NORFOLK, Va. — A plan to redevelop the Saint Paul’s neighborhood in Norfolk is moving forward, despite residents pushing for it to stop.
During Tuesday night’s city council meeting, city leaders unanimously approved plans for the first two buildings to go up as part of its redevelopment plan.
The two buildings, known as “Block 19” and “Block 20,” will be located along Wood Street and Posey Labe, near the Hampton Roads Transit Center and Norfolk Fire Rescue Station #1.
Together, the two buildings will feature 190 mixed-income units for seniors and families. They will be funded using part of a $30 million grant awarded to the Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority.
Councilmember Angelia Williams Graves represents St. Paul’s residents. “I think it's a good thing. I really do,” said Graves.
Graves is optimistic about the next step in the area’s redevelopment, which was first announced two years ago. However, the city is still dealing with a lawsuit filed by St. Paul's residents, which aims to stop the redevelopment project.
New documents released this week show the city requested more time to file a response to the lawsuit. Residents responded by opposing the city’s request. On Wednesday, City spokesperson Lori Crouch declined to comment on the lawsuit, since it’s pending litigation.
Graves addressed some of the pushback on behalf of residents to our 13News Now team after the meeting.
“I don't always expect that 100 percent of our residents will always be happy with everything that happens, but I believe a majority of residents at St. Paul’s understand what we're doing. We've been talking about it long enough, now we're finally acting on it,” said Graves.
In the middle of it all, some residents, like Chaquitte Franklin, said they don’t have time to fight. Instead, Franklin is focused on finding a new place to live.
“I’m a college student, so I'm trying to get out of the situation as best as I can,” she said.
Franklin lives in Tidewater Gardens with her mother, sister, nieces, and nephews. She said her mom was not granted a Section 8 housing voucher, but she plans to move into a new place by herself.
“I understand, I’m all for helping the area. I'm all for coming together, making a better community, but the sadness comes in when I know I have to fend for myself and find places... it's kind of like I'm lost, even though I'm grown,” said Franklin.
Crouch said the construction of the two buildings will begin early 2021. The new buildings won’t rush residents to move out any sooner or interfere with the timeline residents have to move out.