News Summary
Newport News, Virginia, held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the first phase of the Legacy Landing housing development. This initiative aims to transform the former Ridley Place neighborhood into a sustainable and vibrant community, featuring 71 new mixed-income apartments. Funded by federal grants, the project is part of a larger revitalization effort to improve housing options and foster economic growth in the area, with plans for further phases to follow by the end of 2025.
Newport News, Virginia celebrated the completion of the first phase of the Legacy Landing housing development on June 5, 2025, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony attended by community members and city council officials. This mixed-income housing initiative is aimed at transforming the former Ridley Place neighborhood, once a decades-old housing complex, into a revitalized area that will provide sustainable housing options for residents.
The inaugural phase of Legacy Landing includes 71 new apartments out of a planned 155 housing units that will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom layouts. This redevelopment project is part of a broader strategy supported by a $35 million federal grant, which also focuses on neighborhood improvements, economic development, and access to educational resources for early childhood development.
Vice Mayor Bethany highlighted the significance of the Legacy Landing project, noting that it honors the legacy of former Ridley Place residents while creating sustainable housing opportunities for the future. The project is part of a larger revitalization effort that includes additional developments like Lift & Rise, aimed at reshaping the community’s future.
The groundwork for Legacy Landing was laid in 2016 when the original plans received support from a $500,000 grant from the Choice Neighborhood Initiative. In subsequent years, HUD awarded Newport News a substantial $30 million implementation grant in 2019 for the Marshall-Ridley initiative. These financial resources have enabled the city to push forward with plans to modernize and upgrade the area’s residential offerings.
Alongside the construction of new housing units, the Legacy Landing project will include improvements to lower Jefferson Avenue, fostering community development through the introduction of new business opportunities and resources for residents. Housing units in the first phase of Legacy Landing are currently nearing full occupancy, with a significant number of former Ridley Place residents moving back into the community, signaling a successful first step in the project.
City officials have also recognized the challenges posed by the displacement of families during the demolition of Ridley Place, where many were provided with Section 8 housing vouchers and have since relocated out of Newport News. However, there is an optimistic outlook regarding the future, with hopes that as construction progresses on subsequent phases of the project, more families will return to Legacy Landing.
The expected timeline for the completion of the second phase of Legacy Landing is by the end of 2025, which reflects the city’s commitment to thoroughly engaging the community and maintaining accountability among all project partners. The overarching goals of the Legacy Landing redevelopment and the broader Choice Neighborhoods program center around creating affordable housing options and transforming communities into more vibrant, supportive environments for residents.
With the successful launch of the first phase of Legacy Landing and the promise of continued improvements and expansions, Newport News is taking proactive steps to enhance the quality of life for its residents, especially for those who have deep-rooted ties to the neighborhood.
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Additional Resources
- WVAY News: Newport News Ribbon Cutting
- Wikipedia: Newport News, Virginia
- Pilot Online: Housing Development in Newport News
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Newport News
- WTKR: New Housing Development in Newport News
- Google Search: Newport News Housing Projects
