In 2019, the City of Newport News and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority received a $30 million grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Choice Neighborhoods Initiative program. This grant is transforming the Marshall-Ridley area in the Southeast Community, creating new housing options, community services, recreational opportunities, and parks. 

A key component of the Marshall-Ridley Transformation Plan is engaging with former Ridley Place residents to ensure they are aware of available resources and have the support they need to thrive. The City of Newport News has partnered with Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI) to lead this important part of the Plan. USI will provide the following strategic pillars of service for each former Ridley household:

• Develop economic opportunities, with focuses on employment, entrepreneurship, and other strategies used to address the wealth gap for low-income and communities of color.

• Create cradle-to-college/career successes to ensure every scholar has access to equitable educational opportunities.

• Strengthen access to high quality health services to support healthy lifestyle outcomes for former Ridley residents of all ages.

• Implement a range of comprehensives human service supports to ensure households not only have supports to build stability, but also a pathway towards thriving.

Founded in 1978, USI is a leader in the field of community development, with extensive experience in place-based human capital development. USI will utilize its results-based, people-centered approach to partner with former residents of Ridley and the greater Newport News community. To learn more about USI, visit www.urbanstrategiesinc.org. 

The Neighborhood Leadership Institute is a 12-week, four-section educational and inspirational experience for residents of the Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood and neighborhoods across the City of Newport News. Our vision is every resident of the City of Newport News is educated and equipped to lead our community.

Click here to learn more.

Questions: Call 757-926-8081.

“The icebreakers are always a treat! The speaker was informative and shed some light on a topic I was unaware about.” - Former Participant

Newport News Celebrates Major Milestone With Ribbon Cutting at Legacy Landing, June 5, 2025

A vibrant crowd of residents, community leaders, and development partners gathered today at 1600 Jefferson Avenue to celebrate the official ribbon cutting of Legacy Landing Phase I, a transformative new mixed-income housing development in the heart of Newport News’ Southeast Community.

The ceremony, held at 11:30 a.m., marked the successful completion of the first phase of a long-term effort to redevelop the former Ridley Place site into a thriving, opportunity-rich neighborhood. What began as Ridley: The Next Chapter has now materialized into Legacy Landing—a symbol of progress, equity, and commitment to community.

Speaking at the event, Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany called the project a milestone in the city’s comprehensive revitalization efforts.

Vice Mayor Bethany was joined by a host of local leaders who helped bring Legacy Landing to life, including: Councilman John Eley (a strong advocate for the Southeast Community), Councilwoman Tina Vick (a longtime champion of equitable housing), Pastor Joseph Barksdale (of The House of Prayer for All People, who offered a prayer for continued unity and progress), Lysandra Shaw (Executive Director of the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NNRHA), who emphasized the long-term vision of resident empowerment), Patrick Stewart (Regional Vice President, Pennrose, whose company developed the project and has been instrumental in bringing it to fruition). 

The project is part of a broader revitalization strategy based on three pillars: Housing, Neighborhood, and People. Legacy Landing and its companion developments—including Lift & Rise—are transforming the built environment and reshaping the Southeast Community’s future.

 Visible improvements already include:

1. Expanded housing choices

2. The Newport News Early Development Childhood Center, with educational services from Virginia Peninsula Community College and the newly opened Peake Childhood Center

3. New business growth at 2510 Jefferson Avenue, reinvigorating the commercial corridor

4. This community-driven transformation has been powered by a coalition of public and private partners, including:

Funding Partners: NNRHA, HUD, Virginia Housing, Virginia Department of Housing and Community Development, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, RBC Capital/Chase Bank, and Sentara Health

1. Development Partner: Pennrose

2. General Contractor: The Breeden Company

3. Education and Youth Partners: Newport News Public Schools and Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI)

4. Community Collaborators: The Citizens Advisory Committee, local faith leaders, and service providers

With Phase I now open, Phase II construction is well underway and expected to be completed by the end of 2025. Additional redevelopment is planned for lower Jefferson Avenue, along with more resident-centered investments that will continue shaping a stronger, more inclusive future for the Southeast Community.

LEGACY LANDING UPDATE!!!

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony for Newport News Early Childhood Development Center

The City of Newport News, in partnership with Peake Childhood Center and Virginia Peninsula Community College (VPCC), is pleased to announce the grand opening of the new Newport News Early Childhood Development Center (NNECDC) with an official ribbon-cutting ceremony held on Thursday, Jan. 16. The event marked the opening of the long-anticipated educational facility located in the city’s Southeast community.

The NNECDC will provide high-quality early childhood education and care for approximately 200 children ranging from 6 weeks to 5 years old. While located in Newport News, the center will serve families from across the Peninsula, offering an innovative and accessible learning environment for children in their formative years.

The center is designed to support children academically, socially, and emotionally, ensuring that all children who attend are well-prepared for kindergarten and beyond. Additionally, the center will continue implementing its unique sliding-scale tuition rate model based on family income and needs, making quality education accessible to more families in the region.

For more information, visit https://www.nnva.gov/youththrive, https://peakecc.org/, or https://vpcc.edu/.

November 2023 CNI Community Update Meeting

April 2022 CNI Community Update Meeting

On Thursday, April 28, 2022, The Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority and the City of Newport News hosted a community update meeting at Downing-Gross Cultural Arts Center. This meeting included updates on the progress for the housing, people, and neighborhood plans.

Did you miss the meeting on April 28, 2022? If so, you can view the replay below or click here.

To stay updated on the progress and happenings in the Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood, as well as community resources and services, subscribe to our email list by clicking here.

Ridley Place Commemorative Event, February 2022

WTKR News Channel 3: Newport News Choice Neighborhoods Initiative