Norfolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority (NRHA) Housing Development Project Manager Cori Hines was recently selected as a panelist at the Congress for the New Urbanism (CNU) “Coordinating Urban Resilience” event in Providence, R.I.
The annual event, which was held June 11-14, includes case studies, zoning reform and innovative housing strategy presentations and is the largest gathering of professionals for urban housing, planning, and design. It is designed to affect the CNU upcoming national housing policy recommendations and practitioner guides.
On the panel, Hines was joined by housing officials from Michigan, Seattle, Rhode Island and Pittsburgh. As the part of the discourse, he highlighted the agency’s philosophy of serving while planning and its reputation as a national innovator in equitable housing development. The event was also an opportunity for Hines to showcase the redevelopment of 92 former public housing units in Norfolk’s Moton Circle, and the conversion of the agency’s Sykes and Partrea senior apartments. NRHA is using United States Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) programs such as Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD), Section 18 and Project-Based Vouchers (PBV) to fund the preservation and modernization of the latter properties.
Hines also offered insight on the collaborative nature of work done by NRHA to include partnerships with the City of Norfolk, private developers, and national design leaders that spawned award-winning neighborhoods such as East Beach (CNU Charter Award), Ghent Square (Urban Land Institute – ULI Award of Excellence) and West Freemason (American Planning Association’s “Great Places in America” designation).
The work NRHA is doing is fit for national dialogue, Hines said.
“It was an honor to join a national conversation on urbanism and the future of housing,” he said, adding that supporting intergenerational living and expanding homeownership are top tier discussions for the Authority. “Representing NRHA at the Congress for the New Urbanism allowed me to showcase the innovative, community-centered planning work we’re doing under the leadership of Mr. Nathan Simms.”
In addition to his role at NRHA, Hines currently serves as chairperson for the Norfolk Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Active Transportation (BPAT) Commission. The group advises the Norfolk City Council on infrastructure and policy improvements to support multimodal transportation and has as its goal to ensure that walking, biking, and transit are viable and appealing options in the city.
“This is important work,” Hines said, “and I’m proud of do it for NRHA and the citizens of Norfolk.”
For more information about this story, email dcuenca@nrha.us.