Business View Magazine
7
4,000 to 5,000 jobs. Bourey acknowledges, “it’s a
pretty high-stakes project, and another driver of our
knowledge-based economy going forward into the fu-
ture. And we are positioning ourselves to be success-
ful in this arena.”
The city is also working to develop a technology cen-
ter adjacent to Jefferson Lab that will be a mixed-use
development, combining retail and residential with
one million square feet of research and office space.
“That’s a major, key piece for us,” Bourey says. “It will
increase our per capita wage, and increase the wealth
in the community so that we can further invest. The
Tech Center is a partnership with Virginia Tech Univer-
sity and the developer, W.M. Jordan. “It’s an opportuni-
ty for us to take that Jefferson Lab research and parlay
that into businesses and technological applications
that then can grow smaller and larger businesses.”
Bourey expects the first building of research and office
space will open next year. Apartments are under way
and the very upscale retail center has already opened.
Another major project is Newport News City Center, a,
52-acre business district in the Oyster Point section of
town. “The city is very long – some 26 miles or so –
and the downtown was at the very far, southern end. “
Bourey explains. “So, the city developed a new down-
town, if you will, including a large fountain area with a
lake in the middle.” City Center features over a half-
million square feet of Class-A office space, plus retail,
restaurants, residential units, and a newly-remodeled,
256-room Marriott Hotel and Conference Center. “It’s
an important piece, not very far from the technology
center,” he adds. To date, many corporate headquar-
ters, banking, insurance, and legal firms have relocat-
ed to City Center, as well as some of the city’s own
government offices.
While Newport News is engaged in shepherding its
