The BAR is sick of restaurant tents, and wants City Council to get rid of them. #
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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Quit quibbling over tents and demand that the property owner either finish or (preferably) tear down that Landmark monstrosity.
Arguing that the BAR should not act on this because of the continued presence of the Landmark ruin is wrong on two counts. (this point is also brought forth on the CT link)
One, it is relativism, to say that it is unnecessary to regulate the appearance of the mall because something else on the mall already looks crappy is flawed. One spectacularly flawed project should not become the excuse for other bad ideas.
Two, does anyone really think that the BAR has the power to force the property owner to demolish or finish the Landmark? The BAR didn’t even have the power to take down tents, it can only stop approving new ones.
I suggest a compromise. The tents have special value, in that they allow a restaurant to experiment with an expansion for a relatively low cost. Jobs are indeed created. If the tent really is temporary then the appearance shouldn’t be a big problem.
So here’s the idea: restaurants within the BAR’s purview can get a 2 or 3 year permit to use a tent. That should be enough time to establish for sure whether the higher capacity generates enough income to justify building an extra story or otherwise expanding the permanent structure. Its also enough time to figure out how to pay for the expansion, and I would think that a couple years of higher receipts would help a restaurant owner secure a construction loan.
The rule rather than exception is, expansion generally becomes contrary to BAR’s purpose for existence.
Well, discussion of the Landmark is apt when discussing the BAR. The developers of the Landmark were not allowed to demolish the truly ugly “Joe Boxer” facade, due to its ‘historic’ significance (or other such nonsense). This is despite the fact that this facade is almost universally acknowledged to be hideous.
The people on the BAR do not have good taste. Their architectural judgment is unsound. It is unfortunate that their opinions hold sway with decision makers.