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Abyss to be paved over for Pavilion parking lot

By Jeff Maisey

The Abyss, a popular teen-friendly nightclub and music venue located in Virginia Beach on 19 ^th Street across from the Pavilion Convention Center, will likely become the next business to fall prey to a hostile takeover by the city in order to pave the way for "progress."

As part of its plan to replace the Pavilion with a new $193.5 million convention center, the city of Virginia Beach began eminent domain proceedings to acquire properties, including The Abyss, for its expansive design.

"The city wants to take possession, as soon as possible, to begin building a parking lot and staging area for the convention center expansion," said Ken MacDonald, managing partner of The Abyss, Inc.

According to Jim Pickerell Jr., the attorney representing The Abyss, the city's Chicago-based consultant told them (the city) that "instead of building a multi-level parking garage beside the existing Pavilion, it would be cheaper to go in, condemn the 30-some acres and businesses south of 19 ^th Street, and turn it into a surface parking lot."

The Abyss opened for business, in 1994, in a uniquely designed architectural structure that had previously housed the 19 ^th Street Brewery. That uniqueness will make it nearly impossible for the venue to move; no similar property exists in Hampton Roads. And it is for that very reason that the city and the landowners are at odds over the amount of money that should be awarded to The Abyss. The property's monetary value is appraised based upon the sale of comparable real estate in the area.

"We've asked the city to show us a new location where we could relocate," said Pickerell, "but there isn't one."

On Tuesday, and continuing into Wednesday, a panel of five area property owners will hear the evidence in court and determine the amount of money the city will pay and how much the landowner shall receive. The Abyss, a venue where Oasis, Hole, 311 and Bush performed before making it big, will be demolished within ten days of Wednesday's decision.

"It doesn't look like we'll be able to stop city hall," said MacDonald.