An Honest Starting Point on Swanson Homes
I want to be upfront with buyers who come across Swanson Homes while searching Portsmouth neighborhoods: this isn't a typical private-market neighborhood of homes for sale. Swanson Homes was a public housing community built in 1941 and operated by the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority for more than 80 years, and it's currently being demolished as part of a planned redevelopment. [2](https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/portsmouth/swanson-homes-demolition-underway-in-portsmouth-after-housing-generations-of-families-for-80-years)
Relocation of residents began in 2021 and the last families moved out in 2023, with demolition of the site's interior structures underway and the housing authority evaluating residential, mixed-use and commercial options for what comes next. [2](https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/portsmouth/swanson-homes-demolition-underway-in-portsmouth-after-housing-generations-of-families-for-80-years)
Because of that, I'm writing this guide for buyers interested in the surrounding area, the Prentis Park section of Portsmouth where the Swanson Homes site sits, rather than pretending there's an active resale market inside the complex itself. If your real goal is a home in this part of Portsmouth, this guide will point you toward what's actually available.
Where the Site Sits and What's Nearby
The Swanson Homes site sits in Portsmouth's Prentis Park area, near Merrimac Drive and Swanson Parkway, close to other established central Portsmouth neighborhoods like Park View and Shea Terrace. [4](https://mapcarta.com/21922724)
Buyers who want to be in this part of the city today will generally be looking at the surrounding blocks of Prentis Park itself, where century-old single-family homes are actively bought and sold, rather than the Swanson Homes footprint, which has no private housing inventory while redevelopment plans are worked out.
The Surrounding Prentis Park Housing Stock
Prentis Park, which borders the Swanson Homes site, is one of Portsmouth's older residential neighborhoods, with homes dating largely from the early 1900s through the 1930s. Craftsman bungalows, traditional two-story frame homes and smaller cottages are common, many built with front porches, hardwood floors and other period detail.
Because these homes are a century or so old, expect the usual considerations that come with older housing: original electrical and plumbing systems that may have been updated over the years, aging roofs, and foundations worth a close look during inspection. None of that is unusual for this era of Portsmouth home, but it should be budgeted for.
Home sizes and layouts vary block to block, from modest one-story cottages to larger two-story homes with three or four bedrooms, so it's worth touring a range of properties before narrowing in on what fits your needs.
Everyday Life in Prentis Park
Day to day, Prentis Park is a walkable, close-in neighborhood with sidewalks, front porches and mature street trees that make it easy to get to know your neighbors. It sits within easy reach of downtown Portsmouth's shops and restaurants, without the through-traffic of a busy commercial corridor running directly through the residential blocks.
It's a quieter pace of life than some of Portsmouth's newer subdivisions, but that's exactly what draws buyers who want an established, historic feel over a cookie-cutter street of similar-looking homes.
Why the Redevelopment Matters for Buyers
A major public housing redevelopment next door is worth understanding before you buy nearby, since it can shape the neighborhood's future in both directions. New investment, updated infrastructure and fresh housing stock on the Swanson Homes site could support home values in the surrounding blocks over time, but the specific plan, timeline and mix of housing hasn't been finalized as of the most recent public updates. [2](https://www.wtkr.com/news/in-the-community/portsmouth/swanson-homes-demolition-underway-in-portsmouth-after-housing-generations-of-families-for-80-years)
I recommend any buyer interested in this area ask me for the latest public updates from the Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority before writing an offer nearby, since redevelopment timelines can shift and it's worth knowing what's planned as close neighbors.
What a Redevelopment Timeline Usually Means for Neighbors
Large public housing redevelopments typically move through phases: demolition, site planning and infrastructure work, then new construction, often over several years rather than all at once. It's normal for a project like this to bring construction noise, equipment traffic and periods where the site sits fenced and quiet between phases.
I tell buyers to think of this as a long-term neighbor rather than a short-term inconvenience, and to factor both the near-term disruption and the longer-term possibility of new investment into how they value a purchase nearby. Ask me for the latest public updates before you write an offer, since redevelopment plans and timelines can shift.
Prentis Park's Place Among Portsmouth's Historic Districts
Prentis Park is one of a handful of Portsmouth neighborhoods the city has specifically studied and included in its historic district design guidelines, alongside Olde Towne, Cradock, Truxtun and Port Norfolk. [5](https://frazierassociates.com/portfolio-item/portsmouth-historic-districts-2/) That's a meaningful signal for buyers: the city recognizes real architectural and historical value in these blocks, even though Prentis Park doesn't get the same attention as Olde Towne's waterfront rowhouses.
If you're drawn to early-20th-century detail, deep front porches and mature street trees, it's worth touring Prentis Park alongside Truxtun, another historic Portsmouth neighborhood with a similar era of housing and its own distinct story.
An Active Civic League Watching the Site
The Brighton/Prentis Park Civic League has been organized in this area for decades, coordinating neighborhood safety patrols and staying involved in the everyday issues that matter most to residents here. [2](https://opengovus.com/virginia-business/04535241) Civic league meetings are also one of the best places to hear firsthand updates on the Swanson Homes redevelopment as plans move forward, since neighbors here have been tracking it closely for years.
I'd encourage any buyer seriously considering this part of Portsmouth to attend a meeting or two before writing an offer, both to get a feel for the community and to hear the latest on what's actually happening next door.
Commutes: Downtown, the Shipyard and the Bases
This part of central Portsmouth sits within easy reach of downtown Portsmouth, Norfolk Naval Shipyard and Portsmouth Naval Medical Center, all a short drive away, which is part of why the surrounding blocks have long attracted shipyard and military families looking for an affordable, close-in location.
Access to I-264 and the Portsmouth tunnels into Norfolk is straightforward from this part of the city, making it workable for commuters heading into Norfolk or Virginia Beach as well. If you're relocating for a base assignment, my PCS/military page and relocating page can help you plan the move.
Flood Zones and Older-Home Considerations
As with most of central Portsmouth, flood zone status varies by specific address rather than by neighborhood as a whole, so I always pull the FEMA flood map for any property we're considering here and factor potential flood insurance into your monthly payment using my mortgage calculator.
On any home from this era, I want an inspector paying close attention to the foundation, roof, electrical panel and plumbing, along with checking for lead-based paint disclosures required on homes built before 1978.
Schools
For families, I've put together a separate breakdown of which Portsmouth Public Schools typically serve this part of the city, along with how to verify your specific zoning, in my schools guide for this area.
Older-Home Systems to Budget For
Beyond the lead-based paint disclosure required on homes built before 1978, expect inspectors touring Prentis Park's century-old housing stock to focus closely on foundation settling, roof age, electrical panel capacity and plumbing material, since these homes have typically been through several rounds of owners and partial updates rather than a single full renovation.
A strong inspection here is less about finding a reason to walk away and more about knowing exactly what you're taking on, so you can budget realistically and decide which repairs to negotiate before closing rather than discovering them the hard way after you move in.
Financing an Older Portsmouth Home
Homes in this price range and era are often a realistic entry point for first-time buyers and investors alike. My FHA loans guide and VA loans in Hampton Roads guide both cover financing paths that commonly apply to older, moderately priced Portsmouth homes.
If you're an investor considering a rental purchase in this area given its proximity to the shipyard and bases, my investment buyers page is a good starting point for how I support that kind of purchase.
How I'd Approach an Offer Here
Given the redevelopment happening next door, I encourage buyers to think a little longer-term about this area than they might elsewhere, factoring in both the near-term construction and noise of demolition and rebuilding, and the potential upside as the site is redeveloped.
If Prentis Park and this part of central Portsmouth interest you, it's also worth comparing options in nearby Park View and Shea Terrace, which offer a similar era of housing stock with slightly different character and price points. Reach out and I'll walk you through what's currently on the market.
