CAPE CHARLES, Va. — The Cape Charles Mirror is inviting former residents displaced from the Seabreeze Apartments following a 2024 safety inspection to provide updates on their relocation and current living situations.
A joint inspection conducted on February 8, 2024, at the Seabreeze Apartments — a Project-Based Section 8 complex located at 201 Washington Avenue — identified significant safety deficiencies in the property’s units. The review was carried out by representatives from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and USDA Rural Development.
Following the inspection, the Town’s Building Official deemed the affected units unsafe and uninhabitable, resulting in the displacement of adults and 8 children. The sudden evacuations created immediate housing and transportation challenges for the impacted families.
Locals continue to maintain that the effort was less about safety and more about racial, cultural, class, political, and financial prejudice, and that the evictions were just another example of a land grab to convert Section 8 housing, which was located on prime waterfront property, into another landing spot for wealthy tourists and beachfront bargainers searching for a vacation home.
Mirror Outreach Effort
As part of an ongoing community follow-up, the Cape Charles Mirror is asking former Seabreeze residents who were displaced by the incident to come forward and share:
- Where they ultimately relocated
- Whether permanent housing was secured
- How families and children are adjusting
- Ongoing challenges or successes since relocation
The Mirror’s goal is to document outcomes, highlight any ongoing needs, and ensure the community remains informed about the long-term impacts of the displacement. We want to document what the Town of Cape Charles did to you.
Former residents willing to share their experiences are encouraged to contact the Cape Charles Mirror directly:
-Comment on this post directly (remain anonymous if necessary
-Email at: capecharlesmirror@gmail.com
About the Author
Hey Wayne, thank you for covering this topic! I did my best to share some posts about it, but the algorithm never really showed them to anyone, so I ended up archiving them. We haven’t stopped caring, though, and we’re hopeful these people’s voices will finally be heard soon.
It’s hard to be an effective advocate without funding, support, and real fundraising outreach power. But my philosophy is that where there’s a will, there’s a way, and the power of the collective always seems to show up in unexpected ways just when hope is hanging by a thread. So to all the people who’ve been trying to do something about this for years, thank you.
I’m new in this fight kind of, a year and a half specific to Cape Charles, but a lifetime of behind the scenes things. It’s exhausting and expensive, you’re welcome and Thank you for all your do!
I just found the full article, Wayne. At first I was only reading the comment thread and missed your full write-up—but you’re absolutely right to call this out.
What’s happening with the Myrtle Landing property isn’t an isolated incident. It’s part of a repeated pattern by the town, county, and state—the same playbook, the same money grab, the same outcome. Calling out the blatant gentrification of Cape Charles is long overdue.
I’m challenging past and present residents to stop pretending this isn’t happening. In numbers, we can and will force action. Watch.
You’ve got a choice:
• Sit around and gossip because it’s easier
• Or stand beside the people doing the hard work and fight this together
Silence protects the problem. Collective pressure changes outcomes.
Thank you all for showing concern and support to us!!
Hello Jasmine,
Are you a past Seabreeze resident or a Myrtle Landing Resident?
I’m interested in talking with you either way. If you are too, feel free to email me chellyseashore@gmail.com
The more people involved in this, the farther WE will get! We mustn’t be fearful of retaliation either because if they dare, I will call it out! and hold them accountable too and seek justice. I’ve recently reached out to 5 political representatives of Virginia, 7 non profit agencies with like minded concerns, and filed a complaint with 5 HUD offices against NAH and demanded investigation into NAH (Navigate Affordable Housing). My next move before next month will be to file an official complaint with HUD OIG, and several others. If we all stood together on this, we’d have a class action law suit! They are ACTIVELY scaring ML residents not to talk to me! They’re afraid because they know I’m not stopping. I’m in this fight for ALL OF US!