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