Navy unveils landmark housing deal to aid thousands of sailors in Hampton Roads

HAMPTON ROADS, Va. — The Office of the Secretary of War and the Department of the Navy have reached a $1.7 billion agreement with Hunt Military Communities to overhaul unaccompanied housing for sailors across Hampton Roads, pairing new construction with retail amenities in downtown Newport News and replacing aging facilities such as Huntington Hall.

A term sheet signed July 1 sets a five-year program to build or renovate 8,098 beds across Newport News, Norfolk, and Virginia Beach, aiming to meet growing demand for single-service-member accommodations in one of the Navy’s most concentrated fleet hubs.

Officials said the plan relies on private capital to cut the public’s cost by more than $325 million while significantly increasing resources to maintain the housing over time, including a fourfold boost to sustainment funding.

“This historic contract addresses critical quality-of-life and readiness needs, providing clean, comfortable, and safe housing that supports our hardworking Sailors,” said Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Energy, Installations, and Environment Brendan Rogers. “It means less financial strain on junior Sailors, a significantly improved quality-of-life for them during maintenance and recovery periods, and significant savings for the taxpayer. This partnership is proof that we can invest smartly while profoundly improving the daily lives of our Sailors.”

“This agreement reflects the direction we want to take across our barracks portfolio: delivering high-quality, cost-effective housing solutions that provide modern, reliable homes for servicemembers and prudent value for taxpayers,” said Deputy Assistant Secretary of War for Housing, Adam Dontz. “By combining private-sector expertise, disciplined stewardship of public resources, and strong local partnerships, we can replace aging facilities faster, improve the resident experience, and sustain quality over the long-term.”

Project backers credited state and local support, including an authorized interest-free loan from the Commonwealth of Virginia to the City of Newport News to help advance the development.

“Our community partners in the Commonwealth of Virginia and the City of Newport News have been absolutely instrumental in making this initiative a reality, proving that we are strongest when we work together to support our service members” said Vice Adm. Scott Gray, Commander, Navy Installations Command (CNIC), which oversees the Navy’s housing. “This landmark agreement represents a massive step forward in ensuring our junior Sailors have a high-quality place to live, recharge, and focus on their vital mission.”

Navy leaders framed the effort as a pillar of the service’s Quality of Service agenda, tying living conditions to operational readiness. Under acting Secretary of the Navy Hung Cao, the service is channeling hundreds of millions of dollars worldwide into upgrades for unaccompanied housing and related support services. The initiative also aligns with Department of War priorities to modernize military infrastructure as the fleet and its missions evolve.

CNIC manages the Navy’s global shore enterprise and housing programs and is responsible for supporting the readiness of installations that underwrite fleet operations.