Upping the ante It’s spending season in Charlottesville, and City Manager Sam Sanders presented the draft FY27 budget—totaling more than $327 million between the general fund and capital improvement projects—to City Council on March 2. If adopted as proposed, the city’s real estate tax rate would increase by $0.02 to $1 per $100 of assessed […]
The numbers are in: Albemarle County’s proposed FY27 budget totals $724,021,078—roughly $86 million more than FY26. The budget, presented by County Executive Jeff Richardson on February 25, was balanced with no tax rate increases. In the general fund, the largest expenditure category is education, with $218.3 million slated for transfer to Albemarle County Public Schools. […]
Teacher arrested Albemarle County police arrested Nicholas J. Clark, a fifth grade teacher at Woodbrook Elementary School, for child pornography on Monday, March 2, following a cyber tip. The Charlottesville resident, 29, was charged with two felonies: possessing child pornography and distributing child pornography. “We know this news is deeply concerning,” said Woodbrook Principal Christie […]
Many public hearings for land use changes in Albemarle County are well-attended by nearby residents concerned about the impact of new development on their properties. Already in 2026, decisions on two rezoning requests have been deferred after the planning commission was persuaded by arguments from neighbors. On February 24, there was no opposition to a […]
There have been very few renovations at Westhaven since the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority constructed 126 apartments in 1964 as a replacement for homes razed in Vinegar Hill. Decades later, funding and planning for a new era is moving forward. CRHA Executive Director John Sales told City Council on February 18 that design work […]
If you’ve ever signed up for campaign alerts or donated to a candidate, you’ve probably received a text, email, or letter asking for donations. Sometimes, those asks continue post-election. So what happens to that leftover money after an election, or after candidates end their campaigns? The answer: It depends on the office, and where you […]
This story was updated March 27, 2026, to reflect new information. When the axe fell on Stefan Friedman’s restaurants, their sudden closures left staff and patrons surprised. Ace Biscuit & Barbecue, Omakase Obscura, The Wine Guild of Charlottesville, Vitae Spirits Distillery, and Old Metropolitan Hall—the entire once-bountiful table of Friedman’s company, A Moveable Feast—folded or changed […]
After a 20-year love affair, Melanie Schaefer decided to branch out: to copper, brass, and bronze, that is. Silver, she says, has become too pricey for artistic monogamy. “In the last year, the price of the metal that I use has tripled, plus some,” explains Schaefer, a jewelry maker who, until 2026, has worked almost exclusively […]
In an ever-changing national political climate, it can be easy to miss the latest local goings-on. So rather than a look at what’s happening nationally, this week’s C-VILLE dives into the “state of the union” in Albemarle County, from money matters to flight paths. Assessments Per the county’s 2026 reassessment, property values are up across […]
When Sunshine Mathon took the helm as executive director of the Piedmont Housing Alliance in August 2017, the entity managed about 350 affordable units. Since then, PHA has doubled that number through projects such as the redevelopment of Friendship Court into Kindlewood and construction of affordable rental units at the redeveloped Southwood Village. And there’s […]