At around 4:02pm, several people in downtown Charlottesville reported an earthquake. It lasted roughly thirty seconds, and a couple of people reported that it seemed stronger than our last two earthquakes, the 09/22/01 and 05/05/03 events. Phones are reporting that all circuits are busy, firetrucks are on the go. Keep an eye on the USGS Earthquake site for confirmation and details, and read the comments for reports from individuals. 4:30pm Update: The USGS lists this at a 4.5, having taken place at 3:59pm, been three miles underground and showing it centered near Columbia, VA (near Fork Union), like our last quake. 4:35pm Update: It was felt from Manassas to Petersburg, and perhaps even as far as Lynchburg. 5:20pm Update: The AP is reporting that this was also felt in Maryland, DC, and North Carolina. No damage or injuries have been reported.
cvillenews.com
Lee Danielson has announced that he intends to replace the two-story Boxer Learning building (formerly Central Fidelity), at the corner of 2nd St. SE, with a nine-story hotel. He describes it as “a very high-end boutique hotel” It’s the only property that the now-California-based developer still owns in the city; he bought it in July of last year for $3.3M. Danielson will be presenting his plans to the Board of Architectural Review in a couple of weeks, and would like to have the project completed in a year or two. Liz Nelson has the story in today’s Progress.
Any time that Republican City Councilor Rob Schilling finds himself in the majority on a split vote, things ain’t right at City Hall. City Council is looking to sell 9.2 acres of McIntire Park to VDOT, in order to create the Meadowcreek Parkway, but long-time Parkway-foes Mayor Maurice Cox and Councilor Kevin Lynch refuse to support the sale. In a recent press release, the two argue that four conditions were established by Council in 2000 under which they would agree to sell the land, and that none of them have been met. The Council majority, in a dueling press release, argues that those conditions “is either in place or continues to be negotiated,” and that the Parkway is “essential to the long-term economic viability of Charlottesville.” The reason that this split is important is that, under the Virginia Constitution, three-fourths of Council must agree to sell the land, or four members in total. In an effort to circumvent this, the majority on Council is seeking to essentially give away the land, rather than sell it, thus ducking the supermajority requirement. The subtext to all of this is that Vice Mayor Meredith Richards is up for reelection in May, as is Cox and Lynch. However, the most active Charlottesville Democrats, the ones that show up at the nomination convention, tend to be strongly anti-Parkway, and it appears that Richards’ position is endangering her ability to gain the nomination to run again. Liz Nelson has the story in the Daily Progress.
Lars writes: Wintergreen will open this Friday (December the 5th). Night skiing doesn’t begin until Friday, December 12. The forecast calls for snow on Friday and Saturday with significant accumulation. How serendipitous!
I haven’t used my skis in years. Maybe all of us should take a big, dysfunctional field trip and go skiing together.
JamesMadison writes: Charlottesville’s City council, deadlocked 3-2 on the Meadowcreek Parkway, has been considering calling the transfer of land to VDOT an “easement” instead of a “conveyance” to get around the constitution’s requirement of a 3/4 majority vote. Now the City Attorney is looking into Virginia Attorney General opinions which say even an easement will require a 3/4 majority, since the transfer is a “permanent disposition.” And, apparently, the law may give the Mayor a veto over any attempted end-run around the 3/4 majority requirement. Mayor Cox is one of the two counselors who have opposed the parkway. According to City Council Clerk Jeanne Cox, they expect a public hearing on this in late January, although it is as yet not scheduled.
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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