New Virginia Beach apartment project to replace concrete pile known as ‘Mount Crushmore’ off I-264
“Mount Crushmore” will soon be no more.
The towering pile of concrete chunks, visible from Interstate 264 near the Witchduck Road exit, will come down soon and be replaced with more than 400 high-end apartments.
The Virginia Beach Planning Commission this week unanimously recommended approval of a zoning change to facilitate the project.
The Breeden Co., of Virginia Beach, plans to purchase the 12-acre industrial site where Dunn Demolition and Surplus Recycling operate, then redevelop it. The businesses on Mac Street, near Town Center, are owned by members of the Calcagni family.
The land is owned by Witchduck Real Property, which is comprised of the Calcagnis and Virginia Beach developer John Mamoudis — a friend of the family who is helping facilitate the sale.
“It’s a win-win for everybody,” said Mamoudis, 66, as he walked around the property he has referred to as Mount Crushmore.
Mamoudis said he originally wanted to develop it himself before he was contacted by a broker at Breeden.
“I feel special because they wanted me to stay and make sure everything got done,” he said.
The city cited Dunn Demolition for several violations in 2019, including allowing the concrete pile to get too large. The company recycles concrete debris from buildings that are torn down. The material piled up over the years.
Some of those violations were still occurring this spring, according to the city. The owners intend to clear the site by the end of August, Kevin Hershberger, Virginia Beach zoning supervisor, wrote in an email this week.
Mamoudis estimated Tuesday that the pile is about 45 feet tall and used to be much larger. The chunks are slowly being crushed by a machine and will be reused to build roads, he said.
Breeden’s $100 million apartment project would consist of six five-story buildings. Rent prices could range from $1,500 for a one-bedroom unit to $3,000 for three bedrooms, said Torrey Breeden, vice president of The Breeden Co.
Amenities would include an outdoor swimming pool, clubhouse and dog park. The design includes walking trails and a pedestrian connection to the future Virginia Beach Trail on the abandoned Norfolk Southern Railroad corridor.
The City Council will likely vote on the zoning change next month.
“I like being part of making a positive mark in that area,” said Breeden. “Hopefully, we can keep the ball rolling and get to closing.”
Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, stacy.parker@pilotonline.com
