It’s often said at land use public hearings that there should be more places to live in Albemarle and Charlottesville. Both communities have adopted policies that seek to build thousands of units, and they’re challenged by housing advocates to spend millions a year to help keep them within financial reach of those with lower incomes. […]
It’s often said at land use public hearings that there should be more places to live in Albemarle and Charlottesville. Both communities have adopted policies that seek to build thousands of units, and they’re challenged by housing advocates to spend millions a year to help keep them within financial reach of those with lower incomes. […]
In April, Khalesha Powell received an important notice: She needed to find a new place for her family to live before her building in the South First Street public housing site is demolished and redeveloped next year. Since then, Powell, a single mother of eight children, says she has applied to live at over a […]
Eric Schmitz came back from the holidays last December and found a letter about plans to develop 17.5 acres on two parcels in front of Western Ridge in Crozet. “I know it well,” he says. “The future development was on top of a stream.” But on the Albemarle County map, the stream was no longer […]
After purchasing the Red Carpet Inn off Route 29 in Albemarle County last March, the Piedmont Housing Alliance renovated the 40-year-old rundown motel, and transformed it into an emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness, thanks to a $4.25 million grant from the Charlottesville Area Community Foundation. Since the low-barrier shelter—managed by People and Congregations Engaged […]
Collective bargaining approved Charlottesville City Council unanimously passed a long-awaited collective bargaining ordinance during its October 3 meeting, giving many city employees the right to unionize. After union supporters pushed back against the ordinance initially proposed by interim City Manager Michael Rogers and D.C.-based law firm Venable LLP in August, city leadership and Venable representatives […]
In 2018, 54-year-old Joseph Mark Audia was killed when he was crushed between two cars in the Jak ’n Jil restaurant parking lot on East High Street. The Louisa County man was standing next to his car when a pickup truck ran off the road and crashed into several parked cars, trapping Audia between his […]
For decades, two of Albemarle’s toniest enclaves—Farmington and Ednam Forest—have lived in proximity to a less desirable neighbor. Charlottesville Oil, built in 1950, has long been known for the junked vehicles and debris outside. And inside, when it rained, it poured. Albemarle County finally noticed. On April 22, it sent Charlottesville Oil president James […]
Re-Fashioned Square After years of increasing vacancies and rumors of big development plans, Fashion Square Mall has a new owner: Home Depot. The Atlanta-based hardware big-box company purchased the entire property at the corner of Seminole Trail and Rio Road, minus the Belk Women’s store and the former JCPenny location on September 1, according to […]
After several hours of discussion, Charlottesville’s Planning Commission recommended City Council deny a controversial rezoning proposal that would build up to 72 new apartments and a daycare center in the Locust Grove neighborhood. During a September 13 joint meeting, the commission cited issues with the project’s affordable units and infrastructure. However, commissioners and councilors expressed […]
Ask anyone about Charlottesville’s most pressing problems, and chances are affordable housing will top their list. The city’s new Future Land Use Map, adopted last November as part of the comprehensive plan, has been touted as a solution. It aims to increase housing supply by allowing greater density in every city neighborhood from three units […]