ODU Plans New Apartments on Hampton Blvd

ODU’s bold new plan to replace a 20-year-old pet store on Hampton Boulevard with a seven-story apartment complex and retail space could solve Norfolk’s urgent housing shortage — but affordability remains a mystery. Designed to mirror nearby buildings, the project offers one- and two-bedroom units, a parking garage, and ground-floor shops, open to all residents, not just students. With 12,000 rental units needed for low-income earners, this development might be a game-changer — though whether it’ll be affordable, market-rate, or mixed remains unclear. The city’s planning commission has already approved the rezoning; City Council’s vote is next. The pet store owner hasn’t spoken, and ODU hasn’t released final details — but this isn’t the first time the spot has been redeveloped, with a downtown location closing in 2019. Watch this space. Support the show:Get a discount at https://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b7176e635917dc32