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  • GREGORY M. FRECH

    Urban Underbelly is a blog that seeks to share the back stories of successes and struggles in achieving the visions of New Urbanism, especially in Hampton Roads, Virginia

    New Urbanism: is a city planning and architecture movement directed at the creation and restoration of vibrant neighborhood places: centralized, sustainable, walkable and socially diverse.
  • HISTORICALLY APPROPRIATE HOUSE PLANS FOR URBAN INFILL PROPERTIES
    Among the blight clearance strategies of a Redevelopment and Housing Authority they routinely purchase properties that are in poor condition or foreclosed or otherwise unsuitable for the health, safety and welfare of a neighborhood. This approach is especially effective when contiguous properties are involved and it can imp...   >>READ MORE
    PROVIDE LIGHT RAIL TO PORTSMOUTH INSTEAD OF MIDTOWN TUNNEL
    The recent editorial in the Virginian Pilot is in favor of the campaign to squash plans for the construction of the Midtown Tunnel. Agreed. The extension of The TIDE Light Rail to Portsmouth is the better alternative. How fortuitous that the tunnel project could be declared unconstitutional. There are plenty of common sense...   >>READ MORE
    Selecting an established commercial hub is a prime Light Rail station stop
    The idea of diverting the LR route from the rail Right of Way to the service access roads at Hilltop came from a resident participant at the Strategic Growth Area public forum. That was only last month. The consultant has already offered alternate routes, how responsive is that? Bravo! The best thing about the extension ...   >>READ MORE









    Serving Virginia: Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Newport News, Hampton, Suffolk, Virginia Beach, Smithfield, Williamsburg, Yorktown, Gloucester
    Serving North Carolina: Outer Banks from Corolla to Kill Devil Hills, Kitty Hawk, Nags Head, Manteo, Moyock, Knotts Island, Elizabeth City, Edenton
    Residential PROJECTS
    Winthrope Avenue Residence
    Greene Residence
    North End Residence
    Burnette Residence
    Tibideaux Residence
    Straley Residence
    Stewart Residence
    Standing Residence
    Simkins Residence
    Shaheen Residence
    O’Connel Residence
    Kyrus Residence
    Klar Residence
    Kesler Residence
    Gerloff Residence
    Commercial PROJECTS
    Chamberlayne Ave. Storage
    Linkhorn Bay Condo
    Captain George’s Seafood Restaurant
    Self Storage: Historical Renovation
    Self Storage: Curved Glass Façade
    Self-Storage: Phased Construction
    Self-Storage: Building Reuse
    Self-storage: A Commanding Presence
    Self-Storage: A Good Neighbor
    Neighborhood Office Building
    Kettler Headquarters
    Cagney’s Restaurant
    Self-Storage: Structural Innovation
    Planning PROJECTS
    Buckroe Beach, Hampton Virginia
    Knotts Creek Refuge
    Virginia Beach Community Development Cooperation
    Cypress Cove Commons
    Bishop Court
    Curtis Residence
    Burton Station Office Park

    Green PROJECTS
    EarthCraft Residence
    Frech Residence
    NRHA
    Torope Residence
    Fortner Residence
    Interiors PROJECTS
    Cape Henry Residence
    Lochhaven Residence
    Nicholson Residence
    Waterside Interior Renovation
    Element Restaurant & Lounge
    Bangkok Garden

    Awards
    HomeArama 2010 East Beach
    Church Point Shopping Center
    Church Point, Historical Manor House
    Smithfield Affordable Sustainable Workforce Housing
    Beach Park West Apartments
    Bubba’s Shellfish Company