A Utah developer plans 450k ft2 of retail space for Zion Crossroads, Brian McNeill writes in today’s Daily Progress, described as “upscale retail outlet stores.” (“Upscale” being a euphemism meaning “no poor people here,” like “high-end.” It’s synonymous with putting an extraneous “e” at the end of the name of development, like “North Pointe.”) On top of that, the proposal calls for a 150k ft2 convention center and 225k ft2 of office space. The planned name is The Merchants Walk(e) at Zion Crossroads. The 119 acre property is located between 64 and 250, and is already zoned appropriately.
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
Monthly Archive for April, 2007
In today’s Daily Progress, Aaron Kessler writes about a black UVa employee subjected to some pretty rude racist treatment at the hands of white supervisor. The woman, Deborah Tyler, makes clear that she doesn’t want anything but “to do my job in peace,” and so she’s puzzled that, in response to her complaint, the university tried to transfer her. That struck her as a punishment, and she didn’t understand why she’d be punished. UVa’s not commenting on the matter right now, other than to say that they’re continuing to broker a solution.
Jayson Whitehead reports in the current C-Ville Weekly that the developers behind Albemarle Place (on the old Sperry Marine site) have just now bothered to check whether the sewage system can handle their added capacity and, surprise, it can’t. The sewer line running down 29 is called the Meadow Creek interceptor, and it was put in by the city in the ’50s. The guys at Albemarle Place are complaining mightily, but if they’re planning on putting up a dime in proffers to help pay for the enormous upgrade project, I haven’t heard anything about it. I fail to understand why we’re obliged to pay for all of the infrastructure upgrades necessary to accommodate any fool who wanders into town and tries to plop down an enormous development where it doesn’t belong, Biscuit Run-style. Look at the title of most any page on their website: “Albermarle Place.” That says it all, doesn’t it?
I moved from merely disliking Albemarle Place to hating it when I saw that they’re calling the private road that will run through the development “New Main Street.” Screw you, Albemarle Place, for trying to declare that you’ve improved on downtown by privatizing it. Plus, we’ve got a sewer and you don’t, so ha-ha.
A fourth and a fifth candidate have announced that they’re seeking the position of Albemarle Court Clerk, attorney Lisa Graziano and businessman Alan Van Clief. Graziano holds degrees from AHS, UVa and W&L, and will be running as an independent. Van Clief will likewise be running as an independent (although he’s given generously and exclusively to Republicans), saying both that the office should be “bipartisan” and that it “has no room for party politics.” He holds degrees from UVa and Catholic University.
Members of both the city and the county school boards, both elected, have announced that they won’t be seeking reelection.
In the city, three of the four incumbents up for reelection are bowing out, Matt Deegan writes in the Progress: Vice Chairwoman Peggy Van Yahres, Julie Gronlund and brand-new board member Louis Bograd. Alvin Edwards, also up for reelection, is running again. Notably, these folks were appointed to the school board by Council, the latter two most recently, so they’re not so much facing reelection as their first election.
In the county, school board chair Sue Friedman will be stepping down, as Deegan writes today. There are four seats up for reelection this November, though the other three members (Barbara Massie Mouly, Stephen Koleszar and Brian Wheeler) have all said that they’re seeking reelection.
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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