A major housing effort tied to NBA legend Allen Iverson is officially back on track in Newport News.
According to local CBS station WTKR, after an initial vote halted the plan earlier this year, city officials have approved a zoning change that will allow the 120-unit Iverson Landing development to proceed.
The project, located near Old Fort Eustis Boulevard in the Denbigh area, has been in the works for years. Developer Alvin Keels of A4 Development Group said he and Iverson have long discussed finding a meaningful way to support families in their hometown. “That vote meant the world to us,” Keels said after council approval, adding that “finally seeing that come to fruition was big.”
Iverson, who grew up in Newport News, did not attend the meeting but has consistently supported bringing more affordable housing options to the region. Per local news station WAVY, the development is designed to serve families across Hampton Roads, a priority that city officials have echoed. Newport News Mayor Phillip Jones has repeatedly pushed for expanded housing access, positioning projects like Iverson Landing as part of a broader strategy.
The renewed approval follows months of community meetings and back-and-forth discussions after concerns about traffic and neighborhood impact surfaced earlier this year.
In February, the council rejected the proposal, citing the need for more clarity. Resident Sean Fowler summed up the frustration for some neighbors: “It’s going to create traffic jams in the morning… people are going to get anxious to leave the apartment place and that’s going to create an environment for accidents to happen.”
Developers say those issues are being addressed directly. The road serving the complex will be widened, and a new turn lane is planned for Fort Eustis Boulevard to ease congestion.
Keels emphasized that the project is not the high-density build some feared. “I heard in the meeting a lot of high-density talk, but we’re actually rezoning this to medium-density,” he explained.
Despite mixed reactions, the project is now officially progressing. Even Fowler, who has voiced concerns for months, acknowledged the limits of pushback: “It’s not our land… someone wants to buy it and do something with it. There’s only so much you can do to complain about it.”
Groundbreaking is expected within 18 to 24 months. Keels promised the finished community will meet the expectations set throughout the process. “We’re committed to developing a very nice project,” he said. “We look forward to bringing something nice to Newport News.”