Demolition derby 

The advent of a new development code has fueled fears of future demolitions, as existing structures are taken down to make way for more building space for homes and businesses.    The area’s level of demolition has remained steady for the past dozen or so years, according to data gathered through the city’s permit review […]

In brief

Keyes found guilty After a three-day trial, and a few hours of deliberation, a Charlottesville jury found Tadashi Keyes guilty on September 28 of first degree murder and use of a firearm in the commission of a felony. The victim, 36-year-old Eldridge Smith, died on January 28, 2023, after being shot in his vehicle. Smith […]

No curfew

Tents popped up in Market Street Park last week after City Manager Sam Sanders lifted an 11pm curfew, a move he made in response to allegations of police misconduct and discrimination against the city’s unhoused Black population. At a September 28 press conference, Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis said the allegations were not accurate, and […]

A new pathway? 

At this point in the community’s development, nothing happens in isolation. A forthcoming renovation to the home of one of the University of Virginia’s most well-known institutions could lead the way toward providing a new pathway in a congested area.  “While the Center for Politics has been very successful in developing and running its extensive […]

In brief

Off to the races With the November election just around the corner, residents can now vote early in-person across the Charlottesville region. In addition to state Senate and House of Delegates races, which may determine party control of the state legislature, there are a number of other highly competitive local races in our area. To […]

Confidential payout

More than seven years after eight African Americans filed a lawsuit accusing an Albemarle police officer of racial profiling, the county has settled the complaint.   “Not with a bang, but with a whimper,” says plaintiffs’ attorney Jeff Fogel, who had prepared to go to trial several times over the course of the case. “It […]

Zoning in

After hearing feedback from supporters and opponents at its September 14 public hearing, the Charlottesville Planning Commission held a September 19 work session to consider the draft zoning ordinance. The commission, which hopes to adopt a new zoning ordinance by the end of the year, continues to consider changes to key elements of the law, […]

Party of one

In an odd way, the handsome 36-year-old at Vinny’s Italian Grill is a bit of a hero. Philip Andrew Hamilton, a divorced legal process server who’s reasonably new to Charlottesville, got crushed by Sally Hudson two years ago in a delegate race. Now, in the local state Senate “race,” the Republican is challenging central Virginia’s […]

The Big Picture

Charlottesville’s oldest restaurant just reached a milestone. Opened in 1923 by University of Virginia alums Billy Gooch and Ellis Brown, The Virginian (shown at left in 1983) celebrated its 100th anniversary on September 23. The Corner mainstay has grown and changed a lot during the past century, from serving soda during Prohibition, to desegregation in […]

In brief

Resilient Together  To combat the local impacts of climate change and better prepare for natural disasters, the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and the University of Virginia are collaborating on a new program, Resilient Together. In a September 15 press release announcing the project, the group highlighted how each jurisdiction’s independent climate efforts will be […]