The Supreme Court is finally taking up the lawsuit seeking to halt construction of the YMCA in McIntire Park, Sean Tubbs reports for Charlottesville Tomorrow. Two years ago, ACAC, Gold’s Gym, and Total Performance Sports & Fitness filed a pair of lawsuits against the city and the county, alleging that the municipalities failed to follow standard bidding practices when they awarded the Young Men’s Christian Association a $1/year ground lease to build an aquatic facility in the park, along with $3.3M for construction costs. The project has been on hold as a result. It was August of last year when the Supreme Court of Virginia agreed to hear the case, and is finally going to do so June 7, with a decision due in the summer.
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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Funny how city government went gaga over improved pool size benefitting Charlottesville High School but against the “in perpetuity” spirit McIntire Park was bequeathed. So, where now is the “Save McIntire Park” crowd upon this? Are they going to fill the state supreme court’s audience gallery on June 7th? Maybe they too, along with the fight the dam group, have consolidated and incorporated into this new organization called “open government alliance?” Come out, come out!
“…..lawsuits against the city and county, alleging that the municipalities to follow standard bidding practices……..” Cough, cough, hack cough – Rick Barrick – cough!
Though it may not bring in an Aquatic Fitness Facility, Meadowcreek Parkway does mean more access addition to McIntire Park. Oh sorry, there’s that pesky “in perpetuity” hitch there again also. Pretty soon we’ll have whatever businesses of the entire city so fenced-in, that only business could be conducted from the grave. All the Park and Rec space a lone partier might ever want to stroll and nothing else to distract the viewshed.
Spoiler alert. I hear Oakwood Cemetery has reach capacity.
Back into the pool. “The project has been on hold as a result.” See, who claims our government here doesn’t care and wants nada done. Yeah, the same old slick nothing electorally packaged as something. Besides after this perhaps, the YMCA would be better off buddy-pairing with the “Boys and Girls Club in the same brick and mortar venue? Who’s to say? A judge as soon as potentially 2 weeks.
Based on the legal issues, namely the city and county’s desire for non profit only bids, I’d say the Y will win. The group should have sued on the grounds that tax payer money via the city and county will be propping up a religious organization. There will be a lot of our tax dollars paying for the space and associated resources required.
It’s sad to see this happen to the park. And what’s sad is the Y will fail at this location just like they’ve failed at all their other locations. Maybe the city and county should have held out for some Trump towers instead. Joke. Sort of. Sigh.