The Charlottesville Fire Dept has a new $1.9M truck with a 95-foot ladder, a height useful only for the currently non-flammable Landmark Hotel. #
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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Simply to play devil’s advocate and nothing more, I believe the Titanic was unsinkable.
I think you’re confusing useful with necessary. And despite this are still wrong. 1800 JPA is a ten story building, 500 Court Sq. is a nine or ten story building… the city’s building code has long had a 101′ max height restriction based in part on the reach of its firefighting equipment (I think the old tower ladder truck had a 95′ reach also, and pre-dated the Landmark). The Landmark was actually granted a height restriction waiver for its top floor (I think the building maxes out @ 114′ from Water St.)though that top floor could be no more than a certain percentage of the building footprint (the thought being that if someone was trapped on the roof of the top floor in a fire they could climb/jump down to the roof of the next floor which would be within the range of the 95′ tower ladder. If the City had bought a truck to reach 114′, I’d agree with you but @ 95′ the truck they bought barely handles several existing and planned structures. Plus, I don’t think ladder trucks are as customizable as one might assume. The next highest off-the-shelf reach is probably 75′ or 80′? So it might have cost them more to buy a truck with say a 90′ reach.
People cry when cville does not plan ahead. Then they cry when it does.
I’ve just learned so much about tall buildings in Charlottesville. :) I’ve heard of 1800 JPA, but I didn’t know it was Very Large Building, as it clearly is. I didn’t have any luck last night tracking down the height of 500 Court Square, and after spending another few minutes on it just now, I’ve got no idea!
The city fire department loves buying fire equpment. We have lots of it. It is requently used in the surrounding counties which buy little equipment. We even have a brush fire truck although we do not have much brush. It was said that it can be used in out brick, cement and steel garages.