I don’t “sell” Charlottesville – I educate and inform my clients so that they can make the best decisions possible. Charlottesville is truly a great place to live; while I’ve been here for only 24 years, I wouldn’t choose to live anywhere else.
With that preface, there are negatives about Charlottesville and while they’re all relative (traffic) I’d like to think there are solutions.
I’ve been having this conversation on Google+ and on Facebook in advance of posting here.
My answer to the question: Perhaps the single greatest negative with living in CharlAlbemarle is the collective inability of the City and County to implement plans – specifically for infrastructure. Their constant bickering, planning, fighting, planning, discussing, planning and then planning some more is remarkably irresponsible.
My other response was – when I have the free time, choosing what to do from the plethora of options – sporting events, theater, music, arts, etc. Seriously. There is so much to do that choosing how to fill my limited free time is challenging.
The responses have varied from lack of Implementation of infrastructure plans to bickering of the localities.
I said last year: When explaining the City/County relationship to relocating buyers, I often describe the governments as being akin to estranged husbands and wives who are sharing custody of the kids. Or as brothers and sisters who occasionally poke each other in the eye, just to see what will happen.
It’s true, and it’s pathetic. And ultimately detrimental to the quality of life.
Or, as the UVA Law Blog’s title says: On Consideration, Charlottesville is Awful Actually OK
Coming from the deep south a little over a year ago, one of the negatives of Charlottesville is the economic gap between the have’s and the have not’s. There are very wealthy people, and there are very poor people with a real lack of affordable housing. Compared to other places I have lived, Charlottesville lacks ethic diversity. While I haven’t witnessed any blatant racism, there seems to be an undercurrent of disdain for minorities. Being a college town also brings population growth and shrinkage during certain parts of the year. I think the housing costs are inflated in Albemarle and Charlottesville with a lack of new affordable single family housing developments.
RobE -Â
Thanks so much for the comment. I see quite a bit of ethnic diversity, but frankly, I don’t spend a lot of time looking for it, nor have I witnessed disdain for minorities, or majorities for that matter.
How do you define “affordable”?Â
Albemarle county has a higher home value to income ratio than even Fairfax county. Working in Albemarle and living in Greene would provide more house for the median income. It would be interesting to see figures on the square footage and age of the home in the comparable counties, but I wouldn’t know where to get those figures.
Albemarle almost equals Greene county on the percentage of households below the poverty line at around 8%. Fairfax co is at around 5%. Since the median income in Albemarle is higher than Greene yet the poverty percentage is the same, I would say the income gap between the have’s and have not’s is greater in Albemarle county.
Per the census.gov site for Albemarle County (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51003.html)- Median income: $64,847
– Median home value: $349,800
– $1,670 per month (4% 30yr) 31% of Gross pay per month
Greene County (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51079.html)
– Median income: $54,307
– Median home value: $223,100
– $1,065 per month (4% 30yr) 24% of Gross pay per month
Fairfax County (http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/51/51059.html)- Median income: $105,415- Median home value: $507,800- $2424 per month (4% 30yr) 28% of Gross pay per month