Liz writes: “Well, Money Magazine has released the 2005 edition of “Best Places to Live”. Charlottesville ranked number 90 this year. Any thoughts on why? Have they been listening to us?”
I don’t think much of their ranking metric (ie, number of libraries vs. books per capita; or number of restaurants, vs. restaurants per capita), but I’m just as happy to see us way down on the list. Let unsustainable growth be Moorestown, New Jersey‘s problem.
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 four six 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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It’s basically a list of the 100 Best Places to Live if You Have Lots of Money and Don’t Like Living Around Poor People. AKA the list of Virtual Gated Communities. They more or less admit as much: “Our focus on income, crime rates and education rendered meaningless any comparisons between big cities and the relatively affluent suburbs or small cities that make up this list. Big cities couldn’t compete on those particular numbers and, of course, they offer plenty of quality-of-life benefits that suburbs don’t have. We’ll look at big cities as part of another project in the future.”
Cville area might be number #90 but I still consider this area #1 on cheapskates. I have been in the service industry for going on 4 years. And the people in this area seems to try to bargin the price down almost every other person. I don’t get it. Why are you so cheap Cville? Yet you have no problem selling homes over 350k that would be 200k 50 miles outside our area. And we have morons buying these OVERPRICE homes. Maybe that is why they are so cheap, they have no money.
Having worked in the service industry I think that Charlottesville is a fine town for tipping. I am amazed how much some people actually do make. The house are worth 350k because that what people pay for them. People buy these OVERPRICED homes because of places like NoVa not Orange.
I would argue that this area is becomeing overbuilt in terms of apartments. Rents seem to sideways, if not down in soome olders areas that now have to compete against newer, feature laden apartments thta have just come on line.
Is cville expensive, you bet! the fact that people try to bargain has little to due with what they pay. People like deals and there is nothing wrong with asking.
This is great! Next year we should shoot for getting off of the list altogether. I don’t know why so many people in Charlottesville crow about getting to the top of lists like these. Why do we want a huge influx of people moving here from across the country, driving up the cost of housing and pushing up taxes through their demands for new infrastructure? Let’s just skip to the chase and run every dollar bill in our bank accounts directly through a paper shredder. Extra points if you drive to work at 5 mph to simulate the traffic that you’re in for!
At the end of the day, these lists serve the purpose of eventually driving us out of the community that we helped to create.
I propose that we change the name of the city of Charlottesville to ‘Anal Fissure.’ Because c’mon, who is going to seriously consider moving to a place called ‘Anal Fissure?’ Magazines won’t even want to print the name and we’ll get knocked off of all those stuid lists immediately.
Charlottesville loves lists, unnecessary committees, boards and just about everything else that doens’t matter in the long run. It’s amazing this place even made it back on a list of top places to live.
For visitors, this has to be one of the most difficult towns to get around… street names that change every time you enter a new development or area. Nothing is consistent! Nor is any major roadway able to handle traffic flow.
Charlottesville’s prosperity is the result of a fine academic institution and the rampant expansion of DC. I enjoy living here, but it’s because I have to and nothing more.
Oh, don’t get me started on street names! Not only do they change at every intersection, we have too many of the same name. I pity the visitor who is directed to Rugby something. Would that be Rd, Ave, Cir, or Pl? Was that Pine Lane or Pine Street?
EXACTLY mom133d!
Whoever in city government decided it was wise to allow every and any developer to name streets was out of control and out of their mind.
I’ve never heard city managers address the problem.
The entire scenario seems to present problems for emergency responders. Way to go Charlottesville! Getting around here is a real drag, from the traffic to figuring out where the hell something actually is.
The road name situation is not much better in the county. There are THREE intersections of Reas Ford and Reas Ford roads (some spelled Rays, some lanes, drives, etc.) but confusing all the same!
Outside of larger grid-like cities and tiny podunks, every town has strange street name/intersection/etc issues. Once you know where you’re going here it’s not that bad (much like most other places). What makes it painful is the streets that can’t handle the number of drivers/cars/joggers/bike riders. Expansion prior to planning and infrastructure development makes it difficult to live here sometimes.
Nonetheless, Charlottesville is a much better place to live (not just drive around) than either of the last two places I’ve spent time. When I moved back, my first thought was “How’d they clean the whole place so well?” People are generally nicer (as a whole), they work relatively hard (at most levels), and most things around town work pretty well.
I love living here when I had to leave the last time, and it will be hard to leave again.
But I do agree with Jack’s “Anal Fissure” idea.
Maybe our policy of not building any roads is paying off. We’re literally annoying people out of moving here.