Marshall-Ridley Choice Neighborhood Initiative offers residents a new beginning
The 18-acre development replaces the former Ridley Place and is the result of a longstanding collaboration between the City of Newport News, the Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority, Pennrose, and community anchor organizations like Sentara Health.
The revitalization is part of the broader Choice Neighborhood Initiative, a federal effort that leverages public and private investments to transform areas of concentrated poverty into thriving, sustainable communities.
“This transformation will provide new opportunities and enhanced living conditions for our residents, helping to shape a brighter future for our city,” said Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones.
“Sentara understands that place-based investments, such as affordable housing and access to healthy food, are essential to building a thriving society,” said Sherry Norquist, executive director of community engagement and impact at Sentara. “We are committed to dismantling barriers to health through a holistic approach and by meeting people where they are at the neighborhood level.”
The opening of Legacy Landing marks a major milestone in the city's revitalization efforts. The development includes 71 new apartments and ground-level retail space designed to support local businesses and provide economic opportunities. When fully complete, the project will include 155 mixed-income housing units ranging from one- to four-bedroom apartments and townhomes, along with onsite childcare and a wellness trail for residents.
“Legacy Landing is more than just new buildings,” said Newport News Vice Mayor Curtis Bethany III during the ribbon cutting. “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.”
Building the foundation for success
Alongside new housing, the revitalization includes concerted efforts to address health equity, education, and access to nutritious food. These are the social drivers of health that are key components to long-term community health and well-being. Sentara, a committed partner in the redevelopment, collaborates with community organizations and leaders that support the broader needs of the neighborhood.
Sentara recently opened a Sentara Community Care Center less than a mile from Legacy Landing. This new health facility serves as a vital resource for vulnerable and medically underserved populations, helping address both immediate health needs and long-term disparities.
Sharing the same building as the care center is the Virginia Peninsula Foodbank’s community pantry. The food pantry offers a wide variety of nutritious and culturally relevant foods to local residents. Many of the food pantry visitors are Sentara patients referred directly from the care center. The partnership reflects Sentara’s longstanding strategy to integrate food access into clinical care.
Legacy Landing resident Miyoshi Stallings; Sherry Norquist, executive director of community engagement and impact at Sentara; and City of Newport News Councilwoman Tina Vick celebrate a neighborhood renewed.
Sentara also partners with Peake Childhood Center, which has opened a new early education facility within the neighborhood. Children who are prepared to enter kindergarten are more likely to succeed academically, graduate, and pursue higher-paying careers. Virginia Peninsula Community College, located in the same building as Peake, is expanding access to education and career pathways for residents of all ages, advancing another key social driver of generational health and wealth.
“It is not every day that a healthcare system provides financial support to housing,” said Patrick Stewart, regional vice president of Pennrose, while speaking at the event. “They see the benefits in how affordable housing can improve health outcomes.”
“On behalf of our city, I want to extend my deepest gratitude to Sentara Health for their continued commitment and partnership,” added Mayor Jones. “Together, we are building a legacy of hope, opportunity, and prosperity for our community.”
A neighborhood reborn
The Marshall-Ridley neighborhood holds deep African American heritage. Once home to many Black shipyard workers and administrators during the region’s shipbuilding boom, it became a thriving middle-class residential area in the early 20th century. Today, with new investment and opportunity, the neighborhood is welcoming a new generation of residents while honoring its rich history.
“Today, as we open a new chapter with Legacy Landing,” said City of Newport News Councilman John R. Eley III during the ribbon cutting ceremony, “we are building on that legacy with a clear and continued commitment to modern and affordable housing and greater community involvement.”
“This new home isn't just about me. It represents what's possible when we lead with obedience, determination, and faith. It's more than just walls and a roof,” shared Miyoshi Stallings, a former Ridley Place resident now living in Legacy Landing. “It's stability, peace of mind, and a promise that when we trust the process and support one another, we can rise above anything. Legacy Landing is a new beginning for our entire community.”
By: Jason Quinn