Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court and their demolition

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Harbor Homes and Dickerson Court

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[1] and under Dickerson Court as M1 Light Industrial.[2]

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.[3] 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.[2]

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 associated with particulate matter and coal dust exposures.[2][4][5]

While there is no record in government documents or official statements, although some have eluded to it, 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.[2][6]

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References

  1. ↑ City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, January 6, 2021.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 City Planning Commission Meeting Minutes, City of Newport News, November 3, 2021.
  3. ↑ Newport News Redevelopment and Housing Authority Board of Commissioners Regular Meeting, June 15, 2021.
  4. ↑ Turner, Interview Audio and Transcript, July 7, 2023.
  5. ↑ Repair Lab, Coal Dust in Southeast Newport News is a Nuisance and There Are Solution (Corrected), August 2024
  6. ↑ Sample-Jones, Interview Audio and Transcript, June 30, 2023.
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