So says Brian McNeill in today’s DP, and he covers most of the angles – water, infrastructure, proffers (I’d love to know what they’re trying to re-negotiate).

Albemarle Place is planned for 65 acres of vacant land near the 7-Eleven on Hydraulic Road. Once completed, the project will feature 1 million square feet of residential space and 900,000 square feet of retail and office space. Its buildings would surround a 10,000-square-foot foundation, according to plans. … Steve Boyle, vice president for development at Edens & Avant, said it is too early to announce any tenants of Albemarle Place, but added that he expects it to include a theater, hotel, grocery, pedestrian shopping area and open space.

“This is an enormous project,” Boyle said. “It’ll transform how retailing is done in Charlottesville. It’s been talked about for too long. We’re going to make it happen.”

Edens & Avant’s Web site touts Albemarle Place as an “elegant mix of Main Street retail, residential living, Class A office, and upscale hotel.” It describes Charlottesville as the “Napa of the East Coast.”

Really, the “Napa of the East Coast?” Sure, we have the Monticello Wine Trail and the budding at RealCentralVA –2005, 2005, 2006, 2006, 2007, and Charlottesville Tomorrow.

*As an aside, in researching this post, I was reminded that the Daily Progress’ decision to not bring its archives forward into their new site infrastructure is lamentable, as they have abdicated their responsibility to the community (and their own relevance). I know that some at the DP/Media General intended to bring them into the new system, but clearly not enough of them shared this goal.

Discussion at Cvillenews.