City leaders in Virginia Beach face a consequential decision Tuesday: whether to approve the sale of the roughly 350-acre Virginia Beach National Golf Course to the Dragas Companies. The proposal has drawn months of public debate, produced a federal lawsuit and sharpened divisions among residents and some members of City Council.
What’s on the table
The Dragas Companies has proposed to retain a public 18-hole golf course while investing in renovations and developing housing on part of the property. Under the terms disclosed by the developer, the plan would add 659 homes and include roughly $38 million in investment into the site.
- Property size: ~350 acres
- Proposed new homes: 659
- Developer investment pledged: $38 million
Dragas CEO Helen Dragas framed the proposal as a preservation-minded effort. "It's about ensuring that this public asset fulfills its full potential and broadly serves all citizens," she said in statements accompanying the proposal.
Political and legal friction
The council vote requires a supermajority for approval, and the outcome was described as uncertain in the days leading up to the meeting. The process has strained relationships inside City Hall: Councilwoman Barbara Henley said she was not included in preliminary discussions and suggested the council may not have examined other possible proposals. "It's very likely that there's something besides the Dragas proposal that maybe would be better," she said.
Opposition has also surfaced among residents who say they were not consulted adequately and who object to selling public land. One resident told reporters, "There is overwhelming opposition and those of us standing in opposition are VB taxpayers." The sale has also prompted litigation; a federal lawsuit related to the transaction remains pending as the council prepares to vote.
Timeline and process so far
The push toward a sale traces back to 2023, when the city received a report assessing the condition of the golf course and identifying capital repair needs. Months later, Dragas and another company obtained public records that helped shape an unsolicited proposal. By July 2024, the city and Dragas entered a nondisclosure agreement; Dragas requested exclusive negotiating rights, which the city denied.
The city then opened the property to a broader request-for-proposals process that ran from Oct. 12 through Nov. 21, 2025. The Dragas plan emerged from that process and was brought forward for council consideration this summer.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Property size | ~350 acres |
| Proposed homes | 659 |
| Developer investment | $38 million |
| Key procedural dates | RFP: Oct. 12–Nov. 21, 2025; NDA: July 2024 |
"It's about ensuring that this public asset fulfills its full potential and broadly serves all citizens." — Helen Dragas, CEO, Dragas Companies
What residents and officials are weighing
Supporters of the sale argue the Dragas plan would address deferred maintenance, modernize the course and bring new housing options — all while maintaining an 18-hole public course. Advocates point to the financial commitment Dragas claims it will make and say private investment can relieve pressure on municipal budgets.
Opponents counter that converting public recreational land to private development, even partially, raises concerns about access, traffic, school capacity and the precedent it sets for other municipally owned assets. They also question the transparency of earlier negotiations and whether residents had sufficient input before the city negotiated with Dragas.
What comes next
Council members must weigh the competing claims as they cast their votes. Because the measure requires a supermajority, several councilors will need to align to approve the transaction. If the council declines, the city will retain control of the property and pursue other options for its future maintenance and use. If the council approves the sale, the pending federal lawsuit will remain a variable that could affect how — or whether — plans move forward.
The decision will have lasting consequences for one of Virginia Beach’s sizable public parcels and for how the city balances recreational assets, private investment and neighborhood concerns. Residents watching the vote will be looking for clarity on what the public will keep, what will change, and how the city will safeguard community interests in the years ahead.
