Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts and Their Demolition: Difference between revisions

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=== Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court ===
Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts 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 Courts 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>  
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 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 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>  


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" />
The Harbor Homes land was sold to S23 Holdings for a ship repair business and the Dickerson Courts 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" />


Former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court have described coal dust pollution as a severe and persistent problem, with many people reporting [[Health impacts: particles and coal dust|health impacts 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>
[[File:Coal Dust Unsettles Residents.png|alt=Stephanie Smith and Mrs. Tabb stand while Ms. Tolliver goes over a draft letter the Virginia Governor Charles Robb concerning coal dust pollution.|thumb|Stephanie Smith and Mrs. Tabb stand while Ms. Tolliver goes over a draft letter the Virginia Governor Charles Robb concerning coal dust pollution, from the ''Daily Press'', May 24, 1984.<ref>Matthews, [[:File:Daily Press 1984 05 24 Page 17.pdf|Coal Dust Unsettles Residents: Tenants Group Write Governor]], ''Daily Press'', May 24, 1984.</ref>]]Mrs. Gloria Tabb, President Tenant Council of Dickerson Courts and Harbor Homes, filed a [[:File:Air Complaint 34943948.pdf|complaint]] with the State Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) concerning coal dust on May 9, 1983 and wrote a letter to the APCB on October 11, 1983 that [[:File:Response to Complaint 49393532.pdf|received a reply from Region VI Director Ramon Minx]]. Former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts 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>


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> 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>
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 Courts 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>
 
:'''Sheila McAllister, Director of City Planning for the City of Newport News, Interviewed by Adrian Wood in [[Media#Crosswinds|Crosswinds]]:''' "[Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts were] old. It could not be rebuilt. And because of the proximity to—I'm not going to say proximity to the coal yard, but people did not like being that close to the coal yard. And we didn't like people being that close to the coal yard."


== Documents ==
== Documents ==


=== Media ===
* [[:File:Daily Press 1984 05 24 Page 17.pdf|Matthews, Coal Dust Unsettles Residents: Tenants Group Write Governor, ''Daily Press'', May 24, 1984]]
* [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.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.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]
* [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]
=== Resident Complaints and Response ===
* [[:File:Air Complaint 23512127.pdf|Complaint from Ms. Gerline Avston (Massey Terminal), May 9, 1983]]
* [[:File:Air Complaint 34943948.pdf|Complaint from Mrs. Gloria Tabb (Massey Terminal), May 9, 1983]]
* [[:File:Air Complaint 39262826.pdf|Complaint from Ms. Maurice Cary (Massey Terminal), May 9, 1983]]
* [[:File:Response to Complaint 49393532.pdf|Letter from Ramon Minx (APCB) to Mrs. Gloria Tabb, October 11, 1983]]
=== Municipal Documents ===
* [[: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: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: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]]
=== Interviews Referencing Harbor Homes, Dickerson Courts, and Their Demolition ===
* [[:File:Donquitta Clements.mp3|Donquitta Clements]], East End resident and organizer, June 28, 2023
* [[:File:Sheila McAllister.mp3|Sheila McAllister]], City of Newport News Director of Planning, November 14, 2023
* [[:File:Yugonda Sample Jones (2 3).mp3|Yugonda Sample-Jones]], East End resident and organizer, February 27, 2024
* [[:File:Lawrence Turner.mp3|Lawrence Turner]], East End resident and organizer, July 7, 2023


== References ==
== References ==
__NOTOC__

Latest revision as of 21:35, 19 January 2026

Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts 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 Courts as M1 Light Industrial.[3]

The Harbor Homes land was sold to S23 Holdings for a ship repair business and the Dickerson Courts 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]

Stephanie Smith and Mrs. Tabb stand while Ms. Tolliver goes over a draft letter the Virginia Governor Charles Robb concerning coal dust pollution.
Stephanie Smith and Mrs. Tabb stand while Ms. Tolliver goes over a draft letter the Virginia Governor Charles Robb concerning coal dust pollution, from the Daily Press, May 24, 1984.[5]

Mrs. Gloria Tabb, President Tenant Council of Dickerson Courts and Harbor Homes, filed a complaint with the State Air Pollution Control Board (APCB) concerning coal dust on May 9, 1983 and wrote a letter to the APCB on October 11, 1983 that received a reply from Region VI Director Ramon Minx. Former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts 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][6][7]

While there is no record in government documents or official statements, although some have eluded to it,[8][9] many former residents of Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts 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][10]

Sheila McAllister, Director of City Planning for the City of Newport News, Interviewed by Adrian Wood in Crosswinds: "[Harbor Homes and Dickerson Courts were] old. It could not be rebuilt. And because of the proximity to—I'm not going to say proximity to the coal yard, but people did not like being that close to the coal yard. And we didn't like people being that close to the coal yard."

Documents

Media

Resident Complaints and Response

Municipal Documents

Interviews Referencing Harbor Homes, Dickerson Courts, and Their Demolition

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. ↑ Matthews, Coal Dust Unsettles Residents: Tenants Group Write Governor, Daily Press, May 24, 1984.
  6. ↑ Turner, Interview Audio and Transcript, July 7, 2023.
  7. ↑ Repair Lab, Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News is a Nuisance and There Are Solution (Corrected), August 2024
  8. ↑ City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, May 2, 2018.
  9. ↑ 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.
  10. ↑ Sample-Jones, Interview Audio and Transcript, June 30, 2023.
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