When a development opportunity the size of a small city emerges, the choice of who draws the blueprint matters—and for Praetorian Park in Chesapeake, Virginia, that choice is now public. Praetorian Fund has tapped engineering and planning firm Kimley-Horn to lead the design and infrastructure strategy for the proposed 4,000-plus-acre innovation hub, releasing the first conceptual renderings shaped by local citizen feedback.
CHESAPEAKE, VA, UNITED STATES, November 7, 2026 /EINPresswire.com/ — Praetorian Fund today announced Kimley-Horn’s role in advancing the planning and development strategy for Praetorian Park and revealed the first conceptual renderings after receiving feedback from citizens of the Commonwealth.
Situated on the southernmost edge of Chesapeake, abutting the North Carolina border, the property—historically known as Frank Williams Farm and more recently designated by the city and state as the Virginia Coastal Commerce Park—offers what developers describe as one of the Commonwealth’s most compelling large-scale development opportunities. Its scale, strategic location, and existing development entitlements underpin that claim.
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Kimley-Horn brings years of prior experience with the property and will be supporting design, infrastructure coordination, entitlement and planning. The firm will help establish a framework for land uses, parcel configurations, and connections between development areas.
“I have worked on this property for many years, well before Praetorian became involved, and it is exciting to see this next chapter take shape,” said Randy Royal, P.E., Principal at Kimley-Horn. “Our work will focus on translating the final vision into a practical planning framework by understanding the land, evaluating infrastructure needs, and organizing complementary uses in a way that supports the property’s long-term potential.”
Beyond the initial development opportunities, Praetorian Park is being planned to accommodate complementary industries and destinations that can support one another, creating opportunities for long-term economic growth across the region.
“One of our primary focuses while pursuing this opportunity was to ensure that local influence would help shape the vision and planning,” said Jack Fulton, Founder and Chairman of Praetorian Fund. “My hope is that the community appreciates local involvement and how much care is going into the planning. Many communities around the country are not as fortunate. Had we not stepped in and committed when we did, the community would likely have seen a technology giant bring its own vision without local input. Kimley-Horn brings exactly what we were looking for: familiarity with the City of Chesapeake and its citizens. Its local understanding, combined with its broad engineering and planning capabilities, is exactly what we need to make Praetorian Park a reality. We expect to announce additional partners as our plans progress.”
Approximately 1,400 acres of the property are included in an existing Planned Unit Development (PUD), providing opportunities for advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure. However, Praetorian’s broader vision extends well beyond those uses, incorporating opportunities across technology, sports, entertainment, advanced manufacturing, and defense. Praetorian has also invited community members to submit ideas through an online public feedback portal, with that input helping inform the project’s evolving vision.
For more information and conceptual renderings, visit www.praetorianpark.com. Community members can share ideas through the online public feedback portal.
Why it matters: This project represents more than just another real estate development—it signals a deliberate, community-informed approach to large-scale economic planning in a region poised for growth. With Kimley-Horn’s local expertise and a vision that spans manufacturing, defense, and entertainment, Praetorian Park could reshape how Virginia’s southeastern corridor competes for major investment.
Praetorian Fund
Praetorian Fund LLC
757-919-4027
media@thepraetorianfund.com
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