Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Economic Development And Governance topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council backs major downtown project, approves grants and routine ordinances in unanimous votes
Summary
Council approved a resolution supporting a roughly $450 million downtown mixed-use housing project, accepted several grants and appropriations, and adopted routine code changes and land acquisition items in unanimous 7–0 votes.
At its July 14 meeting the Newport News City Council approved several noncontroversial but consequential items alongside the major policy votes of the evening.
The council passed a resolution supporting a major housing and mixed-use project proposed by Hampton Roads PPV LLC, an affiliate of Hunt Military Communities, described in the agenda as involving roughly $450,000,000 of capital investment at 3129 Hundred Huntington Avenue in downtown Newport News. Council members called the proposal one of the largest investments in city history and the resolution passed 7–0.
Other council actions taken without recorded opposition included:
• Adoption of an ordinance to allow the city manager to acquire property for the Pine Avenue Sewer Replacement Project (E-1); public hearing closed with no speakers and council approved the ordinance 7–0.
• Approval of an ordinance to add public members to the Motor Vehicles advisory board to meet a Code of Virginia change effective July 1, 2026 (G-2), passed 7–0.
• Resolution appropriating $66,769 from the Waterworks Enterprise Land Fund to buy a 1.58-acre parcel from Michelle Teff and Kimberly Kaplan (G-3), passed 7–0.
• Acceptance of a $156,527 Byrne Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice for police training and equipment (G-4), passed 7–0.
The council also approved the consent agenda, which included minutes, recognitions, a $1,000 donation to the Commerce Attorney’s Office, and a $50,000 grant to combat hate crimes through the Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services. The consent agenda items were carried 7–0.
Council members thanked staff and volunteers for municipal events including the Independence Day celebration, and recognized Florence Kingston, director of development, who announced her retirement after 45 years of public service. Florence Kingston received remarks from council and staff and addressed the chamber briefly before adjournment.
The transcript shows the votes on these items were unanimous; specific ordinance or resolution numbers and effective dates were not always stated on the record and should be confirmed in the adopted minute package or formal code text for citation.
