A building that houses elderly and disabled residents in Williamsburg is aging past its useful life, raising questions about the cost, logistics and timeline of potential redevelopment. That’s according to a presentation delivered to the Williamsburg City Council. Tyrone Franklin, Executive Director of the Williamsburg Redevelopment and Housing Authority (WRHA), who told council members that the Blayton Building, public housing which sits on a five-acre tract and is more than 45 years old, faces critical infrastructure difficulties, including an elevator that has become increasingly difficult to maintain because replacement parts are hard to find. Franklin said the authority would likely need to secure outside funding to address redevelopment and that any path forward could require a public-private partnership as well as continued support from the City.
The Blayton Building’s condition represents a pressing challenge according to the presentation given to the City Council at their regular meeting on September 10, 2026. The discussion also covered other aspects of the authority’s housing stock, recent facility investments, community partnerships and workforce housing management. “Moving forward, this right here is the future of the authority,” Franklin told the council. “There’s not much left to redevelop, but this is an opportunity.” He noted that the authority would likely need to bring together public and private resources, with the help of the City, while stressing the site’s significant potential for transforming the downtown area. The project’s factors include total cost, location and the need to relocate residents during any demolition and reconstruction.
Beyond the Blayton Building, Franklin outlined WRHA’s responsibilities and recent achievements to the council, noting that the authority manages 104 units across three family public housing sites and the Blayton Building, in addition to leasing and maintaining the city’s Workforce Housing Program. The presentation described a broad network of agency, corporate and community partners that provide services ranging from eviction prevention and healthcare to digital literacy and financial assistance for WRHA residents. Franklin said the authority recently received a score of 94 in a HUD inspection under the Public Housing Assessment System, a result he described as placing WRHA in the highest designation of high performer status.
Below are detailed summaries and YouTube links to key moments in the presentation …
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