Город Вирджиния-Бич выкупает недвижимость у знаменитого футболиста Брюса Смита за 3 миллиона долларов

VIRGINIA BEACH — Pro Football Hall of Famer Bruce Smith wants to sell a piece of property he owns in Rudee Loop, and the city is playing ball to the tune of $3 million. Smith and business partner Dan Hoffler own a small, two-story apartment complex on roughly one-third of an acre adjacent to the Rudee Inlet bridge. It’s surrounded by 8 acres of city-owned property, which will be redeveloped into an extensive public waterfront park. The city assessment this year on Smith’s land is $859,900. If approved by the City Council on Tuesday, the city will move $3 million from the open space fund to the Rudee Park project to buy the property at 310 Atlantic Ave. Smith approached the city with the offer to sell the property, according to the city’s real estate division. In a brief interview Friday, Smith confirmed he’s selling it but declined to answer why now. The former football player turned real estate developer was among the four groups that submitted a redevelopment proposal for Rudee Loop. After weighing multiple ideas and gathering public input, the City Council decided to move forward with plans for a public park rather than the others, including Smith’s, which would have built up the area with more hotels, retail or housing. The park concept plan was approved in 2025. Smith is currently building a casino in Petersburg, and has been involved in several Hampton Roads projects, including apartments and a hotel at the Virginia Beach Oceanfront. Smith pitched several development ideas for Rudee Loop over the years, but city officials did not pursue them. In 2014, Smith proposed developing timeshares, a Margaritaville restaurant and other attractions on the coveted land overlooking the ocean and Rudee Inlet at the resort area’s southernmost end. In 2020, he proposed building multiple hotels, apartments, shops, restaurants and a park on the site. And in 2023, Smith envisioned building a 200-unit apartment complex on the land he owns, but he needed to purchase adjacent city-owned land to make it work. Smith has been outspoken about city contracts in Virginia Beach, raising questions about racism, favoritism and cronyism. Virginia Beach has set aside $50 million for Rudee Park and hopes to offset the cost by as much as $20 million through sponsorships and naming rights. It’s currently in the design phase and will include a water plaza, designated fishing areas, a picnic grove, a nature play area and a grassy sunset lawn area next to the Rudee Inlet bridge. A groundbreaking is anticipated in late fall of 2027, and it will take two years to complete the project. Stacy Parker, 757-222-5125, [email protected]