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1920s. Neighborhood commercial development exists along Chestnut Avenue between
25th and 39th Streets. Although, both retail-commercial corridors represented vibrant
centers until the late 1960s and early 1970s, the gradual decline of these areas mirrored
the exodus of middle-income families from the community and the accelerated suburban
development of the middle and northern portions of Newport News. The two largest retail
centers along Jefferson Avenue are the Southeast Shopping Center (25th Street) and
Peddler’s Village (33rd Street). Recent major activities along the corridor include: 1) the
development of the Newport News Farmers Market at 28th Street and Jefferson Avenue,
and 2) the renovation of the former Kline Furniture Store for NNRHA Offices. Other
commercial revitalization initiatives in the target area include the Chestnut Avenue
Streetscape project between 25th and 39th Streets and the 39th Street Redevelopment
Project. Improvements along Chestnut Avenue include new lighting, sidewalks, trees,
trash receptacles, and bike racks. Meanwhile, the 39th Street project involved the
assembly and clearance of property for a proposed neighborhood shopping center
including a grocery store and police station. In addition to completing the necessary land
assembly for the shopping center, the City successfully retained the Hampton Machine
Shop along 39th Street by facilitating the development of a new modern building and the
relocation of the firm from the adjacent site.
The challenges faced by the Southeast Community are reflected in the
Framework for the Future (The City’s Comprehensive Plan):
…Planning District I remains impacted by concentrations of public and subsidized
housing and group homes. As a result, the community has large concentrations
of low-income residents. Minimizing public and subsidized housing concentrations
and group homes should be accomplished. Reducing concentrations of poverty
will improve the community’s stability and safety. The following should be
accomplished to improve the community:
• Neighborhood redevelopment plans should guide redevelopment in the
District.
• The urban character should be preserved, with corner markets as a thriving
part of each.
• Steps should be taken toward improving the District’s overall appearance,
which should be enhanced through vigorous code enforcement, maintenance
of public facilities, parks and rights-of-way and twice a week garbage
collection.
• Residential densities should be reduced.
• Deteriorated multi-family housing should be replaced with low density single
family development to increase neighborhood stability and attract middle-
income families back to the Southeast Community. (Source: pages 14.23-
14.24 – Framework for the Future, November 2000)
The above objectives presented in the Framework for the Future are consistent with
the objectives of a Neighborhood Revitalization Strategy Area (NRSA) plan.Jump to an indexed page (228 of 228)