C-Ville and The HooK Investigate Biscuit Run

in Albemarle Charlottesville Growth Politics on

But the Biscuit Run acquisition process, from start to finish, was a hasty affair that involved no public input and a network of businessmen and politicians with close ties. No one who negotiated the deal could control how much taxpayers paid—the decision is left to a few unelected bureaucrats in the state tax department.

…It is about something far more prosaic, and possibly more disturbing—how influential people align their interests and justify their actions by saying they did it for you and me. For background on Biscuit Run, do as I do and turn to the RealCentralVA.com archives and, better yet, Charlottesville Tomorrow’s Biscuit Run archives .

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Local Government Reading this Week – What Matters to Homeowners in Central Virginia

in Albemarle Charlottesville on

– City of Charlottesville School consolidation plan could mean tax hike – Daily Progress The city School Board voted Thursday night to consolidate Walker and Buford, the first large-scale change approved for the city’s public school system since the current configuration went into effect in 1988.

… What role, if any, should government have with respect to ensuring that our schools are high quality and are boons for economic development? – I’m kind of shocked that there are no comments on this piece in the Daily Progress, Will city-county tensions hurt residents of both? … Property taxes provide the bulk of the budget for the respective school systems, and school systems’ quality directly impacts property values . ( as discussed on RealCentralVA a few months ago ) The process of reassessing Nelson County property values for real estate tax purposes has begun again. … The relationship between the City of Charlottesville and the County of Albemarle is akin to that of divorced parents who really kind of hate each other but are able to keep it together justenough to keep the kids fed.

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Real Estate Technology I wanted Five Years Ago is Finally Here – Part 1 – Floorplans

in Technology on

When we were meeting a few weeks ago, they were looking at the faxes I used to send them, discussing the websites I used to put up for them – photos of neighborhoods, areas, houses, etc. and we were talking about how things have changed and evolved since then.

…I work with a lot of international and out-of-state buyers who are relocating to the Charlottesville area; I am constantly seeking out tools that will enable me to help facilitate our relationships and transactions. … I can’t tell you how many Interactive Floorplans: For years, I’ve wanted to have an interactive floorplan that showed the floorplan and pictures of the rooms at the same time . … This is a link to a floorplan , and I’m embedding it after the jump. (provided by Floorplan Online ; here’s a nice review of them ) This is a dead-simple implementation of something I’ve wanted for years, and I’m thrilled to offer it.

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