Newport News Celebrates Major Milestone With Ribbon Cutting At Legacy Landing 

A vibrant crowd of residents, community leaders, and development partners gathered Thursday 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.

 “Legacy Landing is more than just new buildings,” said Vice Mayor Bethany. “It’s a commitment to honoring the legacy of Ridley Place residents, ensuring their right to return, and creating opportunity-rich housing for generations to come.”

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
• Bishop 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

“Today marks a significant milestone in the Choice Neighborhoods Initiative as we welcome families into their brand-new homes at Legacy Landing,” said Patrick Stewart, regional vice president at Pennrose. “The completion of Legacy Landing brings high-quality, mixed-income housing, integrated community amenities and services to the ongoing revitalization of the Marshall-Ridley neighborhood.”

Legacy Landing was made possible through a $35 million federal investment, anchored by a $30 million Choice Neighborhoods Implementation Grant from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), awarded in 2019. With additional supplemental funding, planning and implementation have continued steadily since 2017 and will run through September 2026.

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 on Jefferson—are transforming the built environment and reshaping the Southeast Community’s future.

Visible improvements already include:

• Expanded housing choices
• The Newport News Early Development Childhood Center, with educational services from Virginia Peninsula Community College and the newly opened Peake Childhood Center
• New business growth at 2510 Jefferson Avenue, reinvigorating the commercial corridor

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, City of Newport News, Hampton Roads Planning District Commission, RBC Community Investment, JP Morgan Chase, Chase Community Development, Berkadia, and Sentara Health
• Development Partner: Pennrose
• Development Team Members: Breeden Construction, WRT, Innova Services, Burns & McDonnell, Ballard Spahr, Pennrose Management
• Education and youth partners: Newport News Public Schools and Urban Strategies, Inc. (USI)
• Community collaborators: The Citizens Advisory Committee, local faith leaders, 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.