VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Small business tenants on Laskin Road near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront hosted a 'Rock the Block' party on Thursday evening.

Organizers told 13News Now it was a way to speak out about the building's pending redevelopment into a high-rise apartment space.

For the last several years, the storefront at 313 Laskin Road has featured flavorful food, music, art, and retail and event spaces, allowing creatives to bring their art to life near the Virginia Beach Oceanfront.

However, after years of holding off on a plan to tear it down, the family who owns the building strip said it believes it is past its "shelf life" and it is time for it to come down.

Johnathan Langman uses his space at 313 Laskin Road to build up creatives in spaces such as art and music at Ace Gallery.

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