According to census data, we’ve got more renters than home owners in Charlottesville. In fact, we’re in the top cities in the state when it comes to having a high percentage of renters. No doubt UVa has something to do with this, but houses do cost a lot in this town. I imagine I’ll be renting for a long time to come. The news is from WINA.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Sideblog
Police announced this afternoon that their investigation into what was initially believed to be a fatal fire on Rugby Avenue is now a homicide investigation. #
The Virginia Supreme Court has denied George Huguely’s appeal. His second-degree murder conviction will stand, WRIC reports. #
In a carefully worded story, and not citing specific sources, WTVR reports that forensic evidence belonging to Jesse Matthew Jr., the main suspect in the disappearance of Hannah Graham, matches forensic evidence collected during the investigation of Morgan Harrington’s 2009 murder. #
In the wake of Hannah Graham’s disappearance, and the evidence that came from private security footage, city officials are revisiting the question of installing security cameras on the downtown mall. #
Both Charlottesville Registrar Sheri Iachetta and former Electoral Board member Stephanie Commander have turned themselves in to the police on
foursix and four felony counts of embezzlement, respectively. #Ten years ago, the National Institutes of Health budget doubled and schools like the University of Virginia built massive new research facilities. A decade later, those buildings remain largely underutilized. NPR visits UVA in this story on the effect of federal binge and spurge spending in the sciences. #
In 2012, Council approved a new student housing complex on West Main—now some council members are questioning whether what they were shown matches what was built. #
The Architectural Review Board has approved a bike-themed mural on West Market, below the McGuffey Art Center, although at least one member expressed concerns that it might look like the bicyclists were riding away from Charlottesville’s downtown. #
City Police Chief Tim Longo is meeting with city leaders to work on protocols regarding the use of military surplus police weapons in Charlottesville. #
A 100-year-old Colonnades resident received military honors for her service in the WWII Women’s Army Corps #
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There is a tremendous demand for rental units in town in spite of City government elitist attempts to reduce the number of renters. In the early 90s the City downzoned over 5,000 parcels in order to stop the construction of new duplexes and multi-family units and also the conversion of existing single family houses into multi-family units. The goal was clear. They wanted to reduce the number of students and low-income people living in the city. The large percentage of rental units is a testimonial to the miserable failure of the City Council’s attempts to use their control over land use to exclude rental housing. Their efforts have backfired miserably. Restricting the supply of land zoned for higher density housing has only made conversion of single family owner occupied houses into rental units more lucrative. Strangling the supply of high density zoned lots has also helped to drive up the cost of single family units that may be attractive to potential home owners. Still, the City Council and staff are probably happy because the inflated values means more tax revenue.
Most renters don’t know that the City Council considers them undesirable. They either vote for the incumbents or they don’t vote at all and then they get shafted by a local government that treats them like second class citizens.