NEWPORT NEWS, Va. — Watching your hometown crumble behind you is beyond heartbreaking. But helping to bring your hometown back to prominence? That’s a special kind of reward.
Aaron Brooks grew up in southeast Newport News, running its streets and playing in its parks. And now, after a memorable stint as a state-hero quarterback and a respectable run in the NFL, Brooks is back to help shepherd a multimillion-dollar revitalization effort that could transform an entire community. Brooks Crossing, the new retail-and-residential development that bears his name, isn’t just a means of furthering his goals as a developer; it’s a way to give back to the community that gave him his start.