In the News
The most important profession fighting sea-level rise you’ve never heard of - By Sarah Vogelsong October 2, 2019 VIRGINIA BEACH — Billy Almond knows Virginia Beach. He knows where the roads meet the water and where, increasingly, the water is rising to meet the roads. He remembers what the city looked like when he was a child on 84th Street, where when he stepped out of… ...READ MORE
Public weighs in on waterfront park plan for Virginia Beach’s Rudee Loop - The Virginian Pilot August 23,2019 The public on Thursday got its first look at the city’s plan to makeover the most prized waterfront property at the southern end of the Oceanfront. The idea for Rudee Loop involves transforming parking lots and vacant land into a sprawling park, leaving room for commercial development and a garage.… ...READ MORE
New GSNN Board Member’s Environmentalist Mindset Informs Passion for Green School Design - By. Cyndy Merse, Director of Communications and Membership, Green Schools National Network William “Billy” Almond was destined to be an environmentalist. Born and raised on the oceanfront in Virginia Beach, Virginia, Billy spent many hours of his childhood outdoors. When he wasn’t on the beach or surfing in the ocean, he could be found exploring… ...READ MORE
Igniting A Fitness Frenzy - By: Kate Cerone, WPL In 2016, Virginia Beach, Va., reaffirmed its strength in parks and recreation by revealing a new reason to visit the city and enjoy the oceanfront—the Hillier Ignite Fitness Park. Local businessman Luke Hillier formed the Hillier Ignite Foundation and approached architectural firm WPL with an exciting idea: give the community an… ...READ MORE
The basics of what you need to know when living in the Chesapeake Bay Preservation Area - By Chris Ettel (Contributor for Pilot Online) May 18, 2019 If the thought of having to deal with a compliance board in one of our area cities strikes fear in your heart, it shouldn’t. All of us in Hampton Roads are, or should be, stewards of our coastal environment, and these folks serve as partners… ...READ MORE
Solutions for sea level rise would change the face of Virginia Beach - By Peter Coutu Staff writer May 8, 2019 Updated May 11, 2019 Pilot Online Article VIRGINIA BEACH Council members got a glimpse Tuesday of what Virginia's largest city might look like if it sinks billions of dollars into preparing for 3 feet of sea level rise in the coming decades. The face of some of… ...READ MORE
The Seatack Story - Background As of April 26th, Seatack Elementary School’s much anticipated outdoor garden space is complete. This impactful project was born out of collaboration between the creative mind of Virginia Beach native, artist, and entrepreneur, Pharrell Williams and Seatack Elementary students as part of the 2019 Something In the Water Festival. The garden plan emerged in hopes to develop a worthwhile project that would… ...READ MORE
High tech flood gates could change look of Virginia Beach - Multi-billion dollar flood fighting proposals up for public comment Posted: May 8, 2019 By: Bret Hall VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (WAVY) -- Landmark landscapes of the resort city would change dramatically if a number of high-priced proposals to combat sea level rise are carried out. High tech flood gates would close off the Lynnhaven and Rudee… ...READ MORE
Gardening series to offer workshops on landscape practicalities - Are your plants withering from drinking too much brackish water that’s been creeping into your yard from too many flood tides? With all the rain we’ve been having, are water drainage issues in your yard driving you to drink too? If so, Mike Fox to the rescue! Fox is a senior associate and landscape architect… ...READ MORE
Center in the Storm: Environmental Center Exemplifies Stormwater Practices - By: WPL Landscape Architecture Group According to a report from the National Research Council, stormwater runoff from built environments is one of the biggest challenges in modern water pollution control. Therefore, when taking on projects, landscape architects would benefit from the implementation of effective stormwater sustainability techniques whenever and wherever possible. One such example of… ...READ MORE
Virginia Beach unveils study, new concepts to fight impact of sea-level rise - A multi-year study resulted in a 126-page report that will be presented to Virginia Beach City Council on Tuesday. VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — The City of Virginia Beach is releasing results of a multi-year study of how to combat rising sea levels and future flooding impacts. The Comprehensive Sea Level Rise/Recurrent Flooding CIP Update was… ...READ MORE
Foot Prints by Randy Smith - This month’s article is written from the desk of the City Surveyor at the City of Virginia Beach. Randy Smith is a dedicated Land Surveyor who has used many different avenues to reach his goals as a Licensed Surveyor. I have worked around Randy many times, and the experience is always a pleasure. His calm… ...READ MORE
Oaks are a treasure; extra measure for preservation is well-worth the effort - Virginia Beach “Tree Preservation Area” say the signs on chain-link fences surrounding beautiful old live oaks, a holly tree and more on a stretch of Atlantic Avenue between 74th and 75th streets in Virginia Beach. The sign is builder Chris Ettel’s statement about protecting the trees along that stretch. His Virginia Beach company, VB Homes,… ...READ MORE
Pharrell’s memories of Dome site propel vision for surf park. Virginia Beach on board with idea. - VIRGINIA BEACH When he was young, Pharrell Williams said he would drive past the Dome site with his grandmother on her way to clean offices. He remembers listening to music there too before the venue was torn down in 1994. Now the music superstar is involved in a project that’s going to transform the parking… ...READ MORE
Virginia Beach has waited years to develop the Dome site. Could a surf park be the answer? - VIRGINIA BEACH When the waves at the First Street Jetty are waist-high and choppy, most surfers bail and wait for a better day. But what if nearly perfect waves just kept rolling in every day? It could happen at a surf park, and a Virginia Beach developer, Venture Realty Group, wants to build one at… ...READ MORE
A day at the beach … for everyone - Fall 2010 Most people take for granted the ease of a beach day. For many, it's effortless to stroll the shoreline or bulk up one's seashell collection. However, not everyone has the ability to bask in the benefits of life in a traditional oceanfront community. For those who must use wheelchairs, a day of sand… ...READ MORE
50 Years later, WPL still walking a straight line - When Wilfred P. Large started his local land survey business 50 years ago, his cramped Monticello Arcade office – then opportunely located across from Norfolk City Hall – was a hole in the wall, he says. His sister-in-law was his secretary. For the first few years, Large’s staff included only one other employee, William “Buddy”… ...READ MORE
Land Surveys are an Essential Part of Buying a Home - A recent article was published in the Virginia Pilot regarding a disagreement about a piece of property in East Ocean View's Pretty Lake area in which 15th Bay Street owners claim they were permitted to mow their yard containing salt grass while the City of Norfolk inspector found that the owners altered the wetlands without… ...READ MORE
2013 Virginia Beach Planning Commission Awards Ceremony - WPL proudly submitted the Pembroke Elementary School Courtyard Playground designed for the school's special needs population for the 2013 Virginia Beach Planning Commission Awards and won an Award of Merit for Public Spaces. Originally, Pembroke Elementary School’s 14,000 s.f. interior courtyard was less than optimal for use as a playground. Children with limited mobility were… ...READ MORE
Mayflower Seaside Apartments - Mayflower Seaside Apartments was celebrated as the tallest apartment building in Virginia when it opened in 1951 on 34th Street. At 171 feet, it towered above beach cottages and bungalows and had clear views of the Atlantic Ocean. Today, the building is huddled among other towers - hotels, time shares and condominiums. But its new… ...READ MORE
William Almond – Northender Magazine - Your Name: William “Billy” D. Almond, FASLA Your Position: Vice President, Landscape Architecture Division Company Name: WPL Website: www.wplsite.com Phone Number: 757-431-1041 Business Address: 242 Mustang Trail Suite 8 Virginia Beach 23452 Industry: Design Consultants: Landscape Architecture (Residential and Commercial), Civil Engineering, Surveying How many people does the company employ? 28 How long has it… ...READ MORE
Lynnhaven Aquaculture Center - What is the next step in restoring oysters? At LRNow, we think the next step is bringing oysters back to areas of the river farther from the inlet, where few oysters can be found today. Oysters are making a comeback in Broad Bay, Linkhorn Bay and areas close to the Inlet. There is ample evidence… ...READ MORE
Along Atlantic Avenue - Picture a street lined with trees - the big, beautiful ones that arch overhead, enveloping visitors in a tunnel of shady, refreshing green. Now picture that tunnel over Atlantic Avenue. Seem strange? The signature strip of the city's tourism epicenter is better known for its crowded sidewalks, ice cream shops and towering hotels than for… ...READ MORE