It’s Wednesday. Let’s get you through the week. 

🌥️ Today’s Weather: High of 67! … And Cloudy. It might be fake spring but it’s better than freezing.

Here’s what we’re watching today:

🎭️ Stages Are Slammed! 

🌊 The ERP Agrees to Tear Down Brand New Building

🏛️ Hope for Housing Bills  

📆 All your events for the next few days

🎭️ Stages Are Slammed! 

The performing arts are heatin’ up big time, despite the chilly weather.

Virginia Opera debuts “Sanctuary Road” with orchestra accompaniment by Virginia Symphony Orchestra. This is only the third production of the opera in the U.S., following productions in North Carolina and Lancaster, PA.

Based on writings from a conductor on the Underground Railroad, the work follows real stories of escapes from pre-abolition Virginia. It has been called evocative, compelling, and transcendent. It lands at Harrison Opera House for only two Norfolk showings: Friday & Sunday.

Meanwhile, double murder mysteries are taking stages in NFK. Virginia Stage Company takes on Alfred Hitchcock’s “Dial ‘M’ For Murder” at the historic Wells Theater. The Little Theater of Norfolk is performing the comical and suspenseful "But Why Bump Off Barnaby?" through January 28th. 

Chrysler Hall is not to be forgotten, though! The Broadway hit “To Kill A Mockingbird” is coming for a two weekend run starting next weekend. This Academy Awarding-winning screenplay is Aaron Sorkin’s adaptation of Harper Lee’s original novel.

Next month, while those winter winds are still blowing, the Hurrah Players and Generic Theater will be taking their moments in the spotlight. The Hurrah Players perform “Path to Freedom” Feb 16th -18th. The Generic Theater’s cast of talent will be performing “The Viewing Room” Feb 9th - 25th. 

Finally, for the laugh-passionate crowds, Push Comedy and Commonwealth Comedy have a lots of shows on the books. Catch Commonwealth’s full lineup here and Push Comedy’s full lineup here (including the 11th year of Panties in a Twist).

I guess we’re gonna need some new venues, huh?

🌊 The ERP Agrees to Tear Down Brand New Building

You’ve seen the construction on the north end of Colley Avenue for past year. It’s the new HQ for the Elizabeth River Project: The Ryan Resilience Lab.

The building was built with a number of local companies including WPA, Hourigan, and Infra SGA just to name a few. Throughout the building “accessible” resilience measures are modeled, with hopes community members replicate them.

However, thanks to a first-of-its-kind agreement signed with Wetlands Watch and Coastal Virginia Conservancy, there are already plans to tear down the $9 million facility. Sounds crazy, right?

Called a “rolling conservation easement,” the property will be turned over to a land trust in pieces over time. As average high-water marks increase with sea level rise over time, the land will be returned to nature. By the time waters reach 6.5 feet above today’s level, which is expected around 2085, the full building will be turned over.

So sometime around 2085, expect the building to be deconstructed, utilities removed, and the land to go back to the river. While this agreement may be the first of it’s kind, with waters rising in Norfolk, many more may be on the way.

While we didn’t get into the rolling conservation easement, we recently sat down the Elizabeth River Project to discuss the Ryan Resilience Lab and more on the Currents Podcast. Check it out on Youtube and Spotify.

🏛️ Hope for Housing Bills 

It’s that time of year again: the General Assembly is in session. The two month sprint to pass new laws for the whole Commonwealth. There’s more bills than anyone could follow, but there’s a few notable housing bills in the mix.

The issue:
Housing affordability in Virginia (and the U.S.) is at all time lows. Housing tends to make up the largest portion of the average American’s spending, so it has the largest impact on our wallets.

By the numbers:
29% of Virginians (44% of renters) were housing burdened in 2019, and since then, housing prices have gone up at least 22%.

The Common Theme:
As you’ll see, the bills below are focused on ways to increase the supply of housing. The thinking goes that allowing for more homes to be built will reduce meet existing demand and reduce rising prices, while not requiring massive state budget outlays.

The Bills:
Faith In Housing for the Commonwealth - SB 233 / HB 1124
Legalizing ADUs - SB 304 / HB 900
Single Stair Housing Reform - SB195 / HB 368
Housing Near Jobs - SB 430

Faith in Housing
This bill would allow churches and faith organizations to build affordable housing on their land through a streamlined process (I.e. without rezoning).

Legalizing ADUs
An ADU is an accessory dwelling unit, or more colloquially a “granny flat” or “in-law suite.” This bill would allow residents to build on their existing lots, which zoning rules typically limit. Removing these barriers allows additional housing inventory to come to existing neighborhoods without massive redevelopments.

Housing Near Jobs
This bill makes residential housing a by-right use in existing commercially zoned areas. This should enable apartments, mixed-use development, and in-fill in areas that typically hold the most jobs. Housing development is typically disallowed in these areas under current rules.

Single Stair Reform
Buildings higher than 3 stories are currently required to have two stairways. Single Stair buildings, particularly with modern construction materials, have been proven safe across a litany of locations worldwide. This is seen as a major cost driver for new developments. The bill convenes a group to review building code on this issue.

The Orgs:
There’s a coalition of groups from across the political spectrum coming together on these housing bills including New Virginia Majority, Virginia Interfaith Center, Virginia Housing Alliance, AARP, Americans for Prosperity, REALTORS Associations, Home Builders Association of Virginia, YIMBY groups, Strong Town Groups and more.

Local Involvement:
Locally Hampton Roads YIMBY has lead the charge on gathering support for these housing bills. They’re having an interest meeting next week for folks looking to get involved. It’s called “The Rent Is Too Damn Pie,” a pizza social at Elation Brewing on January 30th.

📅 Upcoming Events

Wednesday: 
BizConnect Networking Coffee at Decorum Furniture. 8:30 am. Rip it.
Moss Gardening at Norfolk Botanical Gardens. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Wednesday Wordsmiths at The Muse Writers Center. 5:00 pm. Rip it.  
Super Casual Wednesday Group Ride departing Local Bike Shop. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Run Club Meetup at The Ghent Rooftop Bar. 6:20 pm. Rip it. 
Intro to Ceramics with Evan at 757 Makerspace. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Trivia at Smartmouth. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Trivia at Torch Bistro. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Trivia at MJ’s Tavern. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Planetarium Show at Michael and Kimthanh Lê Planetarium. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Norfolk Admirals vs. Newfoundland Growers at Norfolk Scope. 7:05 pm. Rip it. 
Bhav Brigade Yoga at Norfolk Karate Academy. 7:15 pm. Rip it. 
Dial “M” for Murder at Virginia Stage Company. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Donal O'Shaughnessy performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 7:30 pm. Rip it.
Tomii & Rylo spin live at Only You. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 

Thursday:
Winter Tree ID Class at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 1:00 pm. Rip it.
Norfolk Kickback at Assembly. 5:30 pm. Rip it. 
Thrilling Thursday Evening Ride at East Coast Bicycles. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Ocean View Run Club Group Run Walk at Cova Brewing. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Jazzy Thursdays with The Rajazz at Brother’s. 6:00 pm. Rip it.
Owl Meet & Greet at Norfolk Botanical Garden. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Tidewater United Putting League at Smartmouth. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
Bike Norfolk Annual Meeting at Elation Brewing. 6:45 pm. Rip it. 
Pottery Studio: Intro to the Wheel with Evan at 757 Makerspace. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Abolition Studies & Pen Pal Letter Writing at Eleanor’s. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Dial “M” for Murder at Virginia Stage Company. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Full Moon Ritual at Aries Apothecary. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
GSA Winter Dance Concert at 340 Granby Street. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Off-Granby: The Musical! at Push Comedy Theater. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Evan Slagle performs live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Performers Playground Stage Workshop at The Venue on 35th. 9:00 pm. Rip it. 

Friday:
Norfolk Run Club Meetup at Yorgo’s. 6:00 am. Rip it.
The Free & Fun Write Now at the Muse Writer’s Center. 4:00 pm. Rip it. 
Moon Magic at Aries Apothecary. 6:00 pm. Rip it. 
Pride Night goes to “Sanctuary Road” at Harrison Opera House. 6:30 pm. Rip it. 
IgNITE: Fan-da-Mania at Chrysler Museum. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
LAVA Presents: A Cold Norfok’s Night at Chicho’s Backstage. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Truetone Honeys perform live at the Music Room at the Hermitage. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
Wines of Austria at Vino Culture. 7:00 pm. Rip it. 
VA Opera performs “Sanctuary Road” at Harrison Opera House. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
Dial “M” for Murder at Virginia Stage Company. 7:30 pm. Rip it. 
But Why Bump Off Barnaby: A Mystery Farce at Little Theater of Norfolk. 8:00 pm. Rip it.
DJ Nicola spins live at Only You Lounge. 8:00 pm. Rip it. 
Donal O'Shaughnessy performs live at Grace O’Malley’s. 8:30 pm. Rip it. 
The Rocky Horror Picture Show at Naro Cinema. 11:30 pm. Rip it. 

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