The city of Newport News and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NNRHA) have begun the second phase of the city’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative (CNI). The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) awarded the city and NNRHA a $30 million CNI grant in 2019 to transform the Marshall-Ridley neighborhoods in the Southeast Community. This project is creating additional housing options and amenities while revitalizing a historic neighborhood and improving the lives of residents.

The site of phase two is the former Ridley Place off Jefferson Avenue in the Southeast Community of Newport News. Plans for the 18-acre site include:

· One three-story multifamily building with 41 apartment units on the corner of Jefferson Avenue and 16th Street. The building includes space for retail activity on the ground floor.

· Fourteen two and three story townhomes with 114 units.

· Twenty-four single-family home sites for the future development of for-sale housing.

· Health and Wellness Trail for community use.

· Early Childhood Development Center for children from six weeks to four years of age.

“The beginning of Phase Two of our Choice Neighborhoods Initiative is incredibly important, as plans include homes and community resources that will support Newport News residents for decades,” said Mayor McKinley L. Price. “This site will soon become a place where residents and families learn, grow, and flourish. Through CNI, we are uplifting people of all ages, strengthening our community, and showing those around us that Newport News is a city of hope and opportunity.”

Construction of Phase Two is expected to be completed in late 2024. The $58 million project is being funded by the CNI grant from HUD, Affordable Housing Tax Credits, Home Investment Partnership dollars, the Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, and Virginia Housing, as well as city grant, capital, and operating resources. NNRHA and Pennrose are leading the development of the project and Breeden Construction is managing the construction.

In 2019, the City of Newport News and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority received a $30 million grant from HUD’s Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program. The city developed a community-driven plan to transform the Marshall-Ridley area in the Southeast Community, creating new housing options, community services, recreational opportunities, and parks. Phase One began with the construction of a mixed-use development off I-664. The project features apartments, townhomes, and retail space and will be completed this fall.