Local elections matter. So does money. This is a big year for Charlottesville and Albemarle elections. VPAP released data that shows who’s giving money to whom in our elections. Spend some time digging in … it’s always funny to transparently follow the money.
Browsing Category Albemarle
Western Bypass Moving Forward. (?)
The debate on the Western Bypass was fairly well summed up today in a tweet:
CTB member Peake “this has gone on too long. It’s time to move on this project it’s a US Highway not Charlottesville’s” #WesternBypass
The Western Bypass isn’t the perfect road, and may not even be a good one, with it northern terminus being south of Forest Lakes. But this area needs transportation improvements.
See What the Western Bypass Will Look like
Amazing what technology can do. Of course, who knows if it will ever be built.
Nest Realty’s 1st Half 2011 “Nest Report”
Read it, download it, critique it. I’ll be posting a direct link to the PDF later today.
Nest Realty’s Nest Report is out – a comprehensive look at “where we are” right now in the Charlottesville real estate market.
Click through to download the report.
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Trump. In Charlottesville
(Really, Albemarle)
What, Pray Tell, IS the Character of the Area Surrounding the Shops at Stonefield?
What, Pray Tell, is the Character of the Area Surrounding the Shops at Stonefield?
Just curious.
Albemarle’s Architectural Review Board is in a bit of an unenviable position, but let’s be serious.
The Shops at Stonefield are going to be big, likely going to be ugly, will probably look like almost any other big box development in the US, and will represent a huge step towards homogeneity in Charlottesville/Albemarle.
The ARB guidelines state (PDF):
Compatibility with the character of the Entrance Corridor:
5. It is also an important objective of the Guidelines to establish a pattern of compatible architectural characteristics throughout the Entrance Corridor in order to achieve unity and coherence. Building designs should demonstrate sensitivity to other nearby structures within the Entrance Corridor. Where a designated corridor is substantially developed, these Guidelines require striking a careful balance between harmonizing new development with the existing character of the corridor and achieving compatibility with the significant historic sites in the area.
Maybe they’re operating under guidelines different than the ones I was able to find.
So, what exactly is the character? I looked at the existing “entrance corridor”:
Seminole Square mall – Cheeseburger in Paradise, the Express Car Wash, Chili’s, strip with Sprint and the UPS Store, on the east side of 29, Burger King, and lots of parking lots. Stonefield is replacing the old Blockbuster and 7-11, and lots of trees and natural landscape. If the ARB truly wanted to be consistent, the Shops at Stonefield would have to emulate trees.
Note that a labeled look from above shows the existing character of the 29 corridor.
Bundoran Farm Foreclosed on, Continuing On
Bundoran Farm, having been foreclosed on by Wells Fargo, looks to continue on as a preservation development. Hopefully.