Planning commission recommends approval of rezoning

The Albemarle County Planning Commission has recommended approval of a rezoning that would allow a mixed-use development with 600 homes on 62.5 acres of land close to the junction of U.S. 29 and Interstate 64.  In September, members of the appointed body thought the plan was too vague with a proposed minimum of 100 units […]

City officials want to amend Charlottesville’s homestay ordinance—and its occupancy limits

Charlottesville was among the first localities in the United States to regulate residential short-term rentals in 2015. More than a decade later, the city wants to update its rules, but it’s still juggling the often competing feedback from homestay operators and neighbors. Short-term rentals, also referred to as homestays, gained popularity during the mid-2010s surge […]

City using AI-powered license plate readers to charge for garage parking

Those who use public parking garages in downtown Charlottesville experienced big changes December 16 when the city moved to a system where access is controlled by new software.  “With the new system, residents and visitors will be able to enjoy an easy experience where their vehicle becomes their parking pass,” reads a press release sent […]

Amtrak adjusting Northeast Regional schedule to accommodate bridge construction

People accustomed to catching a morning train to Washington, D.C., and other points north will have to make some adjustments in the next few years as Amtrak makes service changes while a key construction project is underway.  In December 2019, then-Gov. Ralph Northam announced an investment of $3.7 billion in rail infrastructure as an alternative […]

Global investment firm purchases The Standard, rebrands it as Yugo Crestline

Two transactions in Charlottesville this fall illustrate how student housing is a lucrative global business with healthy cash flow fueled by households that can afford to pay premium prices for places to live.  In the past dozen years, three student-housing buildings—all valuable commodities for investors—have been constructed on West Main Street. Madison Loft LLC sold […]