Downtown church reopening, social-justice center plans and resident testimony at council meeting

Citizen commenters used the council's public-comment period on Sept. 23 to announce a downtown church reopening and to outline plans for community-focused programming.

Roberto Bridal, who said he purchased the former St. Paul Episcopal Church at 22130 Fourth Street, invited the mayor and council to the church's first service on Oct. 5 and said contractors and members have been working to prepare the building for live worship downtown Newport News. Bridal said he and his wife, Renee Bridal, have been working on the property and expect "some exciting things happening at that property on the other parts of the campus."

Alan Tanner described a plan to convert the church's assembly hall into a National Center for Social and Environmental Justice, proposing that charities, faith groups and universities use the space to study and address problems such as homelessness and to coordinate services. Tanner said the center would bring "places of faith into that church, universities into that church... to study social and environmental justice." He urged council support.

Juan Banner, who also spoke during the public-comment period, delivered a lengthy personal testimony recounting past events in his life and interactions with officials; his remarks were personal and not linked to a specific agenda item.

What happens next: The church owner and proponents said Oct. 5 will be the first service; any formal requests for city action (permits, landmark status, funding) were not raised during the remarks and would require future formal submissions if needed.