Team Better Block

01/19/2022

09/03/2021

“This is awesome! This is a great way to ride your bike. It’s super fun down here. It’s easy, you don’t have to worry about cars. It’s awesome.”

09/03/2021

Check out that Virginia Beach glow up! We’ve got street murals, window murals, bike lanes, walking lanes, outdoor dining parklets, and so much more down on the AVE!

The official kick-off is still a couple hours away, but people are already and enjoying the transformed section of Virginia Beach's Atlantic Avenue.

09/03/2021

Thank you to the The Virginian-Pilot for this article about The AVE!

Come on down to Atlantic Avenue tonight at 5:00 p.m. to see it in person at the kick-off party!

Artists are painting murals on the trolley lane and sidewalks of Atlantic Avenue from 17th to 20th streets this week leading up to a block party on Friday.

09/02/2021

As we shared in our last post, projects like the AVE usually take years to build, but we did it in TWO WEEKS!

If you’re in the area, don’t miss the official kick-off event tomorrow evening, September 3, at 5:00 p.m. on Atlantic Avenue between 17th & 20th streets.

Use the hashtag to show us what you're up to and tell us what you think.

09/02/2021

What is different about this project? It is the evolution of the better block from a temporary pop-up to a permanent part of life in the city.

As we worked to build the AVE in Virginia Beach, the sound of jet planes overhead accented the whirr of drills securing tables, planters, and wave delineators into the ground. This demonstration can outlast hurricanes, boisterous tourists, and the daily battering of the salt air.

These quick build methods are a true alternative to the costly public works projects of the past, when cities relied on heavy construction to transform public areas.

The future is fast and nimble. Typically a project like this would take years and cost millions, but after two weeks the transformation is nearly complete, and already people are starting to enjoy it. Even delivery drivers have figured out the new routine on the AVE!

With new materials and techniques, spaces like the AVE can not only be built quickly but can last a decade or more. Virginia Beach locals and visitors will be enjoying the AVE for years to come.

09/01/2021

We're still in Virginia Beach today as long as the weather allows, and the area is looking good. Let's introduce the Muralists bringing color to the streets and windows of the AVE!

Andrew Samuel Harrison is a self-taught artist, musician, writer, and member of the Contemporary Arts Network. His piece Faces plays with abstract forms and continuous lines. Find it: Atlantic Ave between 18th & 19th.

A natural creator, ChaVonne Whisonant is a multifaceted artist working across an array of mediums. Presented in partnership with local youth development organization Teens With a Purpose, her three-part mural I See the Water! pairs a mosaic of crosswalk-inspired pathways with a view into the soul of the city. Find it: Outdoor Dining Parklets Between 17th & 19th.

Richard Nickel is an artist, educator, and writer whose work has been shown both nationally and internationally. Low Tide is inspired by the water’s rising and receding. Find it: Atlantic Ave between 17th & 18th.

Born and raised in Virginia Beach, Seth Lubaton is an artist and muralist and the founder of Lubaton Murals. His piece What It Is Like From Above reflects a small slice of life in Virginia Beach. Find it: Alley Between 17th & 18th.

Randy Battaglia, “Ramblin’ Randy” is a self-taught artist, musician, poet, and traveler. He brings his talents for window murals to the AVE, adding color to the local storefronts. Find it: Dough Boy’s, Karma, Sal’s, and Harvest.

For more info, visit www.vbgov.com/theAVE

08/30/2021

Hey Better Blockers! We’re out in Virginia Beach, VA this week, but we’re not just working on our tans – we’ve partnered with Virginia Beach City Government, Work Program Architects, and Atlantic Avenue Virginia Beach to create the AVE, a transformed section of Atlantic Avenue.

This lively street is loved by visitors and locals alike, and soon it will come alive between 17th and 20th streets with art, outdoor dining, music, bike lanes and more.

We've got local muralists out here working through Wednesday – if you’re in the area, stop by and say hello!

Plus, for more info, visit www.vbgov.com/theAVE

01/28/2021

Check out @4 minute mark.

01/21/2021

Let's start the today!
https://wginc.com/build-back-stronger-how-states-and-cities-are-recovering-from-covid-19/?fbclid=IwAR20CftsNgb9dBlv5PKWtNhu85nREr8hC4hsoMucEDMQDgAQSRnwTLrbl_E

Agility is key -- Cities and states that rapidly plan and execute policy and infrastructure plans to uplift communities might be the first to recover. Learn how WGI can help.