Residents urge archaeology-first approach as development advances at Riverview, Lee Hall and East End

Multiple residents and community advocates used the June 23 public-comment period to press the City of Newport News to prioritize historic-preservation safeguards and archaeology before approving or advancing development plans at Riverview, Enview/Enview and Lee Hall.

Connor Dewal, speaking with support from "the Sierra Club York division," said the city faced a "make-or-break" moment for its historic sites and called for more archaeologists and site stewards to keep pace with simultaneous large-scale development. "We need more archaeologists and site stewards to reflect the ambitious scale of development for such historically rich sites," Dewal said, urging that archaeology be completed and findings shared before construction proceeds.

Angela Harris, chair of the Southeast Care Coalition, echoed the call to protect Revolutionary- and African-American-era heritage, questioned the pace and transparency of past demolitions and asked why the East End has not received historic designation despite ongoing advocacy. Community advocate Bira W. Shabbaz Mayo urged greater transparency from elected leaders and warned that residents were fatigued by decisions made without meaningful engagement.

Several speakers connected preservation concerns to broader questions about how the city allocates resources and manages development commitments. Commenters asked council to implement archaeological mitigations, publish findings, and ensure that disparity-study recommendations and community input are not deferred indefinitely. Fitzgerald Hardet, a SWAM-certified business owner, emphasized that disparity study findings must be followed by funded implementation to help small local firms compete for city contracts.

Alan Tanner and clergy present described a recent state law permitting churches and charities to participate as developers for properties they own and urged the city to move quickly to capture available funding during the current fiscal window so revenues can support local priorities. Council members acknowledged the concerns and said staff and council would follow up, including a planned town hall on church-owned land development and additional work on the disparity study.

Speakers requested that the city complete archaeology at key parcels, consider designation or protection for historically significant neighborhoods, and improve public engagement and transparency about development proposals and mitigation commitments.