Council’s turn

After several years of discussion, the Charlottesville Planning Commission has recommended a new zoning code that will increase the amount of buildable space within city limits. The appointed body has recommended the restoration of an idea to limit development in areas of the city identified as more prone to displacement of Black and other minority […]

Less Dairy Market?

A long and meticulous conversation has been held all year about proposed new rules and regulations for buildings in Charlottesville, and the Planning Commission will likely take a final vote on a recommendation on October 18. Since a public hearing was held September 14, the six remaining planning commissioners have held four meetings to finalize […]

Build up

Every quarter, the real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield | Thalhimer puts out a list of facts about each market it serves. According to its final fact for the Charlottesville market, “More than 2,000 multifamily units have been built since the start of 2020, expanding the total inventory by more than 16 percent.”  Such numbers […]

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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

A central corner

With a new zoning code on the horizon, Charlottesville’s built environment is poised to continue its transformation into a slightly larger urban community. There are many corners that could change in the near future due to the possibility of new ownership, as well as public investment.   Consider the intersection of Ridge and West Main […]

UVA’s future home-building boom?

It has been more than three years since the University of Virginia launched an initiative to help build between a thousand and 1,500 affordable housing units. Three sites have been selected, and the next step is to announce the nonprofit developers that will design and build new homes for households below certain income levels.  “We […]

How many solar fields?

Both Albemarle and Charlottesville have pledged to be fossil fuel free by 2050. But how will the county balance a need to allow for more electricity through solar fields with a long tradition of preserving rural land?  “A good rule of thumb is … generally seven to 10 acres per megawatt, in terms of a […]

Zoning crossfire

A divisive battle continues over Charlottesville’s next set of rules for where buildings can go, and how many housing units are allowed within them.   City Council and the Planning Commission are expected to hold public hearings later this year to conclude a public process to increase both the number of homes and the number […]