Lee Danielson has announced that he intends to replace the two-story Boxer Learning building (formerly Central Fidelity), at the corner of 2nd St. SE, with a nine-story hotel. He describes it as “a very high-end boutique hotel” It’s the only property that the now-California-based developer still owns in the city; he bought it in July of last year for $3.3M. Danielson will be presenting his plans to the Board of Architectural Review in a couple of weeks, and would like to have the project completed in a year or two. Liz Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
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 #
-
Archive for Sideblog »
When a lot of people really started to dislike Danielson (I’d almost forgotten about this) was when he declared, in late 1995, that he had renamed the Downtown Mall. He unilaterally decided that the Downtown Mall would henceforth be known as the “Historic Downtown Promenade.” Places like the Cavalier Daily (the students didn’t know better) bought into it, and just went along with it. Of course, there was also his plan to privatize the Mall, hire a private security force, establish rules regarding who can come to the Mall, and pay “the black boys” to “park cars” (that made him a real popular guy in the minority community).
Man, does Danielson have no idea of how to sell an idea to the public. He’s like a bull in a china shop. Who knows — maybe he’s learned?
Just FYI, unless I’ve totally lost my mind (yeah, yeah, keep it to yourself), that building is at the corner of 2nd NE, not 5th SE.
It’s 2nd St. SE.
The 2nd St. NE starts on the other side of the mall, "accross the street," Main St.
The project sounds a bit obnoxious.
Has this anything to do with the IX building?
Danielson obnoxious? Now there’s a surprise…
Does memory serve me correctly – I seem to recall him storming out of town at some point, mad at city government, vowing never to return. I guess the scent of dollar signs overcomes anything.
"hire a private security force"
maybe that wasn’t a bad idea, I remember going to the downtown to see a movie like 2 weeks ago. I ALWAYS hate it when I have to go down there to see a movie. Well waiting in line, there were some ‘gothic or homeless’ kids tripping on acid right in front of Christians. You know they were high off something. They would stand right in front of the car traffic claiming to see colors. I would hate to be a parent and allow my kid to see that crap. But there they were right in front of a crowd of people trying to get into the movies. They were begging for money for alochol. I kid you not, they ask me for 5 dollars so they can get a buzz. I just ingored them.
Now I know what you guys are going to say. This is just one instance so no need for alarm. NO this crap happens like 3 out of 5 times I go to the downtown.
Hiring a personal security force or making it a private organization might be a good idea.
You’re quite right, of course. My mind said "2nd," my fingers said "5th." I’ve noticed this pattern — when I write up stories at 2am, they turn out stupid. I wonder if I’ll ever catch on?
I don’t understand the problem. They weren’t doing anything illegal. (I know these kids. I used to be one of these kids.) They were just acting weird, to your thinking.
To be fair, if they were taking drugs or drinking under the age of 21 (and in public), they were doing something illegal.
On the other hand, they’re harmless. I had friends who hung out in front of the theater all the time, and I would sometimes hang out with them. Good times.
I take that back. If they’re scaring people like IAmDaMan55 away, then from a business owner’s standpoint, it could be a problem. I don’t think a private police force is the answer, however.
On a completely different subject. Why is it you guys have had anywhere between 3-8 inches in Virginia and we’ve barely had flurries in f’ing Rhode Island?!?
"they’re harmless"
oh yeah, taking drugs and shouting at passersby I keep forgetting, THAT IS OKAY. They don’t harm or kill anyone.
you guys always wonder why people like myself IamDaMan69 don’t shop downtown. You guys finally understand. It is a PAIN. I am a american I choose NOT to go downtown because I don’t like the atmosphere.
Danielson claims that the Water Street parking garage can handle the space necessary to accomodate cars for almost a hundred rooms of guests. Does that sound right? I thought that the garage was pretty well rented out. Seems that someone is going to lose, if this goes through. Either current contract holders are going to suddenly find out that renewal is being denied to them, or people who actually live here will find even fewer available non-reserved spots available to them. Lovely. Parking just isn’t enough of a hassle, as it is. Thanks. Thanks a lot.
To be fair, if they were taking drugs or drinking under the age of 21 (and in public), they were doing something illegal.
Yes, if those things were true, you would be right. But all that IamDaMan3 knows is that they were just all weird and crazy and scary and that should be against the rules so get rid of them.
I know many of the kids that hang out there, and they’re almost all just regular kids. Their parents pick them up in the evenings, electronically opening up the side door to the minivan so that the kids can hop in and go home to have some steak and potatoes for dinner.
The new live arts building had to get a varience because they were 4 feet too high. The hotel would be 9 STORIES, with Danielson’s track record how much good will does he need to get this approved. This is the same guy who wanted to put the new arena across the street from the Omni and that was never,ever going to happen.
Well, I think I know the group he is referring to. I refer to them as “the stinky kids”. This is the group with matted hair, and wreak something terrible. Stoned and always begging for money. Waldo, you may have hung out down there back in the day, but at least you gave the appearance of bathing once a week!
OK. I should be more specific. They don’t harm anyone who is patronizing the downtown mall. Sure. they might be wreaking havoc with their own bodies. In the significant time I have spent on the mall, including various campaign activities which have required me to be on different parts of the mall at all times of the day, I have never heard anyone shout at someone they don’t know.
Aside from conducting business, the only people who ever speak to me on the mall are panhandlers (the obviously homeless kind, not some kids) and the occasional hare krishna.
Taking drugs is not illegal, POSESSING drugs is illegal. And you don’t know that they were on any drugs, they may have just been acting like morons.
And from your description, they were not drunk, but simply wanted to be drunk.
It seems to me that the mall is a place for "walk-in" impulse business. Something like a hotel is a planned purchase. Nobody wanders down the mall and says "hey look, a high end hotel! lets get a room!!!"
Wouldnt the university area be a better place to put a hotel? It seems like he’s just trying to find something to do with the property.
But I am all for this, it creates jobs. And it brings more people into the area (after all, our economy is tourism driven). And the only person who could loose money is someone who has too much of it already.
well usually when the "HEY PEOPLE I AM TRIPPING OFF ACID LOOK AT THE WALL" is yelled by one of those loser kids, that usually tells me that they might be on something.
‘They don’t harm anyone who is patronizing the downtown mall’
they don’t physically harm well actually one guy show someone a knife who was waiting get into the movies. But since this trash didn’t kill him, it is OKAY. I keep on forgeting.
" (after all, our economy is tourism driven). "
I don`t have a quarrel with the above except I wonder if it is a fact. It would be nice to know what the figures are.
Ah, yes, the gutter punks. Charlottesville is home to an ever-changing population of willfully-homeless kids, usually between the ages of 18-25, or thereabouts. They’re invariably on their way to New York, New Orleans, Chicago, or some other major city where being homeless is more en vogue, or something. There are seldom more than just a few in town at any one time, but they’re such generally unpleasant individuals that placing one in a crowd of a dozen people is enough to make them all look bad.
I don`t have a quarrel with the above except I wonder if it is a fact. It would be nice to know what the figures are.
I wish that I remembered the figures, but they are considerable. I looked into back when I was running for Council, and tourism has more of an impact on us than I thought. It’s funny how Charlottesville really isn’t regarded (from within) as a tourist town, when it is certainly seen from without as such, and our economy really reflects it. Not as much as Williamsburg, certainly, but we’d be in a bad way without tourism dollars.
I’m procrastinating. No more reading cvillenews.com for me — I need to get to work studying for finals.
We’ve had over a foot of snow here in New York, I dunno why you’re not getting anything. The weather maps say you should be.
Um… is it just me, or does this seem totally unneeded? Last time I checked, the Omni is nearly always under-booked and isn’t anywhere near profitable. How on earth could an *additional* hotel make sense?
The snow started here about 5 hours after I posted. Now, about 16 inches and still lightly snowing. This thread has become completely off topic. My bad. Anyway, I hear it’s not gonna melt in Charlottesville for a while. There. On topic again. Kinda.
I guess what I have in question is "driven by tourism" .
I think, from a historical perspective, the Charlottesvile economy is UVA driven – if indeed "driven" is taken to mean the initial and sustaining basis for Charlottesville`s success as a business community. The "prime driver" perhaps.
If I were to guess, I think the University, government (federal and local) jobs, and the "clean" manufacturing employers, outstrip tourism dollars, as large as that figure might be. Of course I include "greater Charlottesville" in my thinking so perhaps Charlottesville proper is the way to look at it. Then I suppose tourism may be the "driver" – at least it probably "drives" the downtown mall.
I suppose the key is to determine what segment of the above may be lost with the most harm to the economy and tag that segment as the "driver".
Of course one then has the question of "Whose ox has a horn in its` side?
Good luck with your finals (although they unforunately aren`t "final". BG)
Go ahead, condemn an entire group based on the actions of one.
because it might be better than the Omni?
> maybe that wasn’t a bad idea, I remember going to
> the downtown to see a movie like 2 weeks ago. I
> ALWAYS hate it when I have to go down there to see a
> movie […] Now I know what you guys are going to
> say. This is just one instance so no need for alarm.
> NO this crap happens like 3 out of 5 times I go to the
> downtown.
well frankly, your argument is reactionary and based largely on conjecture and heavily one-sided personal anecdotes. i have no immediate facts at hand, so all i can say here is that while i’m aware of the phenomenon that you’re describing, my personal experience in the downtown mall is vastly different from yours.
> Well waiting in line, there were some ‘gothic or
> homeless’ kids tripping on acid right in front of
> Christians.
why is ‘gothic or homeless’ in half-quotes? i don’t see that phrase anywhere in the cvillenews article nor in the link to the Progress story.
i suspect "gothic and homeless" is a phrase that you yourself are using to refer to a group of people on the mall. do you understand that being "gothic" and being "homeless" are two totally separate things, and that, while there are some people who could be called both "gothic" and "homeless," that the terms are by no means interchangeable? that fact that you disapprove of a youth subculture doesn’t mean that all other youth subcultures of which you disapprove are identical. if you can tell me where you quoted the phrase "gothic or homeless" from then i’ll apolagize, but otherwise i think my accusation is valid.
furthermore, i’d like to question your use of the phrase "right in front of christians." do you mean that the fact that there were christians present is what makes their behavior unacceptable? not everyone on the downtown mall is a christian; these individuals may have been doing something obnoxious, unacceptable, or even something illegal, but i fail to see how christianity has anything to do with it. i would infer from your statements that you believe christians are subject to better treatment than non-christians; and if this is, in fact, what you meant, it’s very self-centered and close-minded statement.
> You know they were high off something. They would
> stand right in front of the car traffic claiming to see
> colors. I would hate to be a parent and allow my kid
> to see that crap.
no, i DON’T "know" that they were "high off something. YOU ASSUMED that they were "high." your use of the second-person-tense is a ploy to try and get me to see things your way, and that’s just not something i’m going to do.
> But there they were right in front of
> a crowd of people trying to get into the movies. They
> were begging for money for alochol. I kid you not,
> they ask me for 5 dollars so they can get a buzz. I just
> ingored them.
i agree that people who ask strangers for money to get drunk is really obnoxious. i don’t like it any more than you do. but they asked you, and you ignored them. so why are we still talking about this? look, when you’re out in public, you’re going to have to deal with other people who are out in public. if they were hassling you or causing trouble, why didn’t you tell a police officer? i assure you, the police are never hard to find on the downtown mall. and if they really were abusing drugs and public and becoming a public nuisance, i’m sure the reasonably competant chartlottesville police force would have dealt with the situation accordingly.
if it wasn’t enough of a big deal to necessitate police involvement, than perhaps you’d feel more comfortable staying at home. actually, you stated in a later post that:
> I am a american I choose NOT to go downtown
> because I don’t like the atmosphere.
which is certainly fine by me; it’s your right as an american to not go downtown. but then why do you suggest:
> Hiring a personal security force or making it a private
> organization might be a good idea.
making the downtown mall a private organisation is quite possibly the worst thing you could do with it. across america (and especially in southern california, where i’m writing this) new towns and suburbs are being built at an alarming rate, and almost all of them have little outdoor shopping-centers; these areas are privately owned but try to maintain an illusion of being a public space; in my experience they are invariably designed poorly for both traffic and pedestrians, there is little opportunity for the success of locally-owned businesses, and despite the fact that the designers and advertisers promote the space as being a fun place to spend time with one’s family, there’s really very little to do there other than shop.
charlottesville, by contrast, has a thriving downtown community which is a public space whose rules and regulations are controlled by elected and appointed city officials rather than private investors. in my opinion, it’s a pleasant place to spend an afternoon or evening even if you don’t have money to spend on a movie at the regal or an expensive dinner. i treasure the fact that it’s a truly public space where all law-abiding citzens are welcome and not a mall where security officers keep out anyone whose appearance isn’t to the liking of the rich.
what’s the point of hiring a personal security force for a public area? isn’t keeping public space safe the job of the police department? perhaps what you mean by "secure" and what i mean by "safe" are two very different things.
if you’re so proud of being an american than why is security more important to you than freedom?
> they don’t physically harm well actually one guy show
> someone a knife who was waiting get into the movies.
> But since this trash didn’t kill him, it is OKAY. I keep
> on forgeting.
um, i really don’t even understand what it is that you’re saying here.
i seriously doubt that the reason the Omni is never fully booked is because of quality. i’ve stayed there a few times, and it’s a fairly nice hotel. they don’t have caviar room-service or anything (that i’m aware of) but it’s certainly not bad.
People spend money for various reasons. For some foilks, staying at the Omni may not fulfill their reasons as well as some kind of swakathon with indivdually designed pillow chocolates and views into the Live Arts dressing rooms (j/k, no views).
My suspicoin is that Danileson is just messing around, looking foir a fight and a lawsuit, or to dupe some contractors into paying his bills, or that he met some hotel managment types while intoxicated on a vacation to some West Coast place like http://www.coasthotels.com (about 38 hotels, as in the Daily Prog story), and started ranting about how those East Coasters don’t know sh*t about style, ungrategul, gothic arch-denying Board of Arch. Review (OK, that gothic arch was a different developer’s), and said "what that place needs is some class, like this joint, like valets on Water Street with whistles and uniforms and burgundy epaulets an’stuff. Mumble mumble mumumble."
Sorry for the ridiculous satire. I’ve never even met the fellow.
[correction]
…swankathon with individually…
Boutique hotels are a "hot" trend these days, according to the business press. And profitable. So this is a totally mundane, predictable, conventional idea from the developer. It’s just surprising to our little town.
Damn you, Iamdaman3 for using half quotes! James ‘The Journalist’ busted you.
yeah I am busted!
I was using ‘half quotes’. Oops I did it again. I did get a good laugh when he thought I meant in front of christians. I was talking about the pizza place.
"they don’t have caviar room-service " yeah that is always a big factor in my decision to stay at a good hotel.
> I was talking about the pizza place.
oh jeez, that was just totally moronic on my part.
sorry about that, i haven’t really slept in three days.
do you happen to have a link to the article where danielson was quoted about having little black boys hang coats, or park cars, or whatever it was that he said? i’ve been hearing about this article and quote for years but have never seen the actual source.
no pro, it was kinda of funny on both parts
"Sorry for the ridiculous satire. I’ve never even met the fellow"
I wish you would place your disclaimer at the beginning of your comments – I was taking notes until I came to the above quote.
It is almost always underbooked, but there are several days a year when EVERY HOTEL IN CHARLOTTESVILLE is booked to capacity.
Absolutely. As is the case in nearly every town our size (or even quite a bit larger) I’ve ever seen. It’s simply the way those sorts of things go, demand for hotels spikes very dramatically from time to time. Unfortunately, those spikes do little to make building more hotels a wise decision because 350 days a year they’ll be losing money because the demand isn’t there.
i’d like to remind you people are free to do whatever they want as long as they’re not hurting anyone. welcome to the urban environment. it’s not right for timid, parochial people like yourself to waste money trying to sanitize public space. people like public space because of its diversity. quit trying to make everyone think and act like your boring self.
boring self, oops I keep on forgeting
me = paying consumer with butt loads of money
them = losers with no jobs that hang out at the mall pulling knifes on passerbys and claiming to see colors
yet, you guys complain that everyone should be shopping downtown instead of driving on the road to shop.
GET OVER YOUR SELF.
the problem is…a boutique hotel with that sort of design is a little….superfluous….at least in terms of size.