The Project: Iverson Landing
The Conflict and Resolution
The primary conflict surrounding the project centered on infrastructure and neighborhood impact.
The Initial Rejection: In February 2025, the Newport News City Council initially rejected the rezoning proposal for the project.
Resident Concerns: Local residents voiced significant opposition, primarily citing concerns over traffic congestion. Neighbors worried that the influx of 120 new apartments would create traffic jams near Fort Eustis and increase the likelihood of car accidents. Some residents also expressed concerns about the loss of trees and the changing aesthetic of the neighborhood.
The Resolution: Rather than abandoning the project, the development team reworked the proposal to address the community's concerns directly. They revised the site plans to include traffic mitigation measures, specifically widening the road leading to the apartments and adding a turn lane on Old Fort Eustis Boulevard.
Approval: Following these revisions and months of community dialogue, the Newport News City Council approved the updated rezoning request in late 2025, allowing the project to move forward into final permitting.
The Developers and Contractors
While a specific general construction contractor has not yet been widely named (the project is currently in its final permitting and site preparation phase, with groundbreaking expected in 18 to 24 months), the primary drivers of the project are:
Allen Iverson: The NBA Hall of Famer and Newport News native is a primary backer and capital participant in the development.
Alvin Keels Jr.: The lead developer spearheading the project alongside Iverson. Keels has been the public face of the development team at city council meetings, committing to delivering a high-quality community and executing the required traffic improvements.
Key Points
- Infrastructure concerns led to initial rejection
- Revisions addressed community concerns
Investigation Leads
- Research the development team's revisions and their impact on the project's approval
- Interview local residents and city officials about their perspectives on the project
Evidence 4
Submit Evidence for EPY4FD
We have received reports from concerned citizens alleging irregularities and potential corruption in the approval process for the Iverson-backed housing project. The primary allegation involves an undisclosed friendship between Councilman Eley, the developer, and Allen Iverson. Although Eley and Tina Vick recused themselves from the final approval vote following citizen demands, the matter has been escalated to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office to ensure fair proceedings. The previous CA, Howard Gwynn, advised that his successor handle the review, but the current office has yet to issue a response.
Subject: Alleged conflicts of interest regarding the Allen Iverson-backed apartment project.
Key Allegation: Councilman Eley allegedly has a personal friendship with the developer and Iverson.
Recusals: Councilman Eley and Tina Vick recused themselves from the final project vote following requests from residents.
Legal Escalation: A formal review request was submitted to the Commonwealth's Attorney's office to verify the integrity of the process.
CA Status: Former CA Gwynn advised following up with his successor regarding the investigation. As of now, the current CA's office has not responded to the review request.
Source Status: The source is available for further discussion and provided the tip based on recent coverage of the Sherwood and Noodle convention investigations.
The lead developer for the Iverson Landing project is Alvin Keels Jr., operating through his firm, A4 Development Group. He is the primary partner working alongside Allen Iverson to execute the development and has been the main representative handling community engagement and city council meetings.
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