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Norfolk council approves multiple property conveyances, grant awards and budget amendments; one member objects to H&M payment
Summary
At its Feb. 10 meeting, the Norfolk City Council adopted a block consent agenda and approved ordinances authorizing theater use during Chrysler Hall renovations, several property conveyances, grants to the Virginia Zoo and Community Services Board, an opioid-abatement appropriation, and an early-termination payment tied to H&M Fashion USA, Inc.; Councilman Page publicly opposed the allocation method for the H&M payment.
Norfolk’s City Council on Feb. 10 approved a series of ordinances and budget amendments, moving ahead with property conveyances, grant acceptances and appropriations while a pair of council members registered objections to the city’s planned payment tied to an H&M lease termination.
The council dispensed with second readings and adopted ordinances allowing Nettelander National Markets LLC to use the Harrison Opera House for a Broadway series during the renovation of Chrysler Hall and authorizing several property conveyances resulting from the city’s online real estate auction, including parcels referenced for conveyance to a buyer recorded in the transcript as Asfari Homes, Inc. (the transcript also renders the buyer name variably as “As Far Homes, Inc.”). The council likewise approved a conveyance to VAF Realty, LLC for property at 307 E. Charlotte St. and authorized related covenant revisions where noted.
On finance items, the council adopted an amendment to the FY2026 appropriations to accept and reappropriate $427,200 in direct-distribution opioid settlement funds for emergency radio dispatch equipment, chronic disease-tracking software, up to three new positions, and an opioid response team and vehicle. The council also approved accepting up to $18,000 from the Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services for crisis funding to the Norfolk Community Services Board and accepted a U.S. Department of Agriculture grant of up to $322,350 to support an on-site composting system at the Virginia Zoo (including a local staff-hours match recorded at $80,588).
The council approved a first amendment to an option to purchase with William A. Hutton YMCA, Inc. for a 1.837-acre parcel at 1045 East Brambleton Avenue and approved a lease amendment and termination agreement with H&M Fashion USA, Inc. for space at MacArthur Center (Space 241). Related to that lease action, the council also approved an ordinance to appropriate up to $1,500,000 in FY2026 for the Department of Economic Development to pay an early termination fee to H&M Fashion USA, Inc., pursuant to the proposed termination agreement.
Councilman Page publicly objected to the appropriation tied to the H&M termination. “My vote is no,” he said, adding that the city must “learn how to disperse funds evenly and equitably” and urging more support for small businesses rather than larger ones. Councilmember Smeagol also said he would vote no, citing concern about ongoing expenses related to MacArthur Center. Those dissenting votes were recorded on the meeting record; other members voted to adopt the measures.
The council confirmed Christine S. Patterson to serve as an Assistant City Attorney in the Law Department effective March 9, 2026, and approved an amendment to a pilot agreement with the airport authority.
Why it matters: The actions memorialized on Feb. 10 allocate federal and settlement funds for public-safety and behavioral-health work, advance multiple real-estate dispositions and close a high-profile commercial lease. Council dissent on the H&M-related appropriation signals continuing debate about how the city distributes economic-development payments and supports small businesses.
What’s next: Most of the adopted ordinances were dispensed with for second readings and took effect with the stated effective dates; the appointment of Christine S. Patterson takes effect March 9, 2026. The council did not schedule further action on the dissent recorded about distribution policy at this meeting.
