Latest news with #CarlosClanton
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norfolk council adopts $1.6 billion budget, includes 2-hour free parking
Norfolk City Council members unanimously voted to adopt a $1.6 billion operating budget for the fiscal year 2026 on Tuesday, which includes two hours of free parking in city decks, a 2.5% raise for city employees and a new compensation plan. Council members approved the $1.6 billion operating budget, a $260 million capital improvement plan, a $6.7 million annual plan for U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development block grants and a $141 million annual grants plan. Council members voted to unanimously approve the capital improvement plan. 'I know that this is not a perfect plan, and everybody didn't get everything, but I do believe that we're moving in the right direction,' said council member Carlos Clanton during the meeting. The budget keeps all city tax rates the same. The current real estate tax is $1.23 per $100 of assessed value and the personal property tax for vehicles is $4.33 per $100 of assessed value. However, the budget includes a $5-a-month increase in the garbage collection fee to offset recycling program cost increases and beach collection costs. What to expect from Norfolk's proposed $1.6 billion operating budget Norfolk to vote on allowing city attorney to prosecute misdemeanor shoplifting Norfolk mayor creates city commission to study affordable housing shortage The budget reconciliation process added about $1 million in additional expenditures, including additional fire department positions, downtown holiday lighting and additional funding to Norfolk Public Schools to reflect additional revenue under a revenue-sharing formula. Additional revenue to balance the budget comes from revised revenue estimates and federal and state sources. The reconciliation process also expanded plans for a free parking pilot program in all downtown Norfolk parking decks from the first hour to the first two hours. The city plans to pay for the initiative by increasing the costs of downtown parking meters by 50 cents each quarter of an hour for a $2 hourly increase. Current meter rates vary by location. The capital improvement plan includes $44 million for the city's flood wall project, called the Coastal Storm Risk Management Project, in addition to other projects like beach re-nourishment, community park improvements and a new playground at Crossroads School, among other initiatives. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Norfolk City Council approves affordable housing complex near Park Place
NORFOLK — City Council members voted 7-1 to approve several items related to an affordable housing development that attracted criticism from residents of a historically Black community and support from other city residents. With member Courtney Doyle voting against the measure, the council approved The Station Apartments near Park Place during a meeting Tuesday. 'I'm supporting this because this is an effort,' said Council member Carlos Clanton during the meeting, referencing the city's shortage of affordable housing. 'It may not be perfect but it is an effort to move us forward to address that need.' The apartment complex would transform two mostly vacant lots blocks between 26th and 27th streets and Monticello Avenue and Church Street into two, four-story apartment buildings. The 154-unit project is from Franklin Group, a Virginia Beach company that has developed affordable and market-rate housing across the region. The development attracted criticism from several Park Place Civic League members, who argued the neighborhood already has more than its fair share of low-income housing and adding more would exacerbate trends caused by historical housing segregation. During public comments on Tuesday, Park Place Civic League President Jamie Pickens said she supported deconcentrating poverty, rather than being against affordable housing. She asked the city to create policies that spread out affordable housing across all neighborhoods. 'Absent of an effort such as this, the trend will continue, and the effect is the same, whether it's intentional or whether it's just convenient,' Pickens said. Census data shows the median household income in the 23504 ZIP code — where the development will be based — is $43,156, and more than one in three residents live in poverty. About 82% of the population is Black. Other commenters argued the city should welcome an attempt to reverse an affordable housing shortage. They included several members of YIMBY Hampton Roads, which stands for 'yes in my back yard' and is a pro-housing advocacy group. Norfolk is short roughly 6,800 rental units for households making less than $35,000 a year — about 3 out of 10 households — including 4,600 for those making less than $20,000 a year, according to a city-commissioned 2024 housing study. 'Housing delayed is housing denied,' said Grayson Orsini, YIMBY Hampton Roads chapter lead, during the meeting. In an email, Freddie Fletcher, senior vice president, development with Franklin Group, said the community now includes 154 affordable housing units that will be marketed to city workers, firefighters, police and public schools employees. The development sets aside 20% of the units for those making up to 40% of the area's median income figure of $60,998, 60% of the units for those making up to 60% and the final 20% of the units for those making up to 80%. A previous proposal include 5% unrestricted units. The Norfolk Planning Commission previously voted 4-3 to not recommend the project to City Council, with those opposed saying they were frustrated the development did not adhere to the site vision laid out in a 2022 Midtown Plan. The development is financed primarily by the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit program. Trevor Metcalfe, 757-222-5345,
