Newport News Approves Strategic Housing Initiatives Plan

New plan aims to expand affordable housing options and prepare for future growth

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The Newport News City Council has approved a new Strategic Housing Initiatives Plan (SHIP) that will serve as a coordinated roadmap to increase housing supply, diversify housing types, and preserve existing neighborhoods. Officials estimate the city will need over 20,000 new housing units by 2050 to meet projected demand.

Why it matters

With housing affordability a growing concern in many communities, Newport News' new SHIP represents a proactive approach to managing future growth and ensuring residents have access to a range of housing options. The plan goes beyond just new construction, also addressing policy reforms and preservation efforts to maintain existing neighborhoods.

The details

The SHIP will coordinate large-scale housing projects while working to diversify home types, from single-family houses to higher-density and alternative options like tiny homes. City officials say the plan was developed collaboratively across departments and with the local redevelopment and housing authority. It will also explore potential expansion of the city's historic district as part of broader neighborhood development.

  • The Newport News City Council approved the SHIP on February 26, 2026.
  • The city estimates it will need over 20,000 new housing units by 2050 to meet projected demand.

The players

Phillip Jones

The mayor of Newport News, who said the plan was developed collaboratively to turn long-term housing goals into actionable strategies.

Cleon Long

A Newport News city councilor who said the initiative goes beyond construction to also address housing policy reform and preservation efforts.

Jay Grant

The city's administrator of Housing and Neighborhood Services, who suggested that reducing the footprint of individual homes could allow the city to serve more residents.

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What they’re saying

“This plan was created across departments along with the redevelopment and housing authority to turn our long-term housing goals into real actionable strategies.”

— Phillip Jones, Mayor (13newsnow.com)

“Looking forward to what's to come here in the city of Newport News. This is going to be a great place, like we say, to live, work and play, but there'll be a lot of different housing options for people to move here.”

— Cleon Long, City Councilor (13newsnow.com)

“Reduce the footprint so you can actually increase density, create more units, and potentially serve the same number of people.”

— Jay Grant, Administrator of Housing and Neighborhood Services (13newsnow.com)

What’s next

The city plans to begin implementing the strategies outlined in the SHIP to increase housing supply and diversify housing types in Newport News.

The takeaway

Newport News' new Strategic Housing Initiatives Plan represents a proactive, collaborative approach to addressing the city's future housing needs and ensuring residents have access to a range of affordable and diverse housing options as the community continues to grow.