Portsmouth housing authority details senior projects, seeks city support for trust fund and tax‑payment arrangement

The Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority told the City Council it is expanding senior housing and pursuing mixed‑income redevelopment while pressing the city for new financial tools to speed projects.

Miss Winston, executive director of the housing authority, said the authority manages more than 1,200 units in Portsmouth and runs programs serving more than 2,000 people. She announced Lexington Reserve, a 105‑unit senior development for residents 62 and older, is complete and residents will begin moving in late this month with a ribbon cutting planned for Dec. 9.

Winston said Twin Pines, another senior development scheduled to start next year, is delayed because Virginia Housing has not yet finalized how it will apply federal voucher changes; that could force PRHA to underwrite to lower tax‑credit rents and would create an estimated $5,000,000 funding gap for the project if the underwriting change is required.

On a separate redevelopment front, Winston said PRHA is finalizing a contract for demolition at Swanson Homes — work on a 17‑acre parcel that will remove about 210 units — and expects demolition to begin in the first quarter of next year after asbestos abatement and final contract signature. She said PRHA will issue a solicitation next year to select a development partner for mixed‑income redevelopment on that site.

Winston described PRHA’s senior rehab program, restored with city funding and extended into 2026, which has received more than 60 applications though PRHA expects to complete roughly 10–12 homes a year and is maintaining a wait list. She said PRHA uses a rotation of four existing contractors for homeowner repairs and advertises the program on its website and in local media.

Winston asked the council to consider two policy changes: (1) adopting payment‑in‑lieu payments on all PRHA properties calculated at 10% of net shelter rent (after utilities) — a change she said would align local practice with other Virginia localities and encourage long‑term investment — and (2) establishing a municipal housing trust fund to close financing gaps, citing Greenville, S.C., which provided about $1.5 million annually as an example.

Councilmembers pressed for specifics and next steps. Councilman Hugo asked for the demolition timeline ("early next year") and for the city manager to estimate fiscal impacts if the city adopted the pilot‑style payment arrangement. City Manager Carter said staff will research the revenue impacts and return with information. On concerns about workforce, councilmembers asked about partnerships with Tidewater Community College and the local CTE program; Winston said PRHA has met with TCC and plans further coordination in 2026.

Winston also requested priority consideration for PRHA when city‑owned land becomes available and said the authority wants to pursue a full spectrum of housing that includes workforce units for recent graduates, shipyard workers, school employees and public‑safety staff.

The council and staff signaled general support for pursuing mixed‑income approaches, asked PRHA to provide more precise lists of targeted communities for renovation work, and asked staff to return with options for a housing commission or task force to coordinate PRHA, planning and other stakeholders.

Winston: "If they do not allow us to underwrite to the project‑based rents... that's a gap of about $5,000,000 for this project." Councilman Hugo: "Early next year" for demolition to start. The presentation closed with staff and council agreeing to follow up on fiscal impacts and implementation details.

The council did not take a formal vote on PRHA requests during this meeting; staff will provide follow‑up details at future meetings.