The Progress reports that City Council debated the impact of the proposed development of the Sperry Marine property at the 29/Hydraulic intersection. An out-of-state deveoper wants to put in a big theater, some stores, a hotel, and apparently some residences, too. Though development of the property fits into the plans to develop Charlottesville’s urban ring, county supervisors and city councilors dislike the “big-box” stores that would be constructed. Councilor Maurice Cox expressed concerned about traffic, as existing roads would likely be unable to handle the load. Councilor Kevin Lynch, never shy about such things, said that the planned development was “exactly wrong.”
cvillenews.com
News and meta-news about Charlottesville, VA, since 2001.
The Progress reports today that the local Emergency Communications Center will be switching to a $13M digital communications system that will permit Charlottesville and Albemarle fire, EMS, and police radio networks to all be tied together. Currently, they can’t communicate with one another. The downside? Joe Citizen can’t listen in with scanners, which is something done by a lot of folks in the area. According to the Progress, the FCC requires that the frequencies be available to the public, a standard that seems contrary to these plans.
jack writes: Have you ever noticed the American flag waving over Lee Danielson’s Downtown Ice Park? Have you ever noticed the fact that it never comes in at night? I have and I’m a little pissed off.
If you’re going to put up an American flag over your business, then go to it and enjoy. But at least have the decency to bring it down at sunset and take it in from the rain. The Ice Park’s flag stays up all night long and flaps coldly through every rainstorm.
Let it be clear that if a flagburning amendment were ever to be passed, I would be the first in line to burn Old Glory on the steps of the Federal Courthouse in protest. But nevertheless, I despise an act of plastic (or half-hearted) patriotism. Maybe there’s a local troop of Cub Scouts that could give the Ice Park a lesson in the proper use of the American colors.
I see this a lot around town. Local government agencies seem to be pretty good about how they treat the flag, though.
We dropped the ball and missed Tornado Preparedness Day. Possibly because this site didn’t exist on March 27th, but that’s beside the point. We’ve got a civic duty to fulfill here, don’t we? Also, I really wanted to use that little weather icon. Governor Gilmore declared March 27th to be Tornado Preparedness Day, and the Virginia Department of Emergency Services has even put up a website all about tornado preparedness. We average, as a state, about seven tornadoes per year, and our records of them go back to 1776. The coolest one, of course, being May 13th, 2000‘s, that whipped through town from Farmington to Albemarle High School and down to Route 29. Channel 29 news didn’t even mention it on the news, and later denied that it was a tornado. Something about microbursts. Anyhow, go get prepared or something.
The Charlottesville Downtown Foundation has announced their schedule for this year’s Fridays After 5, and it looks as good as ever. The lineup includes Hogwaller Ramblers, Dixie Power Trio, Terri Allard, Skip Castro, Jamal Milner’s Phatness, and about twenty more groups over the course of the summer. The first show is April 27th, two weeks from today, and Mandorico will be performing. And remember: it’s free!
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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