Chesapeake Real Estate Information
Chesapeake real estate: No wonder Chesapeake is among
Virginia's fastest-growing cities. In the past decade, nearly 200 new
businesses have been welcomed, and about 350 local companies have expanded.
The result: 22,408 jobs and more than $1 billion in capital investment.
That growth stands out among a number of distinctions. In 1998, the
port city was named Most Livable Large City in the South by Money magazine.
In 1999, it was ranked among the five safest U.S. cities of its size
and ninth in a listing of ''America's 50 Hottest Cities.''
Between 1990 and 1997, there was a 49 percent increase in employment
growth, with Chesapeake leading the region.
Chesapeake, in the center of the Atlantic Seaboard, was created in
1963 when Norfolk County and the city of South Norfolk merged.
The blend of urban and rural lifestyles gives Chesapeake residents
an extensive list of recreational possibilities like water skiing or
boating on the Chesapeake Bay, fishing off local piers or golfing at
one of the city's several courses.
Indoor recreational opportunities are also available. ARCIceSports,
a recently opened facility, features two National Hockey League-sized
rinks. It offers programs in ice hockey, speed skating and figure skating.
Cultural offerings include the 30-foot domed Chesapeake Planetarium,
the Chesapeake Museum, instructing visitors on early life in the city
and the 48-acre Chesapeake Arboretum, with elaborate trails.
Among companies arriving in Chesapeake in the past year were MCIWorldcom,
which opened its newest telephone operations center in an 87,000 sq.ft.
office building; a new card center for Wachovia Bank Card Services;
and Towers Perrin NEBC, which built its newest benefits administration
center. The center is expected to provide 1,000 jobs.
First Data Resources created 500 more jobs with the opening of its
center last year.
Some existing companies, like Mitsubishi Chemical and the Canon Computer
Center, were part of the $104 million expansions that took place in
1999. Chesapeake's Canon center became the national headquarters for
Canon Information Technology Services and Dollar Tree Stores, Inc.,
which is also head-quartered in Chesapeake.
Also last year, Orca Yachts announced plans to renovate the former
Norfolk Steel facility for a yacht manufacturing operation. Also announced
last year: The French firm Mareva, Inc., would locate its U.S. headquarters
in Chesapeake. The international company manufactures chlorine-free
swimming pool chemicals.
More than 60 firms representing at least 15 countries are in Chesapeake.
Chesapeake has about 65 companies that are internationally related,
while the whole region has about 130.
The availability of a diverse transportation system, including interstates,
rail lines, water access to the world's ports and nearby aviation service
play a big role in the decision of companies considering locating in
Chesapeake.