Woodard Properties buys Water Street lot for $15 million from Charlottesville Parking Center

One of Charlottesville’s most prolific developers has added another high-profile property to its portfolio by purchasing a parking lot where the City Market operates on Saturdays for seven months of the year.  “Woodard Properties has acquired the surface lot at 100 E. Water St., converting our leasehold interest in the property into ownership,” said CEO […]

Supervisors allow building to remain within stream buffer

When Katharine DeGeorge and Jeremy Kent bought a house on 7.86 acres in May 2022, previous owner David A. Powell signed an affidavit stating he knew of no violations of county ordinance nor any issues related to securing permission to build on the property.  That turned out not to be true, and the couple is […]

UVA receives $43.4 million gift for community early childhood learning center

School’s out for the summer, but Charlottesville’s investment in education continues. In a June 5 statement, the University of Virginia announced a $43.4 million gift to its School of Education and Human Development to support the creation of a local early childhood learning center. The donation is the largest in the education school’s history. Official […]

Charlottesville and Albemarle anticipate a banner year for visitors—but structural challenges and behind-the-scenes disputes could endanger regional tourism’s future

We’re so back. Tourism spending in Charlottesville and Albemarle surpassed pre-pandemic levels in 2024, as visitors poured $989.8 million into the regional economy. With Monticello and other historic sites celebrating the United States’ 250th anniversary, and the Downtown Mall marking its 50th year, the area’s aiming to boost that haul past $1 billion in 2026. […]

Despite long list of openings, Charlottesville boards and commissions operating at normal vacancy rate

If you attended the June 1 Charlottesville City Council meeting, you may have been surprised when Councilor Michael Payne said, “there are a number of boards and commissions with vacancies,” and even more boards with terms expiring soon. City website data shows that Council appoints roughly 160 positions (excluding ex officio and city departmental appointments) […]

John McGuire vs. Hospitals

“Access to primary care in rural districts is a challenge across our nation, not just in the Commonwealth,” says 5th District Congressman John McGuire. “Half of America’s rural hospitals are operating in the red or at a loss.” He blames a “deeply broken” health care system, and says that only 7 percent of Medicaid spending […]

Albemarle Planning Commission recommends denial of rezoning for 18-unit development

A major objective in Albemarle County’s Comprehensive Plan is to “increase the use of infill, higher-density development, adaptive reuse, and redevelopment in the Development Areas.”  That is a guideline, not a commandment, allowing elected and appointed officials to make decisions on a case-by-case basis.  On May 26, the Planning Commission voted 5-1 to recommend denial […]

How Charlottesville is supporting its immigrant neighbors under the Trump administration

Immigration has long been an expensive and confusing process in the United States, something made more stressful by the ongoing crackdown on pathways and people. At a difficult moment in immigration history, Charlottesville-based organizations have found routes to protect some of our community’s most vulnerable neighbors. Since launching as an independent nonprofit in January, Camino, […]

ACPS announces changes to preschool and K-5 afterschool programs for 2026-27 school year

As students celebrate the start of summer break, Albemarle County Public Schools is already looking ahead to next year with updates to programming for its youngest learners. At the preschool level, early childhood special education programs currently housed at Stony Point Elementary will be moved to Baker-Butler Elementary. The change, per a May 26 release, […]