Undeveloped land on major highway into Charlottesville up for grabs

Charlottesville’s new zoning code, which went into effect in February, opens up potential for a much more urban landscape with higher buildings and increased residential density. The updated rules provide a new lens to speculate what might happen with some of the last undeveloped parcels across the city.  Earlier this month, signs were placed at […]

Not-so-tiny change

A recent change to rules about what can be constructed has cleared an obstacle for those who wish to live in a very small living space. At least in Louisa.  “State building code now identifies tiny homes and has a regulation,” says Toni Williams, a member of the Louisa Board of Supervisors. “It’s just a […]

Back to worship 

A Christian church with locations in Louisa County, Pantops Mountain, and Waynesboro has purchased a key site in downtown Charlottesville for a new campus.  Point Church paid $1.3 million for 105 Ridge St., a structure originally built in the late 19th century for the Mount Zion Baptist Church. The property had previously been listed at […]

Explosive growth

Unlike Scottsville, Crozet is not a town, and decisions about land use are up to the six-member Board of Supervisors. The unincorporated community is in Albemarle’s White Hall District, and last year, incumbent Supervisor Ann Mallek narrowly defeated challenger Brad Rykal.   Rykal’s campaign argued Albemarle has focused too much development into Crozet without providing […]

Hall pass

On Tuesday, April 30, representatives from the University of Virginia Alumni Association will publicly present a site plan for “a new Alumni Hall” at the corner of Emmet Street and Lewis Mountain Road.  The Alumni Association is a separate entity from the university, and pays property taxes to the City of Charlottesville. Unlike UVA, it […]

One exit

Any structure erected in Virginia must conform to building codes created around a century ago to ensure safe construction methods are followed and that people inside can get out if there’s a fire. Such provisions spread across the country after the Triangle Shirtwaist Factory fire in March 1911 in New York City that led to […]

More homes away from home

A nonprofit group that provides a place to stay for families of young patients at the University of Virginia Medical Center has made a significant property purchase in Fifeville. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charlottesville purchased a one-time auto repair garage at 316 Ninth St. SW for $700,000. The March 15 acquisition of the former […]

A month in

Charlottesville’s new Development Code has been in effect for a month, and most of the players involved say not enough time has passed to determine any effects so far. “It’s early in the experience for staff and developers and they are still learning the day-to-day implications of the new code,” says James Freas, the city’s […]