Timeline

Pleasure House Point and the Brock Environmental Center: 10 years in the making.

2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | 2016 |

2006

June 2006
Developers Art and Steve Sandler unveil plan to build 1,096 home units and two 11-story towers at Pleasure House Point for a new residential development called Indigo Dunes. 

October 2006
Community groups launch opposition to the Sandlers' proposed development.

2007

February 2007
Sandlers close on the purchase of Pleasure House Point property for $25 million from Wayne McLeskey, who had owned the property for 30 years.

May 2007
Virginia Beach Wetlands Board rejects Indigo Dunes development proposal to build 1,063 home units.

July 2007
Virginia Marine Resource Commission (VMRC) overturns Wetlands Board decision. 

September 2007
City of Virginia Beach appeals the VMRC decision.

November 2007
Developer reduces size of wetland impacts from Indigo Dunes proposal from 3.91 acres to 2.35 acres. Home unit count is still around 1,060.

2008

2008
Sandlers show sign of financial troubles. 

CBF reaches out to the Trust for Public Land and City of Virginia Beach to help preserve Pleasure House Point.

2009

Indigo Dunes development project forecloses.

2010

July 2010
City of Virginia Beach, the Trust for Public Land (TPL), and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation (CBF) announce partnership effort to buy Pleasure House Point for conservation and environmental center.

Video "Deal will protect Va. Beach waterfront property from major development" 7/13/10

August 2010
Community fundraising effort is launched to fund preservation for corner parcel.

September 2010
The Coastal and Estuarine Land Conservation Program (CELCP) ranks Pleasure House Point project 14 out of 42 to receive $3 million to assist with the project. McLeskey files lawsuit to halt sale of Pleasure House Point property.

October 2010
Bank forecloses on property, conservation efforts proceed.

Fall 2010 to today
City of Virginia Beach, TPL and CBF continue to work together to pursue acquisition and site planning. Community fundraising effort for corner parcel continues. 

2011

January 2011
Virginia Tech School of Architecture and Design and CBF launch student design competition for Environmental Education Center at Pleasure House Point.

2012

July 2012
Trust for Public Land purchases Pleasure House Point from Wells Fargo for $13 million and will, in turn, transfer the land to the City of Virginia Beach and the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

October 2012
Ribbon-cutting for City of Virginia Beach Pleasure House Point Natural Area. CBF launches Campaign for Pleasure House Point.

2013

August 2013
Construction begins on the Brock Environmental Center

2014

Fall 2014
Brock Environmental Center opens

2016

May 2016
Brock Environmental Center receives Living Building Challenge™ certification

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