The saving of the Cavalier Hotel will go down in history as one of the most genuine philanthropic acts of a small group of local inspired individuals and the leadership of City of Virginia Beach. The perpetuation of the Cavalier as the Icon of the City is priceless. This is a legacy project.
Having just 8 hours on site and 45 days to design the project, WPL working in concert with EDSA Landscape Architects of Fort Lauderdale, developed the master plan of the Historic Cavalier Hotel and the Cavalier Residences. Multiple master plans were developed and vetted thru the client and city to achieve the success we are experiencing now. Developing 82 residences on a site with over 60ft of topography on a tight 1928 site is no small feat.
Extensive Community outreach, historic registration implications, and a variety of site constraints are just a few of the challenges that have required attention. Thus, WPL worked diligently with numerous individuals, neighbors, and organizations to acknowledge their concerns during this process. The Cavalier on the Hill Master Plan presented how the site could be developed, while still retaining the Historic Hotel and the equally historic open space and entrance features. In addition, the Master Plan was developed with an emphasis on utilizing and incorporating existing on-site features including topographical changes, historic spaces, historic Cavalier Drive, and the ageless vegetation.
The Cavalier on the Hill includes the amazing renovated Cavalier Hotel now an Autograph Collection Hotel, Five-Star restaurants, a Wellness Center including a salt-water indoor pool and a Bourbon Distillery. On the grounds and surrounding the Hotel is a high quality residential community development, restoration of the surrounding historic grounds, and the restoration of Cavalier Park which adjoins the Cavalier Shores neighborhood to the north.
The Cavalier has returned as the beacon of the Virginia Beach resort forever withstanding the test of time as it moves into its second century.