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John Elkington, who helped revitalize Beale Street, will close soon on 20 acres in Celebrate Virginia South for his Rappahannock Ridge project Date published: 11/7/2007
BY CATHY JETT
Celebrate Virginia South is getting closer to becoming the tourist attraction Silver Cos. envisioned. Developer John Elkington, who helped revitalize Memphis' famous Beale Street, will close this month on about 20 acres in Celebrate for his Rappahannock Ridge Entertainment District. In addition, another group is interested in reviving the WorldStreet concept, which was to have brought more than 300 vendors from around the world under one roof, said Jud Honaker, Silver Cos. president for commercial development. He said he also hopes to strike a deal with a water park similar to Great Wolf Lodge by year's end. "The stars are aligning better for Celebrate Virginia South," Honaker said. "It's been a long, hard struggle. We've spent a lot of money and a lot of time chasing businesses." Rappahannock Ridge and WorldStreet originally were both going to open in Celebrate next year. But development of the 540-acre property across Fall Hill Avenue from Central Park has lagged behind initial estimates for a number of reasons, he said. These include a belated discovery that WorldStreet would be a more management-intensive project that Silver Cos. could handle. "From our standpoint, it would be difficult to get that many vendors from that many countries here at once," Honaker said. "It was going to be a horrendous logistical issue." The Fredericksburg Expo and Convention Center, which was counting on WorldStreet, Rappahannock Ridge and other private ventures in Celebrate to help it attract business, recently asked the City Council for a $300,000 per year subsidy for three years. Councilman Matt Kelly said during a City Council work session last week that Silver Cos. has offered to kick in $150,000 toward that amount in addition to the $140,000 annual subsidy it already gives the center. "I think when all the pieces that we're working on come together, Celebrate Virginia South will have a positive impact," Honaker said. "Everything that we're chasing will bring more tourists to Fredericksburg, which is consistent with what we're working on and what we've said we were working on." Rappahannock Ridge, for example, is designed to attract group tours, business travelers, conventioneers and tourists looking for a base within driving distance of Washington, Richmond and Williamsburg.
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