CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Town of Cape Charles is inviting Americans from across the country to help reimagine its historic harbor through a newly announced Harbor Development Ideas Competition, a multi-stage initiative designed to inspire the town’s long-range master plan.
Jim Clark, a part-time resident and an architect with MTFA, presented the competition idea to the Town Council–the Design Competition will be overseen by Mr. Clark, who has agreed to perform the work pro bono publico.
Mr. Clark noted that the competition aims to generate bold, creative concepts that will help guide redevelopment of the former railroad and shipping hub along the Chesapeake Bay. The effort is being developed in coordination with The Berkley Group as part of a broader Harbor and Railyard Master Planning process.
Cape Charles, once a thriving railroad town, saw economic decline after rail operations diminished and were eventually replaced by highway access and the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel. In recent years, however, the town has experienced renewed interest—particularly following the COVID-19 pandemic—as remote workers and new residents have been drawn to its coastal setting.
Open to All Ages and Backgrounds
The competition is open to anyone age 12 and older, with organizers encouraging participation from a wide range of contributors, including students, architects, artists, historians, educators, and community members with innovative ideas for civic space design.
Participants will be asked to submit concepts that align with the emerging master plan framework, while also pushing creative boundaries and offering new perspectives on how the harbor area could be used.
Three-Stage Competition Process
The competition will unfold over three phases spanning more than a year. These are estimates:
- Spring 2026: Online resource materials will be released to educate participants on the site’s history and redevelopment opportunities.
- September 30, 2026: Stage One submissions are due.
- October 2026: A jury of regional architecture professors will select up to 25 semifinalists. Submissions will be publicly displayed at Town Hall alongside draft master plan concepts.
- Spring 2027: Semifinalists advance to Stage Two, developing preliminary design proposals. Five finalists will be selected.
- Summer 2027: Finalists will refine their concepts and present them to the Town Council as “test fits” for the master plan.
- October 2027: Cape Charles residents will vote on a “People’s Choice” selection.
Awards and Public Recognition
All participants will receive certificates and may be included in a published competition catalog. Semifinalists will receive a $100 prize and a stipend to continue, while finalists will receive additional financial support and access to professional design and technical assistance.
The final phase will culminate in community voting, with two Honor Awards and three Honorable Mentions selected by residents.
Submission Details
Participants must register by May 30, 2026, with entry fees set at $25 for individuals and $10 for students. Submissions must be made electronically in PDF format and are limited to a single 8½ x 11-inch page, including a brief abstract of no more than 50 words.
Entries will be submitted to the town’s Planning and Zoning office.
Building a Vision for the Waterfront
The competition is not intended to produce final construction plans, but rather to serve as a creative engine—testing ideas, generating public interest, and helping define what residents and stakeholders want from the harbor’s future.
As Cape Charles continues to balance growth with preservation and local small-town coastal living, the initiative represents a unique opportunity to crowdsource ideas that honor the town’s railroad and maritime heritage while embracing a new chapter as a modern coastal community.
More details, including registration information and resource materials, are expected to be released in the coming months.
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