News Real Estate

Council upholds BAR’s decision to deny request to demolish historic house

An attorney for the owner of 1301 Wertland St. told Charlottesville City Council on September 2 that tearing down the structure for new apartments would outweigh any historic preservation goals.  “We believe the prevailing factors are the policies prioritized in the 2021 Comprehensive Plan and implemented through the [new zoning ordinance] to increase housing opportunities […]

Sean Tubbs | September 10, 2025

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Unhoused support groups call on Charlottesville to designate campsites on city property

Those who packed Charlottesville City Council chambers Tuesday, September 2, to protest a draft ordinance that would criminalize camping and storing personal items on public property had a strong message.  “This is not the time to be adhering to draconian Trump-like policies on some of our most vulnerable community members,” said Shayla Washington, executive director […]

Sean Tubbs | September 5, 2025

News Real Estate

Will Albemarle land an AstraZeneca pharmaceutical factory?

In July, officials with the British pharmaceutical firm AstraZeneca announced they would be investing $50 billion in the United States for new factories and research centers. According to a press release, this would include a new “multi-billion dollar drug substance manufacturing centre focused on chronic diseases” to be located in Virginia.  However, no official announcement […]

Sean Tubbs | September 3, 2025

News Real Estate

PHAR resists West Main student housing

When Charlottesville City Council adopted a new zoning code in December 2023, a key idea was to reduce the role elected and appointed officials play in determining what can be built where. The idea was to improve certainty for developers.  Under those rules, the LV Collective has the right to build an 11-story building at […]

Sean Tubbs | August 27, 2025

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Judge reverses ruling that voided city’s zoning

Charlottesville is once again legally in the clear to implement a zoning code that was adopted in December 2023, and was intended to allow developers to build more places to live across the city. But legal clouds remain on the horizon.  In a written opinion published August 22, Circuit Court Judge Claude Worrell reversed a […]

Sean Tubbs | August 27, 2025

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New City Arts wants feedback for a new arts council

Artists and cultural organizations across Virginia benefit from the existence of entities created to serve as a clearinghouse for information on events, funding, and community. However, the Charlottesville area has not had such a body since 2017, when the Piedmont Council for the Arts suddenly closed. “I was in the position for about four months […]

Sean Tubbs | August 20, 2025

News Real Estate

Despite zoning uncertainty, development planning continues

On Friday, August 22, Charlottesville Circuit Court Judge Claude Worrell will issue a written opinion on whether he will reconsider a motion of default judgment that threw out the city’s zoning code. On August 13, he hinted he would not, but also gave the city’s attorneys a chance to explain what their defense would be […]

Sean Tubbs | August 20, 2025

News

Orangedale residents want city to crack down on illegal fireworks

On the night of July 4, anyone living in the southern portion of Charlottesville’s Fifeville neighborhood was treated to several hours of fireworks. For years, different groups have set up launch points at Forest Hills Park and other key locations. The explosions were still continuing at around 11pm when gunfire broke out on Orangedale Avenue […]

Sean Tubbs | August 11, 2025