PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) -- Virginia State Police have issued a Senior Alert on behalf of the Portsmouth Police Department for a missing 69-year-old man.

Thomas Gene Thompson was last seen in the 200 block of Peach Street on Saturday at approximately 1 p.m.

Thompson is approximately 5-feet, 8-inches and 160 pounds with gray hair and blue eyes. He is possibly wearing a red, white and yellow plaid shirt with jeans.

He is presumed to be on foot.

Thompson suffers from a cognitive impairment and the disappearance poses a credible threat to his health and safety as determined by the investigating agency.

Please contact the Portsmouth Police Department at (757) 393-5300 if you have any information regarding his whereabouts.

PORTSMOUTH, Va. (WAVY) — One of Portsmouth's last World War II-era public housing communities will likely meet the wrecking ball this year, at least that is the plan according to Portsmouth Redevelopment and Housing Authority Executive Director Alisa Winston.

The final tenants of the 210-unit Swanson Homes were relocated in 2023, and since then, a fence has surrounded the property at the west end of South Street, just north of Prentis Park.

The hope had been for the 31 buildings that make up the complex to be gone already. However, a review of PRHA Board of Commissioners meeting minutes finds there have been complications.

Specifically, there was a lack of interest in the site by private developers, as well as the unsuccessful pursuit of a grant for internal redevelopment.

However, at a recent meeting, Winston affirmed her board's efforts to plan for a positive future at the site.

"We will look at other ways to redevelop Swanson Homes and the surrounding communities," Winston told board members at a meeting in October, after she announced a $500,000 Choice Neighborhood Grant from HUD was not awarded.

Swanson Homes initially opened in 1941 as part of a larger effort to build wartime housing. Portsmouth experienced a boom during World War II as thousands came to work at Norfolk Naval Shipyard.

This complex was named in honor of Claude A. Swanson, who served as the 45th governor of Virginia and Secretary of the Navy.

However, in modern times, little honor was paid to the community. Known by most as a poverty-stricken, crime-infested area in the shadow of the interstate, the decision was made in 2021 to shutter the property instead of rehabilitate it.

"Due to the distress of the community, a physical needs assessment was conducted, revealing that the residential structure has surpassed their useful life span," PHRA meeting minutes stated. Following the needs assessment, it was determined that the property qualified for Section 18 demolition."

Bid documents initially went out for a private purchase of the property. However, Winston said they didn't receive any interest.

Another grant application could again be submitted to HUD. Both Norfolk and Newport News are in the midst of redeveloped public housing communities with help from $30 million HUD grants.