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2019 SESSION
WHEREAS, the neighborhood of Ghent in Norfolk, a diverse and resilient community, was named as one of the Great Neighborhoods of 2018 by the American Planning Association; and
WHEREAS, the Great Neighborhoods award is presented annually as part of the American Planning Association’s Great Places in America program, recognizing communities of exceptional quality, character, and planning throughout the United States; Ghent joins West Freemason as the second neighborhood in Norfolk to win the award; and
WHEREAS, named for the city in Belgium, Ghent was developed in the late 19th century as an early suburb of the City of Norfolk and was originally connected to the city by a streetcar system; the neighborhood was designed with a grid pattern of broad, tree-lined avenues, large areas of green space, and a waterfront arch; and
WHEREAS, due to housing shortages during and after World War II, the City of Norfolk redeveloped Ghent Square, designated Ghent as a conservation area, and developed local historic district zoning to address overcrowding and preserve the unique spirit of the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, Ghent is now an inclusive, economically diverse community with a wide variety of housing types, including townhouses, multi-family developments, and well-preserved examples of Queen Anne, Colonial Revival, and Tudor Revival homes; and
WHEREAS, Ghent Square was named the nation’s best large-scale residential development by the Urban Land Institute in 1991 and the areas of Ghent and North Ghent are listed on the National Register of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, residents of Ghent have played a vital role in the preservation of the neighborhood by promoting flood mitigation efforts and taking proactive measures to address changes in sea level; and
WHEREAS, on October 18, 2018, the mayor of Norfolk and the president of the Virginia Chapter of the American Planning Association unveiled a plaque near the Hague Bridge commemorating the prestigious Great Neighborhoods award; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED by the Senate, the House of Delegates concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Ghent in Norfolk on its selection by the American Planning Association as one of the 2018 Great Neighborhoods; and, be it
RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the Senate prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to representatives of Ghent in Norfolk as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for the neighborhood’s contribution to the history and community life of Norfolk and the Commonwealth.