Council Member· 2023-01-01–2026-12-31 (Ward 5; elected 2010 per norfolk.gov/539/Thomas-R-Smigiel-Jr, first-office day unsourced so current-term start is used; current term 'January 1, 2023 - December 31, 2026'; Nov-elected council terms commence Jan 1 and end December 31 (Va. Code § 24.2-222.1, LIS text read); May-elected terms began July 1 (Va. Code § 24.2-222(B), LIS text read))
Thomas R. Smigiel Jr.
Norfolk
No biography on file yet.
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Voice
- Meetings spoken in
- 4
- Total speaking time
- 1:49
- Avg per meeting
- 0:27
- Segments
- 34
Want every word Smigiel has said?
The OpenCity MCP for Claude.ai answers questions like “what has Smigiel said about housing this year” with one prompt — full speaking history, with YouTube timestamps.
Top issues during term (13)(Development)
Faith-based and nonprofit affordable housing
Penalty revenue is secondary; the goal is avoiding multimillion-dollar costs of replacing lost affordable housing.
East Side rec center/library and capital investment equity
$72 million earmarked for MacArthur Center versus zero dedicated Military Circle redevelopment dollars in the current plan.
Faith-based housing by-right amendment
Could unlock affordable housing on tax-exempt land across the city, though completed projects become taxable.
Church Street Area Plan
Lambert's Point Pedestrian Bridge
Military Circle redevelopment
$2.88 million demolition contract plus a $371,000 state grant; potential $4.5 million annual tax revenue if redeveloped as part of the school-site portfolio.
MacArthur Center Mall Redevelopment Contract
Preliminary financial modeling is complete; auction proceeds from mall fixtures and art, plus new downtown ambassador funding (evening item R4), support transition costs.
Pembroke Towers deferred maintenance
The speaker reported roughly $15,000 in damage to her own unit and an insurance subrogation claim against the landlord.
Disposition of seven city-owned vacant lots
The city collects about $168,300 in sale proceeds plus new property tax revenue on lots previously off the rolls.
MacArthur Memorial Archive Addition
Granby Street townhouse development (former DePaul site)
Ocean View apartment expansion
Chrysler Hall and Scope lease and renovation
The city collects $45,000 a year in base rent while a private entity funds the renovation.
Decisions during term (5)
Recorded while Jr. was in office — not necessarily decisions they moved, spoke to, or voted on.
PH 9 — Zoning ordinance text amendment (development standards, screening, refuse containers)
R9 — Cooperation agreement with Economic Development Authority for Military Circle site readiness
Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment – Article 5 development standards clean-up
Jean Macarthur – Development Certificate with waivers, 421 E. City Hall Ave. / 480 E. Plume St.
R8: Agreement with Downtown Norfolk Development Corporation for district services
Voting record (8)(Development)
Oldest to newest — hover a bar for the item.