Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court and their demolition: Difference between revisions

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Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court were apartment buildings constructed in the 1940s and 1950s and located between Jefferson and Terminal Avenues adjacent to the coal export terminals in Southeast Newport News. The residences were demolished in [years], with City Council subsequently rezoning the land under Harbor Homes as Heavy Industrial and under Dickerson Court as Light Industrial.<ref>[[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Nov 03 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes]], City of Newport News, November 3, 2021.</ref>  
Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court were apartment buildings constructed in the 1940s and 1950s and located between Jefferson and Terminal Avenues adjacent to the coal export terminals in Southeast Newport News. The residences were demolished beginning in 2010.<ref>[https://www.dailypress.com/2011/01/27/city-completes-demolition-of-1950s-era-public-housing-project/ City Completes Demolition of 1950s-Era Public Housing Project], ''Daily Press'', January 27, 2011.</ref> City Council subsequently rezoned the land under Harbor Homes as [https://library.municode.com/va/newport_news/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH45ZOOR_ARTXXVIM2HEINDIRE M2 Heavy Industrial]<ref>[[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Jan 06 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News]], January 6, 2021.</ref> and under Dickerson Court as [https://library.municode.com/va/newport_news/codes/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=CD_ORD_CH45ZOOR_ARTXXVM1LIINDIRE M1 Light Industrial].<ref name=":0">[[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Nov 03 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes]], City of Newport News, November 3, 2021.</ref>  


While there is no public record in government documents or statements, many former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court and in Southeast Newport News maintain the apartments were demolished at least in part because of the adverse impacts of coal dust on health and quality of life.
The Harbor Homes land was sold to S23 Holdings for a ship repair business and the Dickerson Court land was sold to IndieDwell for emergency housing unit assembly.<ref>[[:File:June Board Agenda and Minutes 6.15.2021.pdf|Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting]], June 15, 2021.</ref> During public comment, residents of nearby homes reiterated concerns about coal dust pollution and expressed worries that pollution from any new industrial facilities at these locations would further exacerbate air quality burdens.<ref name=":0" />


=== Harbor Homes ===
Former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court have described coal dust pollution as a severe and persistent problem, with many people reporting the kinds of [[Health impacts: particles and coal dust|health impacts that are associated with particulate matter and coal dust exposures]].<ref name=":0" /><ref>Turner, Interview [[:File:Lawrence Turner.mp3|Audio]] and [[:File:Lawrence-Turner-transcript.pdf|Transcript]], July 7, 2023.</ref><ref>Repair Lab, [[:File:Wind Fences and Domes Report Repair Lab 2024 (corrected).pdf|Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News is a Nuisance and There Are Solution (Corrected)]], August 2024</ref>
(1511 Harbor Lane)


=== Dickerson Court ===
While there is no record in government documents or official statements, although some have eluded to it,<ref>[[:File:CPC Minutes 5.2.18.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes]], City of Newport News, May 2, 2018.</ref><ref>[[:File:YRG NN 2020 Questionnaire - Tina Vick - South.pdf|2020 Questionnaire for Newport News City Council Candidates For the York River Group of the Sierra Club: Submitted by Tina L. Vick, Vice Mayor for City of Newport News]], 2020.</ref> many former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court and residents of Southeast Newport News more widely maintain that the apartments were demolished at least in part because of the adverse impacts of coal dust on health and quality of life.<ref name=":0" /><ref>Sample-Jones, Interview [[:File:Yugonda Sample-Jones-06302023.mp3|Audio]] and [[:File:Yugonda-Sample-Jones-Transcript.pdf|Transcript]], June 30, 2023.</ref>
(520 21st St)


== Documents ==
== Documents ==


* [https://www.pilotonline.com/2007/05/19/nn-owned-housing-closer-to-demolition/ NN-Owned Housing Closer to Demolition, ''The Virginian-Pilot'', May 19, 2007]
* [https://www.dailypress.com/2011/01/27/city-completes-demolition-of-1950s-era-public-housing-project/ City Completes Demolition of 1950s-Era Public Housing Project, ''Daily Press'', January 27, 2011]
* [https://www.pilotonline.com/2011/10/22/public-housing-reducing-its-footprint-on-the-peninsula/ Public Housing Reducing Its Footprint on the Peninsula, ''The Virginian-Pilot'', October 22, 2011]
* [[:File:Zoning4ft.pdf|Newport News Zoning Map, 2016]]
* [[:File:CPC Minutes 5.2.18.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, May 2, 2018]]
* [[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Jan 06 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, January 6, 2021]]
* [[:File:June Board Agenda and Minutes 6.15.2021.pdf|Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, June 15, 2021]]
* [[:File:June Board Agenda and Minutes 6.15.2021.pdf|Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, June 15, 2021]]
* [[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Nov 03 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, November 3, 2021]]
* [[:File:Newport News Planning Commission - Nov 03 2021 - Minutes - Adopted.pdf|City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, November 3, 2021]]


== References ==
== References ==

Latest revision as of 14:13, 7 July 2025

Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court were apartment buildings constructed in the 1940s and 1950s and located between Jefferson and Terminal Avenues adjacent to the coal export terminals in Southeast Newport News. The residences were demolished beginning in 2010.[1] City Council subsequently rezoned the land under Harbor Homes as M2 Heavy Industrial[2] and under Dickerson Court as M1 Light Industrial.[3]

The Harbor Homes land was sold to S23 Holdings for a ship repair business and the Dickerson Court land was sold to IndieDwell for emergency housing unit assembly.[4] During public comment, residents of nearby homes reiterated concerns about coal dust pollution and expressed worries that pollution from any new industrial facilities at these locations would further exacerbate air quality burdens.[3]

Former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court have described coal dust pollution as a severe and persistent problem, with many people reporting the kinds of health impacts that are associated with particulate matter and coal dust exposures.[3][5][6]

While there is no record in government documents or official statements, although some have eluded to it,[7][8] many former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court and residents of Southeast Newport News more widely maintain that the apartments were demolished at least in part because of the adverse impacts of coal dust on health and quality of life.[3][9]

Documents

References

  1. ↑ City Completes Demolition of 1950s-Era Public Housing Project, Daily Press, January 27, 2011.
  2. ↑ City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, January 6, 2021.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, November 3, 2021.
  4. ↑ Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, June 15, 2021.
  5. ↑ Turner, Interview Audio and Transcript, July 7, 2023.
  6. ↑ Repair Lab, Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News is a Nuisance and There Are Solution (Corrected), August 2024
  7. ↑ City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, May 2, 2018.
  8. ↑ 2020 Questionnaire for Newport News City Council Candidates For the York River Group of the Sierra Club: Submitted by Tina L. Vick, Vice Mayor for City of Newport News, 2020.
  9. ↑ Sample-Jones, Interview Audio and Transcript, June 30, 2023.
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