New housing development in Newport News aims to bring the Southeast community home
The 18-acre Legacy Landing will replace the former Ridley Place with 155 mixed-income units, including one, two and three-bedroom apartments. The project is a long-standing collaborative effort between the city and the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority since breaking ground three years ago.
This first phase includes 71 new apartments. The namesake building holds 41 of those with ground-floor retail and community amenity space, along with several townhouses. Construction has already begun on Legacy Landing's second phase, which will bring the total to 155 new homes, along with child care opportunities and a wellness trail for residents.
Marshall-Ridley, in addition to private partners, is funded by a $35 million federal investment, including a $30 million grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Choice Neighborhoods program. This first phase of redevelopment at Legacy Landing includes more than $6 million of grant funding alone to build, according to Patrick Stewart, Regional Vice President of Pennrose, the developer behind the project.
'It's literally an entire new neighborhood,' Stewart said during a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
The Choice Neighborhoods program focuses on transforming local communities creating more affordable housing opportunities and improving access to services. HUD awarded Newport News a $500,000 grant in 2016 to create transformation plans, and awarded the city the $30 million implementation grant in 2019 for Marshall-Ridley.
Marshall-Ridley, which sits near 39th Street and I-64, is a historically Black neighborhood that at the time of planning saw a declining population with more than half of its 2,000 households subsidized. Ridley Place itself was a decades-old complex. The neighborhood's poverty rate and unemployment rate were more than triple citywide rates, with the median household income around $20,000, according to census data.
Ridley Place residents were given Section 8 housing vouchers when their former home was torn down six years ago. According to city Chief Strategist Officer Eoghan 'Owen' Miller, many of them moved out of the city and have yet to return.
The first two phases of the project created The Lift and Rise on Jefferson, two buildings containing 81 mixed-use apartments and opened in December 2022. Former Ridley Place residents were given the option to return. However, Miller said most families wanted to return to the building that replaced their former home.
'This is where they originally left from,' Miller said. 'So, we're anticipating that a larger amount of families coming back here. They're given the first right to return.'
Stewart added Legacy Landing is already nearly at full occupancy, largely consisting of former Ridley Place residents.
Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany said Legacy Landing is a commitment from Newport News to its Southeast community to provide sustainable housing opportunities for its residents.
'Legacy Landing is not only a collection of new buildings, it is the transformation of the former Ridley Place into a vibrant, modern, mixed-income community,' Bethany said. 'We are rebuilding a community, fostering economic growth and strengthening connections that will continue to shape the Southeast community.'
The city expects construction on Legacy Landing's second phase to be completed by the end of the year.
Devlin Epding, 757-510-4037, devlin.epding@virginiamedia.com
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Black America Web
2 hours ago
- Black America Web
Target CEO Steps Down Amid Tumbling Sales And Boycotts
Source: Gary Hershorn / Getty Target CEO Brian Cornell is stepping down after 11 years at the helm, following a period of declining sales and controversy over the company's decision to scale back its DEI initiatives, according to CNN. The retailer opted to promote from within, naming Michael Fiddelke, the company's current COO, as the new CEO. Fiddelke, a 20-year veteran of Target who started as an intern, will officially take over on Feb. 1, 2026. In a call with analysts on Wednesday, Cornell expressed confidence in Fiddelke's leadership, noting that he was selected from a strong pool of both internal and external candidates. Cornell claimed Fiddelke was the 'right candidate to lead our business back to growth,' during a call with analysts. He will remain on board as executive chairman. Cornell's tenure, which began in 2014, was marked by a turnaround that saw Target revamp its stores and expand its online presence to better compete with the likes of Amazon. However, his departure comes at a time when the company is struggling to maintain its edge in an increasingly competitive retail landscape. Following a third consecutive quarter of sales declines, Target's stock dropped 10% in premarket trading, making it one of the worst performers in the S&P 500 this year. We care about your data. See our privacy policy. The Associated Press noted that the retail giant, which has 1,980 U.S. stores, reported a 21% drop in net income with sales dipping 1.9% over the last three months. The company has seen stagnant sales growth in eight out of the past 10 quarters, including the latest period. Target's financial troubles are compounded by ongoing challenges in keeping pace with competitors like Walmart, Amazon, and Costco, particularly in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. 'Target, which used to be very attuned to consumer demand, has lost its grip on delivering for the American shopper, ' said Neil Saunders, an analyst from GlobalData Retail, during Wednesday's meeting, according to CNN. Adding to its woes, the retailer faced significant backlash after rolling back its DEI initiatives. Target had emerged as a vocal advocate for diversity and inclusion in 2020, particularly after the murder of George Floyd. As reported by MadameNoire , at the time, Target pledged to increase its Black workforce by 20% over three years and committed to spending over $2 billion with Black-owned businesses by 2025. However, in response to political pressure, including a campaign led by the Trump administration, Target scaled back many of its DEI efforts, drawing criticism from both consumers and activists. In late February, Target faced a major protest from The People's Union USA, an activist group, which led to a sharp decline in sales and app traffic. The retailer saw a drop in web traffic of 1%, but a significant 10.9% decrease in app usage, which further impacted its stock. The company lost roughly $12.4 billion in market value following the protest. Notably, Anne and Lucy Dayton, daughters of one of Target's co-founders, criticized the company's actions, calling the DEI retreat a 'betrayal.' SEE ALSO Target CEO Steps Down Amid Tumbling Sales And Boycotts was originally published on
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
To defeat Trumpism, Democrats must speak the language of pain
Across the country, many Americans are screaming in frustration: 'The rent is too high.' From Boston to New York to Florida to Michigan to California, affordable housing is increasingly difficult to find. The U.S. is in a housing crisis; rents keep rising while incomes stagnate or fall. Since 2019, home prices have surged by 60%. Recent polls have shown the depth and breadth of economic anxiety and anger Americans are feeling about the economy. According to YouGov, for the week ending Aug. 16, 53% of Americans believe that the economy is getting worse. A majority believe the country and the economy are headed in the wrong direction under President Donald Trump's leadership. Inflation is causing the price of many basic food and household goods to increase; in July, the consumer price index rose by 2.7%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. This increase in costs can be attributed, at least in part, to Trump's tariffs. Millions of Americans are being laid off from their private sector jobs; more than 50,000 people have also been fired or furloughed from federal jobs by the Trump administration. These job losses have not been felt equally: Around 300,000 Black women have left the labor force in the last three months because of such factors as Trump's witch hunt against diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, as well as cuts to federal jobs. The latest jobs report from the Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates that the administration's mass deportation campaign, and revoking of visas for skilled workers and professionals, are also imperiling economic growth. Trump's Big Vile Bill is in the process of slashing trillions from the social safety net, including Medicare, Medicaid, Social Security and other programs that support vulnerable communities. The goal? More money for the richest Americans and corporations. As winter approaches, the legislation will also cause an increase in utility bills. On top of all this, Mark Zandi, chief economist at Moody's Analytics, told the Telegraph in June that he believes 'that as much as a third of [the U.S.] economy' is effectively in a recession, citing manufacturing, construction, transportation, distribution and wholesaling. 'Manufacturing is in recession. Retail is holding on by its thumbs,' he said. 'The industries that are going to get nailed, they're the kind of working class, low-to-middle income kind of job.' If the U.S. does fall into a recession, it will largely be the result of the Trump administration's policies. Will Democrats respond with a clear, bold plan and direct message? Or will they continue to lose the messaging and branding war to Donald Trump and the Republican party? 'Trumpflation' and a failing economy are themes Democrats can use to slow Trump and MAGA's legislative agenda. Moreover, a compelling message about the state of the economy under Trump could resonate with a swath of voters who drifted his way in 2024 — and now find themselves disaffected. 'Mr. Trump was re-elected on a wave of economic pessimism,' according to The Economist, 'telling voters that 'incomes will skyrocket, inflation will vanish completely, jobs will come roaring back and the middle class will prosper like never, ever before' during his second term. So far, they have been disappointed. Ratings of his handling of the economy and inflation were net positive shortly after his inauguration. They have since fallen to strongly negative in the wake of his declarations of trade war and the ensuing response of investors.' A July AP/NORC poll showed that almost half of Americans report that Trump's policies have personally hurt them. But as I explained in a previous essay, individual perceptions of statistics are complicated by psychology. In this case, a person can be shown statistics about the overall health of the economy, but they will almost certainly interpret that data — accepting or rejecting it — through a personal lens. In essence, 'the economy' is an abstraction that individuals and groups give meaning. Democrats will have to confront a cruel irony about economic conditions and the American voter. The economy consistently does better under Democratic presidents. It's a vicious cycle of events: Republicans break things, Democrats spend years fixing them — and then the GOP takes credit for the positive outcome, all while decrying 'big government' and 'social engineering.' President Joe Biden's horribly named 'Inflation Reduction Act' is the most recent example. But contrary to the facts, Americans generally believe the economy performs better under Republican presidents than Democrats. This is a result of successful messaging and branding by the GOP. At least since Ronald Reagan's 1980 presidential campaign, Republicans have spent decades branding themselves as the part of 'entrepreneurs,' 'free markets,' 'capitalism' and being 'good for the economy,' as compared to Democrats, whom they deplore as being for 'big government' and 'taxing and spending' to take money from 'hard working Americans' to give it to 'takers,' 'welfare queens' and other 'parasites' and 'lazy' people. A recent series of polls show that Democrats are viewed by a plurality, if not a majority, of Americans as being out of touch with their real needs and concerns. Even more troubling is how an equal percentage of Americans now believe the GOP is 'looking out for the interests of people like you.' This is a marked shift. In 2023, the Democrats enjoyed a 23% advantage over Republicans on that question. Democrats are not without blame for this, given that they helped to advance the neoliberal gangster capitalist economic regime of globalization, outsourcing, the financialization of everyday life and society, and a state of permanent economic precarity for the average American — specifically those who do not belong to the moneyed classes. In a story published by the New York Times, long-time Democratic pollster John Anzalone recently diagnosed the problem Democrats are confronting. 'They're doing nothing to move their own numbers because they don't have an economic message,' he said. 'They think that this is about Trump's numbers getting worse…They need to worry about their numbers.' Democrats, the story continued, are perceived by many Americans as being out of touch and too focused on 'identity politics.' The Times spoke with Kendall Wood, a 32-year-old Henrico County, Va., truck driver who voted for Biden in 2020 and switched to Trump in 2024. 'It seemed like they were more concerned with DEI and LGBTQ issues and really just things that didn't pertain to me or concern me at all,' Wood said. 'They weren't concerned with, really, kitchen-table issues.' Today's Democrats are losing the messaging war because they are not skilled in making emotional appeals that emphasize tangible connections between policy and people's everyday lives — and pain. In all, Democrats are too cerebral, abstract and 'wonky.' By comparison, Trump, like other authoritarian populists, is an expert in political sadism. But as historian Timothy Snyder has explained, Trumpism and MAGA actually offer their followers fake populism that does not materially improve their lives, and they serve it with a dose of cruelty against an enemy they designate as the Other. When Democrats do talk about pain, there is a genuine ethic of care and concern, which in turn impacts their public policy and political vision. 'Liberals believe in compassion toward others-they believe that subjective claims about pain ought to be taken seriously and endorse broad-minded approaches to relief,' Princeton University historian Keith Wailoo explained in a 2014 interview with The American Prospect. 'Conservatives believe in stoic, grin-and-bear-it approaches to pain. They believe people should push through pain despite discomfort in order to get back to work.' But Democrats must learn to do better at speaking the language of pain. They need a unified message that centers on empathy — and bold policies. It should be tailored to specific issues and as straightforward as this: 'Donald Trump and Republicans are causing clear and direct harm to you, your loved ones and your community. Democrats will protect you and make your life and future much better. Trump and the Republicans are hurting you.' Democrats also sometimes stand on their principles to their own political detriment. When COVID relief checks were sent out in 2020, Trump made the very astute decision to sign them. His action created a relationship in the minds of many voters: He cared enough about their welfare to send them 'free' money. Biden had the same opportunity when his administration mailed another round of checks a year later, but he decided that signing them was tacky and beneath the office of the president. Evidence suggests that low information voters actually believed Trump would give them more money if he won the 2024 election. That's in the past and can't be changed. But Democrats now have other opportunities to seize the narrative as Trump's Big Vile Bill causes more economic misery. But will they? In red states such as Missouri, Indiana, Oklahoma and Montana, Democrats are using bright yellow billboards to communicate how Trump and his MAGA Republicans are responsible for closing down rural hospitals. The messaging is direct and powerful: Trump and the GOP are making you sick. Democrats should expand this model of direct and transparent communication to other issues as well. The most effective marketing and advertising wins the heart first — and only then the head and the brain. The Democrats and their consulting class, along with many others, have forgotten that first principle. Donald Trump and his messengers have not. This is why they keep winning, and it's also why Democrats have been largely ineffective at stopping them. The post To defeat Trumpism, Democrats must speak the language of pain appeared first on
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Yahoo
Chicago Residents Blast ‘Monstrosity' Obama Presidential Center as Displacement Fears Grow
The much-awaited Obama Presidential Center, a space designed to inspire and connect people, has stirred up quite a bit of controversy on Chicago's South Side. Construction of the center started in 2021 and is expected to wrap up later this year, but residents and activists are already speculating how the ambitious project will affect locals. "There is always a concern when a development of this magnitude enters an area," Michael Opyd, a Chicago-based broker, told "Since its announcement, I have had several clients ask about how it will impact the market. Many of the people I have spoken with are taking a wait-and-see approach to determine the impact of the center." Eight months into 2025, the Obama Foundation is finally gearing up to welcome visitors to the 19-acre South Side Chicago campus. "As we inch closer toward opening, construction crews are working tirelessly to build a new home for hope," the website reads. The foundation has stated that it will raise all funds needed for construction of the project, meaning money from taxpayers or collaborator University of Chicago will not be used. Once the center is finished, the foundation will give the National Archives and Records Administration an endowment covering 60% of the facility's total cost. The foundation will cover and manage the rest of the center on its own. Lakeside Alliance, the construction company overseeing the project, reported that it would cost approximately $500 million to build the Obama Presidential Center in Chicago's Jackson Park. Since then, many organizations have spoken out about how the project could negatively impact Chicago's longtime residents. Community concerns "Looking at how other developments pushed out Black people in the last 10 to 15 years, it was a big concern,' says Allegra Fischer, an attorney for the Chicago Lawyers' Committee. 'We wanted to make sure this was done in a way that doesn't displace residents." economist Jiayi Xu says "rising property values from the center's development could accelerate displacement in historically lower-cost neighborhoods, pricing out long-term residents and weakening community stability. "Without robust affordability protections, long-standing communities may be replaced by higher-income households, reshaping the area's housing landscape." The Obama Community Benefits Agreement Coalition—a group working to ensure the development benefits the local community—has called on the center to create jobs for people in communities around the project; protect housing for working families, those with low incomes, and homeowners; support, create Black businesses; and strengthen neighborhood schools, as per its website. In June 2024, former President Barack Obama visited the site, which broke ground in 2016, and greeted workers. "The sacrifices you have all made, I could not be more grateful," Obama said. "You've got young people learning, have an opportunity that wouldn't have always had. That's not just because of me. That's because of you." Not everyone is grateful. Ken Woodward, an attorney based in Chicago, told Fox News that the center "looks like this big piece of rock that just landed here out of nowhere in what used to be a really nice landscape of trees and flowers. "It's over budget, it's taking way too long to finish and it's going to drive up prices and bring headaches and problems for everyone who lives here. It feels like a washing away of the neighborhood and culture that used to be here," he added, calling the structure a "monstrosity." Currently, the median household income in the city of Chicago is $72,428, and the median home list price is $377,000. Xu says without targeted affordability protections, the development could deepen Chicago's existing housing affordability crisis. While there has been a concerted effort to protect residents who live around the Obama Presidential Center, real estate agents and economists point to potential benefits, too. "I have several clients who live in the area. All of them believe that once completed, it will have a positive impact on the area and community. The area surrounding the library is dense with not a lot of space to develop, which would entice more developers to enter the market than normal," says Opyd. The project could even be the catalyst for a housing boom, drawing in tourism, jobs, and more amenities. "The Obama Presidential Center is poised to increase housing demand in nearby neighborhoods by bringing jobs, tourism, and new amenities. This added demand is likely to drive home values and prices higher, particularly in historically more affordable areas, raising both investment interest and concerns over housing affordability," Xu explained. Solve the daily Crossword