Laura Burns

Laura Burns President's Circle: June 2023

In an effort to show our community what the Civic League does, here is what I have been up to the past few months on behalf of our residents:

  • The Wave: There continues to be issues with The Wave’s patrons being disruptive in our neighborhood. I have talked with folks from Code Enforcement, Zoning, our Councilwomen, our Community Resource Officer and other city officials. It is my understanding that departments are working together to develop a plan of action. In the meantime, please report any disturbances to either the non-emergency police number or 911, as appropriate. The more documentation that is available, the better. This applies for other businesses in the area that are being disruptive. Please report it every time.
  • Riverview Village: There are some exciting updates in Riverview Village! A pizza shop, a gourmet hotdog shop, and a tapas/coffee shop are all in discussions to call Riverview Village home. In addition, the Riverview Theater has gotten some attention from potential buyers. Riverview Village has a lot of great places to visit. We are lucky they are part of our neighborhoods!
  • Colonial Place Construction Update: All water and sewer lines associated with this project have been replaced and are active. The city will repave all the affected areas and construction is expected to be complete by the end of the summer 2023. If you have any questions or concerns, please contact the Project Manager, Tiba Salim at tiba.salim@norfolk.gov.
  • Advertising Subcommittee Chair: With the launch of our new website, e-newsletter, and Facebook page, we have lots of opportunities for advertisers and the Civic League is looking for a volunteer to help manage them. We have a media kit and business contact list already prepared, we just need someone to execute and manage. This is not a board position so you do not have to attend regular meetings. Having experience with Microsoft Excel and email would be beneficial. This is a great opportunity to get involved with lots of flexibility! If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Shannon at media@cprv.net.
  • Riverview Commercial Corridor Pilot Program: Riverview Village has been identified by the Department of Economic Development as one of two areas they are piloting a commercial corridor program. Funding will be provided for façade updates and placemaking. Branding options and marketing materials will be made available! The city will start accepting applications from business owners soon! For more information, please visit: https://cprv.net/commercial-corridor-pilot/
  • Annual Civic League Officer Elections: Our annual election for Civic League officers is held in June. The slate is available in our newsletter and on the website.
  • Advertising: With the launch of our new website and e-newsletter, Media Chair, Shannon Bowman, has put together a media kit for folks interested in advertising with the civic league. If you or someone you know would like to advertise with us, please reach out to media@cprv.net for more information.


The Civic League is here to serve the community. If there is anything we can do for you, please do not hesitate to contact me (president@cprv.net, 804-690-5047) and anyone from the Board (contact information is on our website).

News & Resources

General Members Meeting | January 8, 2024

Ramin Fatehi, the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney, delivered a comprehensive update on national crime trends and the macro factors influencing them. He also highlighted our local deviations from these national trends, providing valuable insights into the successes of the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s office in 2023 and sharing upcoming initiatives for 2024. Following Ramin’s engaging presentation, a brief Q&A session allowed for further discussion. Watch the entire meeting below.

Read More »

Porchella 2023 | Dec 30th from 6-9 PM

Porchella is a free, neighborhood jam that will take place in Colonial Place this year, Dec. 30 from 6-9pm. Neighbors offer up their porches to musicians for 30 min concerts by musicians of all types that offer up their talent! It’s basically reverse caroling. 🙂 Bring cash to tip your musicians as they are donating their time and skills! We will also have Venmo QR codes on the porches to make it easier to tip!

Read More »