Virginia Beach, Virginia — Column: Confronting our housing crisis takes courage

Virginia Beach is at a crossroads, and the path forward will require more than building permits—it will require political will. Mayor Bobby Dyer’s recent guest column makes the case plainly: every attainable housing proposal brings out dissenters, yet the city’s long-term health depends on decisions made for the greater good, not just for the loudest voices in the room.

For anyone considering a move to Virginia Beach, this debate matters far beyond city council chambers. The region’s desirability has long been its double-edged sword. Beaches, schools, and a strong job market draw new residents, but that demand tightens supply and pushes prices upward. The result is a widening gap between the city’s reputation and the reality of its cost of living. Young professionals, essential workers, and even longtime locals struggle to find homes that fit their budgets. If Virginia Beach fails to confront this head-on, it risks becoming a city that only the well-off can afford to call home—a quiet erosion of the very diversity and community character that makes it attractive.

What Dyer is asking for is courage: the willingness to accept that new housing, including denser or more modest options, may not please everyone but serves a shared future. For a newcomer, that signal is meaningful. It suggests a city willing to wrestle with its growing pains instead of ignoring them, and that is a practical consideration when weighing quality of life against monthly housing costs.

Virginia Beach’s answer to this challenge will shape not just its skyline, but its

Source: GNews

View Virginia Beach city guide

Updated September 07, 2026.

Get your home essentials, storage, and moving supplies delivered.

Shop Moving Essentials

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.