RT @GetOpenSpace: Representing Charlottesville at the #Coworking Meetup at #SXSW [woo-hoo!] # RT @CVilleKim: Bake sale in Crozet at Great Valu Sunday 1-5 to benefit Jesse from the store. Bake or buy something [ http://bit.ly/9A3qNK…
Date Archives March 2010
Daylight Saving Time Saves Pedestrians’ Lives
DOT conservatively identified a 0.7% reduction in traffic fatalities during DST, and estimated the real reduction to be 1.5% to 2%, [58] but the 1976 NBS review of the DOT study found no differences in traffic fatalities. [39] In 1995 the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety estimated a reduction of 1.2%, including a 5% reduction in crashes fatal to pedestrians . … [59] Single/Double Summer Time (SDST), a variant where clocks are one hour ahead of the sun in winter and two in summer, has been projected to reduce traffic fatalities by 3% to 4% in the UK, compared to ordinary DST. … [62] A 2009 U.S. study found that on Mondays after the switch to DST, workers sleep an average of 40 minutes less, and are injured at work more often and more severely.
Albemarle County Wants Google’s Fiber!
Albemarle County, Charlottesville and the University of Virginia are putting in a joint application to bring Google Fiber for Communities to central Virginia, and we are looking for help from the community. … According to Google, “ In the same way that the transition from dial-up to broadband made possible the emergence of online video and countless other applications, ultra high-speed bandwidth will drive more innovation – in high-definition video, remote data storage, real-time multimedia collaboration, and others that we cannot yet imagine. … There are two ways to get involved: First, Albemarle County, Charlottesville and the University of Virginia are jointly submitting a request to Google to be considered for this trial – you can help by filling in this brief survey to provide info that will be helpful in our submittal. http://spreadsheets.google.com/viewform? formkey=dHdMd2hVVUwtbTQyNFVyYTFQaFFTcVE6MA Second, Google is accepting nominations from residents and community groups saying why Google Fiber should come to their area – visit the following link and make your best case for why we should be the selected region, Google has said that community support will be important in making their choice. http://www.google.com/appserve/fiberrfi/public/options Links to both of these items are posted on the county and city websites, http://www.albemarle.org/googlefiber and www.charlottesville.org We need to submit our request by March 26, so we need survey responses and community nominations to be submitted by March 22.
Wednesday Thought – Connecting via Bike and Walking
One of the very first features desired by clients with whom I just met was “walkability” – being able to walk to stuff – grocery stores, coffee shops, parks … but there’s another aspect of walkability and bikeability that I have noticed since I started my effort to bike and walk around Charlottesville and Crozet – I’m more connected to my community . I see people more, I wave more, I see Charlottesville from a different perspective than that from a car. … This is what it looks like from my car: And this is what it looks like when walking (incidentally, I took this photo after walking my younger one to school, stopping at the Crozet Mudhouse on the way to and from): Granted, it’s just a pothole, but think about if it were a friend, or a dog, or a client, or a garden … Using Walkscore , these are some of the most walkable homes for sale in Crozet and these are some of the most walkable homes for sale in Charlottesville .
Baby Boomers and Charlottesville – What’s Next?
The question is – where is the housing for those seeking to age in place, plan for the future or semi- (or fully) retire in the Charlottesville area – In addition to the lack of housing for those seeking to achieve the above goals, location is key – coming back to my “ close to stuff †principle – close to groceries, libraries, things to do … but why aren’t builders capitalizing on this demand? I’ve been asking this question for years, and it seems that like much else in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area (and really, the US as a whole) we’ll wait to benefit from hindsight to recognize what we should have done.
…From Charlottesville’s recognition in 2004 as America’s best city in which to live , to the University of Virginia’s consistent ranking as one of the nation’s best public universities , to the John Paul Jones Arena’s award as the nation’s best new concert venue, we take pride in being the best.
…Indeed, according to local realtor Jim Duncan, who picked up on this trend in 2005 , out of the 1158 homes currently on the market in the Charlottesville/Albemarle area for under $1 million, only 143 have bedroom, kitchen, and laundry on the first floor, never mind a full bathroom.
Charlottesville Real Estate Data Nuggets
Looking at the weekly real estate data reports for Charlottesville and Albemarle, two points jump out: – Percent of Properties with Price Decrease 26 % – Percent Relisted (reset DOM) 9 % I’m not 100% confident with 26% having price decreases, but it feels about right. The relisted number feels right too – this is the percent of homes that have come on the market for a second or third time … … Download them all for yourself below or sign up to receive weekly automatic (spam-free) delivery . Charlottesville Single-Family Homes Charlottesville Attached Homes and Condos Charlottesville and Albemarle Single Family Market Update Charlottesville and Albemarle Attached Homes and Condos – real estate market update
Twitter Week in Review
@outskirts seriously, go to Chung's in Albemarle square. in reply to outskirts # Line out the door at Charley's on High Street. Is that b/c od the food or the "Smoking Allowed" sign? # An…