Apartment boom in downtown Norfolk

NORFOLK,Va. (WAVY) - New apartments are under construction in downtown Norfolk and are set to bring thousands of new residents.

More than 100 apartments are being developed at the Wainwright Building off Bute Street this year, one of the largest projects in the city.

Document: Residential development in downtown Norfolk

The apartment building is close to Bobbie B's Deli.  

Owner Teresa Wilson is open weekdays but could soon open on weekends.

"On Saturdays and Sundays we would not pull in enough traffic to make it profitable to open up. If they had more people living down here in apartments and stuff we would love to open up on Saturday and Sundays and be a deli to serve them... yeah, it would be great," Wilson said.

Kevin Murphy, president of the Downtown Norfolk Civic League said additional residents downtown will produce a more vibrant effect in the area.

"The occupancy rate is very high downtown and it follows a national trend of renting rather than buying in the downtown area where your options are condominiums and apartments," Murphy said. "It's very difficult to get financing for condos now, so apartments are a more affordable way to come downtown and have the downtown living experience."