Williamsburg Council Rejects Housing Project, Population Shift in Historic Triangle, and more

Historic Triangle News Roundup February 4 - 10

Feb 11, 2024

Happy Superbowl Sunday! I’m a Cowboys fan (cue booing) and have no real stake in the outcome of the game today, but I am looking forward to the Usher halftime show! In any case, I hope y’all will have the opportunity to spend time with friends and family today!

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Here are last week’s top stories:

Map: Graphic by Hannah Eason/The Virginian-Pilot. Source: Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service.

Pandemic Spurs Exodus from Metro to Rural Areas in Virginia

University of Virginia’s Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service published data last month showing population shifts in Virginia since 2020, which the Virginian-Pilot visualized in an interactive map this week.
One major trend was people leaving metro areas in favor of nearby rural areas. That seems to be true for the Historic Triangle, where Williamsburg’s population decreased by about 2%, and James City County’s population grew by 3%.
Hampton Roads as a region has lost population over the past couple of decades, possibly because of its economy’s dependence on older industries like defense which have not kept pace with other faster growing sectors.

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Williamsburg City Council Rejects Large Apartment Complex Proposal

Developer Platinum Management LLC’s application to rezone 18 acres in the historic downtown area was voted down by City Council this week, blocking the proposed complex of 232 apartments and townhouses, mostly for rent.
Several people had sent emails and spoke during the public hearing against the project, alleging that the one-bedroom units would start at $1,800 and that the developers wanted renters with a minimum $90,000 income.
The local housing crisis is part of a statewide trend, with the average rent rising by 24% over the past decade. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for median household income in Virginia, which dropped by 6% over the past few years.

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Other Headlines

As part of Black History Month, 13News Now highlighted the work of local genealogist Renate Yarborough Sanders, who specializes in finding records of enslaved ancestors before they were officially recorded in the US census in 1870.
The Navy is testing drinking wells near the St. Juliens Creek Annex in Chesapeake for toxic substances after testing on base last year yielded positive results. An investigation is also being done at the Naval Weapons Station near Williamsburg.
Three women employees of the Virginia Department of Corrections are suing the agency, alleging that its process for body scanning discriminates against women due to scanners mistaking menstrual products for contraband.