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Portmouth's Waterfront

Crawford Bay Redevelopment
Portsmouth, VA

Once-in-a-lifetime opportunity

The City of Portsmouth will be soliciting offers from qualified development teams to redevelop the Crawford Bay waterfront site in Downtown Portsmouth. This approximately 6-acre site is a rare opportunity to introduce new housing, hotel, dining, and public waterfront spaces to the heart of the city while honoring Portsmouth’s history, character, and scale.

Guided by adopted plans and community priorities, the City is taking a thoughtful, transparent approach to shaping a redevelopment opportunity that benefits residents, supports local businesses, and contributes to a vibrant downtown waterfront.

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About the Crawford Bay Waterfront Redevelopment

THE SITE REPRESENTS ONE OF THE MOST SIGNIFICANT AND RARE DOWNTOWN WATERFRONT REDEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN THE REGION.

Portsmouth, VA sits on the Elizabeth River at the midpoint of the U.S. Atlantic Coast, within the world’s largest natural deep-water harbor and at Mile Marker Zero of the Intracoastal Waterway. For generations, the waterfront has played a central role in Portsmouth’s economy, identity, and connection to the region.

The Crawford Bay Waterfront Redevelopment builds on this legacy by exploring how this underutilized waterfront site can be transformed into a walkable, amenity-rich destination that reconnects downtown to the river. The City is exploring the potential for a new, mixed-use development on the Crawford Bay site, a prime piece of waterfront property.

Future Opportunities for:

  • Serve current and future residents
  • Provide opportunities for local businesses
  • Energize and activate the waterfront
  • Welcome visitors from greater Hampton Roads and beyond
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CRAWFORD BAY SITE AT A GLANCE

6 Acres
in Size
500 Feet
of River Frontage
249 Rooms
Renaissance Portsmouth-Norfolk Waterfront Hotel
325 Spaces
Boat Slip Marina
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Fun Facts

  • Located near 189-unit Harbor Tower apartments, steps away from the High Street business district
    adjacent to the Olde Towne Historic Residential district.
  • The site currently includes a vacant former hotel site, surface parking, the Harbor Court parking garage, the vacant former visitors center site, and Portside Park.
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Project Goals

Support local businesses and strengthen downtown vibrancy. Attract experienced partners in complex waterfront development.
Activate the waterfront with welcoming, safe, and accessible public spaces. Connect Crawford Bay with the rest of Portsmouth's waterfront and the Civic Center Site, a future phase of the City's waterfront redevelopment and revitalization.
Create a landmark mixed-use project with new housing, hotel, retail, dining, and entertainment options. Coordinate with adjacent and future investments, including the future Civic Center redevelopment.
Address infrastructure needs, including parking, stormwater management, utilities and shoreline resilience.
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Where We Are in the Process

The City of Portsmouth is currently in the planning and early engagement phase for the Crawford Bay Waterfront Redevelopment. Over the coming months, the City will:

  • Continue to work with City staff and consultant team on due diligence
  • Inform and engage residents, stakeholders, and businesses
  • Finalize project goals and development expectations
  • Engage in a two-step developer solicitation process, beginning with a Request for Qualifications (RFQ), followed by a Request for Offers (RFO)

Frequently Asked Questions