Governor Abigail Spanberger visited Fort Monroe in Hampton on February 18, marking her first trip to the city since taking office. The visit was held in front of the fort’s historic hospital building and focused on announcing a new phase of residential development at the site.
Echelon Resources will convert both the hospital and the adjacent arsenal building into apartments as part of an adaptive reuse project. Governor Spanberger highlighted this effort as an example of how to address housing shortages while preserving historical structures. “This is an incredible example for the rest of the country,” Gov. Spanberger said. “Look what is happening here. We are connecting today’s problems — housing availability — with the desire to respect and recognize our past.”
Edwin Gaskin, owner of Echelon Resources, stated that work on converting two other buildings at Fort Monroe into apartments was nearly finished. He acknowledged support from local, state, and federal partners in advancing redevelopment efforts.
Vice Mayor Steve Brown addressed those gathered by recalling significant moments in Fort Monroe’s history, including the arrival of Africans in 1619 and its role during the Civil War. “But as much as we celebrate our history, we also live in the present and focus on the future,” Vice Mayor Brown said. “The principle of adaptive reuse is all about taking something old and making it new — taking a vacant building, like this one where we’re standing today, and filling it back up with a new purpose.”
The ceremony included remarks from Secretary of Natural and Historic Resources David Bulova and Secretary of Commerce and Trade Carrie Chenery.
Gov. Spanberger added that this initiative highlights not only history but current vitality: “is not just about the importance of history, but the vibrancy of today.”
Fort Monroe holds national significance as part of Hampton’s historical infrastructure, which also includes sites such as the Virginia Air and Space Center and Hampton History Museum according to city records. The city has played important roles in American education, technological progress, and social change as documented by its official history. Local government officials note that these efforts align with Hampton’s ongoing commitment to economic growth through partnerships with citizens and organizations as outlined by city leadership.
Governor Spanberger concluded her visit by symbolically handing over keys to Edwin Gaskin for continued work on redeveloping Fort Monroe’s hospital building.
