In partnership with pop star Pharrell Williams, a real estate firm wants to bring Wavegarden technology to Virginia Beach. Photo: Venture Realty Group
Artificial wave technology has found an unlikely ally in one Pharrell Williams. The pop superstar has reportedly come on board as a partner to develop one of Virginia Beach’s most valuable properties – called the Dome Site – and baby, they’re putting in a pool. A wave pool.
According to the Virginia Pilot, there are numerous proposals under consideration for the development of the site, but the one proposed by Venture Realty Group, which includes Pharrell, is the front-runner among city officials.
“Anyone who has seen our plan loves the concept,” said Donna MacMillan-Whitaker, a managing partner of Venture Realty Group. “To the best of our knowledge, we are the only team negotiating with the city.”
Besides shops, restaurants, and apartments, the proposal includes a surf park that would leverage Wavegarden’s “newest technology,” which we can only presume (also from looking at the renderings) refers to Wavegarden’s “Cove.” Wavegarden did not immediately respond to our request for comment.
The proposal is the most recent in a spate of proposed surf parks in the U.S. – we recently reported CitySurf’s plans to build a park in Seattle, and Kelly Slater Wave Co.’s Palm Beach project.
And why Pharell? For one, he grew up in Virginia Beach. But according to MacMillan-Whitaker, Pharell’s involvement with Venture Realty Group goes beyond hometown pride. “We are excited he will bring his amazing network, contacts, and marketing and branding ideas to the table,” she said. “He is a very talented person.”
Virginia Beach councilman Louis Jones told the Virginia Pilot that there’s currently no deadline for negotiating with Venture Realty Group. In other words, no news on when the Virginia Beach Wavegarden might open if the project is approved.
