Navy, Hunt Military Communities to develop $350–$400 million unaccompanied housing project in downtown Newport News

City staff told the Newport News City Council at its Aug. 12 work session that the Department of the Navy and Hunt Military Communities plan a public-private investment of between $350 million and $400 million to build unaccompanied housing and supporting amenities in downtown Newport News.

The project, centered on the Huntington Hall site and the Julius Kahn Gym block, would add residential towers, a parking garage and space for Navy services and retail. Florence Kingston, presenting for city staff, said the Navy’s unaccompanied-housing component would include 752 apartment units (about 1,500 beds), a 50-space parking garage, roughly 30,000 square feet of space for Navy services and about 10,000 square feet of retail that would serve sailors and the public. Closing and construction commencement are expected in 2026, staff said.

Why it matters: the Navy-led investment is large relative to recent downtown projects and is being positioned as part of the city’s broader downtown revitalization effort. Staff said the project also aligns with the Navy’s nationwide “quality of service” initiative, which city officials described as aimed at improving sailor well‑being and readiness.

According to staff, NAVFAC (Naval Facilities Engineering Systems Command) completed the national selection process for a development partner and chose Hunt Military Communities, the same manager of the Homeport Hampton Roads project across Huntington Avenue from Huntington Hall. City staff said the plan envisions phased redevelopment: sailors would remain in existing Huntington Hall while the first phase is built, then move into new residences and allow subsequent phases to proceed. Staff said the existing Huntington Hall building will be demolished and that the architects have used the current building as inspiration for the new facade along Moore Boulevard. The two larger planned towers are described as 17 stories tall.

Staff identified parcels involved: Huntington Hall (owned by Newport News Shipbuilding), the Julius Kahn Gym property (owned by the City of Newport News), and parcels at 2900 Huntington Avenue and 2901 Wharpe Boulevard (owned by the Economic Development Authority). City staff said the EDA will assemble the public properties and enter into a development agreement with Hunt for implementation. Homeport Hampton Roads sits directly across Huntington Avenue from the Huntington Hall block, staff noted.

On the council agenda for the main session that evening, staff listed an item to convey the Julius Kahn Gym property to the Economic Development Authority and an appropriation of $5.5 million to support downtown initiatives. Staff said the $5.5 million would be used for projects including renovation of 2295 Harbor Road, support for the redevelopment of a Greek church property, and other investments intended to complement the Navy project; staff also said that amount would serve as local match for a $40 million treasury loan committed by the Commonwealth of Virginia and that a memorandum of understanding with the Commonwealth was under development. The work-session record does not show the outcome of the council vote on those main-session items.

Mayor Jones, who staff said has advocated for the project with Navy leadership, called it transformational for downtown and said it should “be an anchor” for additional investment. He also said city representatives will ask the General Assembly in October to consider treating the $40 million Treasury loan as forgivable or as a capital expenditure rather than a conventional loan.

City Manager Alan (first name used in the meeting transcript) and staff said the city has coordinated pre-design review with Hunt’s team and other departments (development, engineering, codes, and planning) to make permitting and review smoother. Staff estimated that closing and construction commencement would occur in 2026 and emphasized close coordination with the Navy and Hunt Military Communities during implementation.

What was not decided tonight: the work session presentation described the selection of the developer and the planned uses, but did not record final votes on conveyance or appropriation. Those items were listed for the council’s main session later the same evening; the work-session transcript does not include the results of those main-session items.

Next steps and conditions: staff said the EDA would assemble public parcels, that the Commonwealth’s $40 million loan documents and related MOU were being developed, and that a development agreement with Hunt will follow. Staff also said Huntington Hall block will be developed in phases so current residents can be relocated into new units as phases are completed.

Ending note: staff presented the Navy-Hunt plan as a milestone in local revitalization efforts and stressed coordination across local, state and federal partners; the work-session record does not show final approvals or financing terms beyond the budget items described as being on the main-session agenda.