City Council Makes the Right Call on Virginia Beach National

Public golf, renewed investment and more opportunities for homeownership make a strong case for the community’s next chapter.

Virginia Beach City Council made the right call on Virginia Beach National.

The decision brings together three worthwhile goals: preserve public golf, renew a valued community asset and create more opportunities for people to own a home. Council deserves credit for pursuing a plan that can accomplish all three.

On August 11, Council voted 9–2 to authorize a sale to The Dragas Companies, advancing a proposal that retains an 18-hole public course while opening the door to new investment and housing. The City’s project summary explains how those pieces fit together.

The reason to act was already there. City assessments identified approximately $7.7 million in needed capital repairs, and the existing arrangement was not producing enough maintenance funding to meet those needs. Keeping the same arrangement would still leave the community with a substantial problem to solve. June Council briefing

Council chose to pursue a more ambitious future for the property. The proposal calls for approximately $38 million in course improvements, combining reinvested sale proceeds, private investment and public funds. Century Golf Partners is the proposed operator. For residents who enjoy the course, the opportunity is straightforward: continued public access and a plan to improve the place they already value. City project details

That is a meaningful benefit for Virginia Beach. A public course can be part of a community’s identity, a place where friends gather and a reason for visitors to spend time in the city. Giving it a stronger future is a worthwhile goal in its own right.

The housing component extends the opportunity to more residents. The proposal includes 659 for-sale homes, with more than half intended for households earning at or below 120% of area median income. Those additional ownership choices could help more people build a future here. Housing proposal

The broader plan also includes infrastructure improvements and an estimated $3.4 million in new annual tax revenue after stabilization. The City participates in infrastructure costs and potential contingency funding and reimbursements. The positive case rests on the combined value of the proposed investment, public access, housing and future revenue. Project overview, financial briefing

Credit also belongs to City Manager Patrick Duhaney’s administration and the City staff who brought Council a detailed assessment of the property, the proposals and the financial terms. Their work gave elected leaders a concrete plan to consider. That preparation matters when a community faces an expensive, complicated decision. City leadership, staff briefing

The City’s advertised request for proposals attracted nine responses. Council considered alternatives before advancing this approach, and the housing component requires a separate rezoning process with public review. Residents will have a role as those details are considered. City project summary

Change can be uncomfortable when it affects a familiar place. Good leadership means looking beyond that discomfort and considering what the community can gain. Here, there are clear reasons for optimism: an improved public amenity, more housing choices and investment in the area’s future.

Council, the city manager and the City team deserve recognition for moving that opportunity forward. They have given Virginia Beach National a practical path toward renewal while seeking benefits for the wider community.

That is a good decision for Virginia Beach—and one worth supporting.

Commentary by Jason Dye on Council’s August 11 decision, based on the City’s published materials.