New plans for vacant land 

As the University of Virginia looks to build a $100 million biotechnology institute at the Fontaine Research Park, Riverbend Development has filed its latest plan for a 69-acre parcel of land that appears rural, but is very much in Albemarle’s development area.  The undeveloped Granger property is between Interstate 64 and the Norfolk Southern railroad […]

Planning for people

The July 27 community meeting about the proposed Dairy Market expansion quickly turned heated when residents of the 10th and Page neighborhood expressed their concerns and frustrations about the project. Held at Old Trinity Church on the corner of Grady Avenue and 10th Street, the meeting included several easels, set up by Stony Point Development […]

Preserving affordability

Sometime this month, the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority will officially take the keys for more than six dozen homes across the city that since the 1980s have been rented to low-income households.   Woodard Properties is selling 74 units that collectively go by the name Dogwood Properties, the name of the entity founded by […]

Resident-led redevelopment

Sen. Tim Kaine visited Southwood Mobile Home Park to tour the redevelopment site and meet with residents and Habitat for Humanity on April 21.  Located just south of Charlottesville, the Southwood community is home to more than 1,500 people, and spans over 100 acres. After experiencing extreme sewage problems and pressures from law enforcement, Southwood’s […]

A fresh look

By Giulia Silverstein For decades, the Corner has epitomized Charlottesville’s character as an amalgamation of students and locals. Visually, this iconic strip has seen minimal transformation over the years,  but that doesn’t mean everything has remained the same.   Cal Mincer grew up in Charlottesville, but he’s only recently become a business owner, so he […]

(Don’t) go with the flow

Rebecca Reilly was one of five Charlottesville residents to sign a petition urging FEMA to reconsider regulatory changes made to allow real estate development on the floodplain of the Rivanna River.  “Unfortunately, we weren’t aware of the change in the map within 90 days,” said Reilly. “So FEMA’s response was we didn’t respond quickly enough.” […]

Building up the city

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.  […]

House hunt

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 […]

Murky waters

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 […]

Permanent solution

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 […]