City inspects Lift and Rise, Legacy Landing units after resident complaints; manager pledges corrective plan within two weeks

City staff reported at the Aug. 12 Newport News City Council work session that codes compliance officials and representatives from the Redevelopment and Housing Authority conducted on-site inspections of Lift and Rise and Legacy Landing following resident complaints.

Alan, the city manager, told council that the coordinated inspection took place the morning of Aug. 12 and preceded a groundbreaking for a workforce development center. Owen Miller (identified in the meeting transcript as the staff member providing the update) told council that codes officials accessed “all 70 plus units” at Lift and Rise and that officials had issued citations in recent weeks for items that needed correction. Miller said the city met with representatives of the Redevelopment and Housing Authority and Penrose Management, the property manager, and that Penrose committed a new regional management team and outlined a corrective plan during the site visit.

Why it matters: residents had sent photographs and emails raising concerns about construction and code issues at the properties. Council members from the South District said they had received numerous calls about both properties and expressed appreciation that staff responded quickly.

Miller told the council the management company committed to addressing the outstanding citations within two weeks and to put processes in place to prevent recurrence; he said staff expects “a significant change in the appearance and some of the performance that we'll see going forward.” Council members emphasized that residents reporting problems should be treated respectfully and not penalized for filing complaints. Councilman Neely and Councilman Long both noted follow-up expectations, and council members said staff should verify that remedial work occurs and that residents receive clear pathways to report issues.

What was not decided tonight: the work-session record documents the inspection and management’s commitments but does not include any formal council directive, contract action or vote authorizing enforcement beyond the citations already issued by codes compliance officials.

Next steps: staff said Penrose would provide a plan and that city codes staff and the Redevelopment and Housing Authority will monitor implementation. Owen Miller indicated the citations and the management company’s plan are expected to result in noticeable improvements within two weeks, according to the work-session remarks.

Ending note: council members praised staff’s proactive inspection work and asked for continued monitoring and clear resident communication; the transcript records staff commitments but no formal enforcement outcomes beyond existing citations.