A couple of proposed Downtown Mall redesigns are available now. #
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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Whee! Let’s spend millions and millions of dollars for something that nobody really wants and that everyone will decry as a big pain in the butt to deal with.
Classic Charlottesville.
A four-year development project is certain to affect downtown. I can see a drying up of the vendors and some of the outdoor cafes. The eight-month 3rd Street NE is certainly putting a hurting on those businesses and they won’t be helped by the re-bricking project either. To tell the truth, I’m surprised that the project isn’t much more aggressive in design changes. I guess the City didn’t take my bite when I suggested that they sponsor another design contest like the one last Fall for the flat parking lot on Water Street. Considering the amount of money they’re spending, they probably should have.
The drawings of the alternatives are almost illegible. When you can see the whole mall, all the detail is fuzzed out so I can’t read it. It doesn’t get sharp until you zoom in to only see half of a side street, and nothing else. A simple GIF, JPEG, or PDF instead of Flash would make this so much more usable.