Groundbreaking for city's Model Block housing initiative

Oct. 15, 2025 - The Community Development Department had a groundbreaking and a ribbon cutting on Wednesday morning to mark the launch of the Model Block initiative in the Fordham neighborhood.

The initiative involves the city's renovation of a handful of older houses to reflect the potential of Hampton's neighborhoods to builders and to current and future homeowners. The four homes on Smiley Road - one built new on a cleared lot, and three to be renovated - can serve as a blueprint for anyone who wants to replicate the efficient improvements made by the city and its contractors. The city worked with Habitat for Humanity and other partners on the initiative.

The morning began with a groundbreaking in the empty plot of land at 428 Smiley, where a new home will be built.

City Manager Mary Bunting said: "We're standing in an empty lot, but we are here to talk about what it represents, and what it represents is potential. We are always looking for ways to make our city better. Not by making it different, but by taking what we already love about Hampton and building on it. That's what the Model Block initiative is all about."

After the groundbreaking, the city officials and neighborhood residents moved down the block and across the street to a completed model home at 517 Smiley. After a ribbon cutting, guests were invited to take a self-guided tour through the model home, which provided detailed information about each step of the renovation and how it was done on a cost-efficient budget.

Along the way, those on the tour could see older homes at 511 and 519 Smiley, with images of how they will look once they have been renovated.

Mayor Jimmy Gray said: "We don't want to re-invent neighborhoods. We want to re-invigorate them. We want to show builders and developers what's possible here so that they will choose Hampton."

The Fordham neighborhood is the first of several that will be part of the city's Model Block initiative. The goals of the project include the preservation of affordable housing stock, a reinvestment in Hampton's historic neighborhoods, and a sense of pride among the residents of those neighborhoods. By incorporating energy efficiency, native landscaping and rainwater reuse, the renovation plans will improve sustainability and resilience for long-term durability.

Click here for more details on the Model Block initiative.

A home on Smiley Road, and an image of how it will look after it is renovated as part of the city's Model Block initiative.