President’s Recap – Colonial Place & Riverview Civic League August 11 2025 – Meeting Highligts

Pooya Bina Mohit, President of CPRV Civic League

It was great to welcome our members and guests this month—and to remind everyone that our civic league meetings are open to all neighbors. Vice President Gene Ward noted that while turnout was strong, there’s still room to grow. Please invite a friend or neighbor to join us for our next meeting on September 8.

Our new Community Resource Officer (CRO), Collin Dunthorn (collin.dunthorn@norfolk.gov – (757) 570-8155) reported a decline in both overall crime and gun violence, with improvements in traffic enforcement. While police staffing levels remain steady, a new compensation structure is helping to attract and retain officers. Increased 911 call center staffing has also improved response times. Persistent speeding on Granby Street remains a concern, and additional enforcement is planned.

City Council members Jeremy McGee (jeremy.mcgee@norfolk.gov) and Courtney Doyle (courtney.doyle@norfolk.gov) joined us to provide an update on the recent Dominion Street Light outages, as well as a comprehensive overview of various neighborhood concerns and the city’s growth. 

Infrastructure & City Services

• Slip-Lining Project: Public Works engineers outlined ongoing repairs to a collapsed steel pipe affecting stormwater drainage at the location of the metal plates at the intersection of Virginia and Mayflower.

• Trash & Code Enforcement: Residents voiced concerns about litter and overflowing trash on private lots and VDOT ramps. Businesses can be cited for neglect, and residents are encouraged to report problem areas. Also noted was the need for signage to be refreshed and more prominent to stay top of mind in heavy litter corridors.

• Pedestrian Safety & Bike Lanes: Several intersections will soon receive rapid-flashing pedestrian beacons. New bike lanes are planned as part of Norfolk’s net-zero initiative and the Granby Street Bike Lane project.

• Panhandling & Homelessness: The city is discouraging panhandling and has dedicated over $500,000 to a homeless task force connecting unsheltered residents to support services.

Community Concerns
Neighbors raised issues about Lafayette Park, including reports of alcohol being sold from cars. Council members assured us that the area is under increased police patrols and urged residents to continue reporting concerns.

Mack’s Barge / Restaurant Discussion
Andrey Tsokanoff, owner of Fish Bones restaurant in Virginia Beach, shared his plan to purchase and rebrand Mack’s Barge as a seafood restaurant. He is working through the city’s conditional-use-permit process and is committed to:

• Preserving the venue as a restaurant

• Local business owner of 80/20 Burger Bar, Jamie Summs, addressed past concerns with Mack’s Barge’s previous ownership, expressed support for business owners who want to be part of the community and enjoy the benefit of their legally allowable usage of the space, similar to neighboring businesses in that corridor.

• Following existing ordinances (no amplified outdoor music; restricted late-night outdoor dining)

• Keeping doors closed to limit noise.

• While some residents requested earlier closing times and others preferred hours consistent with similar venues, the discussion ended without a final consensus.

Leila International Cuisine
Owner Aleksandra Prouty joined us to share her intention to request full ABC service at her current operating hours—she currently serves beer and wine. A motion was made to endorse this change, and all attending voting members unanimously approved it.

Social & Membership Updates

• Monthly Happy Hour: Afterglow in the Rail-Yard District, Wednesday, Aug 13th from 5 pm-7 pm.

• Night Market: Coordinated to coincide with happy hour.

• Community Yard Sale: Organized by our subcommittee. $10 registration for non-members; free for members. Details will be posted on Facebook, Instagram, and in our newsletter.

• Welcome Committee: Co-chair Lisa is resuming Welcome activities to greet new neighbors and share information about local resources.

Closing Notes
As always, we encourage you to renew your membership, invite neighbors to join, and reach out to board members with questions or ideas. This month’s meeting reflected what makes our civic league strong—addressing safety, infrastructure, business engagement, and community connection.