Pembroke Manor, Virginia

Pembroke Manor (also known as Pembroke) is an area in the heart of the independent city of Virginia Beach, Virginia, USA located around the intersections of Virginia Beach Boulevard (U.S. Route 58) and Independence Boulevard (State Route 225). The community's name comes from "Pembroke Manor", a plantation built in 1764. [http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org/pembrokehistory.html 1] The house was donated by the Aragona family to the Princess Anne Historical Society.

One of the first developments of the area was Princess Anne High School, which opened in 1954. The neighborhood was characterized by Pembroke Mall, originally its only regionally recognizable landmark, after its opening in 1966. Anchor Pembroke Mall department stores included Miller & Rhoads and Sears, with regional retailers like Willner's and Hofheimer's joining national chains like Radio Shack and F. W. Woolworth. [http://www.pembrokemall.com 2] The mall was eventually overshadowed by the Lynnhaven Mall, in the Lynnhaven section of the city after its opening in 1981. [http://home.hamptonroads.com/stories/story.cfm?story=82561&ran=244950 3] Through the late 1980s and early 1990s, the intersection at Pembroke Manor was criticized by urban planner and architect Andres Duany for its pedestrian unfriendliness [http://www.baconsrebellion.com/Issues06/08-28/Bacon.php] . Now, however, Pembroke Manor is home to many new high-end shops and restaurants due to the public-private Virginia Beach Town Center project, which has the feel of new urbanism. The Town Center Project's goal is to revitalize the Pembroke Manor area and create a modern 'downtown' area in what has become one of the city's core business districts.

In moving the traditional focus of the city away from the Oceanfront, Virginia Beach's resort area, the city hopes to revitalize itself. Town Center currently has two high rise towers, the Armada Hoffler Tower (named for the developer) and The Westin Virginia Beach Town Center tower, with more in the works. A luxury apartment building, the Cosmopolitan, has been built as part of the project, as well as several restaurants and a performing arts center.

External links

* [http://www.towncenterofvirginiabeach.com Virginia Beach Town Center Website]
* [http://www.pembrokemall.com Pembroke Mall Website]
* [http://www.virginiabeachhistory.org/katiemiller.mp3 Audio link about saving Pembroke mansion]