Construction on the downtown hotel has been halted. Owner Halsey Minor says the lending bank is to blame. Let’s just throw a drape over it and hope nobody notices. Update: Well, this just got weird. #
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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How about a local bank stepping in to help? Aren’t there a lot on the mall, that could use the positive press.
There’s a lot more to this than just tough economic times. I hope it will all come out in the wash, but I doubt if it will. Let’s hope the city doesn’t decide to step in and supply the financing to complete this project.
Well, the city already basically owns the Omni, so they might as well get into the hotel business full-time. Besides, I can’t see them losing as much money on this one, unless they decide to manage as well as pay for it!
Waldo you don’t mean a drape you mean a T.A.R.P. don’t you?
I forgot that the city wrote off a $10M loan to the Omni. It’s funny that the-now Double Tree cost the same as the city’s, was built miles outside of the airport near an airport, and never needed a dime of county money. many people erroneously credits the Omni as saving downotwn.
Has anyone even considered how many people this affects? All those workers – the inconvenience of the construction, the new breakfast menu at Henry’s Restaurant developed specifically for the construction crew? This is pathetic.
When Danielson was developing the ice park and theater (west end of mall) that project went through the same thing, lack of solid financing, lawsuits, counter lawsuits, etc. etc. Why does the city continue to let this guy operate within the city limits? He never seems to have his ducks in a row and his projects always end up in lawsuits and squabbles.
Before the city approves these types of projects they need to see the pony and not just the manure.
Don’t think this is about Danielson. Seems his projects are pretty good and helped revitalize the mall when no one else was doing it. Vision is nothing without sponsorship. No, this is about Minor and his belief he is a Billionaire but without the cash to back it up.