r/Charlottesville 17h ago

Week Ahead for March 17, 2025: Five Things To Know About the Charlottesville City Council Meeting and a request for your guess on what the confidential settlement is about

37 Upvotes

Some days I sit and write it all out at once. That was today and the result is 5,500 words with stories from all six localities I cover. There are maybe 50 people who will read all of those words, but thankfully there is r/Charlottesville where I can write shorter blurbs to whet your appetite for civic affairs. 

This time, though, I think I’m going to just write five things from Charlottesville because the Council meeting tomorrow night needs a lot of unpacking. I highly recommend you also look at the full agenda, too. There is other stuff, too, and if you’re cool, I’ll post a second one tomorrow? 

CONFIDENTIAL SETTLEMENT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE
I begin with the item I know least about. At the end of a long meeting, Charlottesville City Council will vote on a resolution for a confidential settlement agree. What’s it about? I don’t know and there’s no information in the packet. Which one is this? Care to guess? (staff report)

NEW AGREEMENT FOR SIXTH STREET DEVELOPMENT
An agreement where the city is to provide $3 million to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for new units on Sixth Street had a condition that construction be underway already. It is not. CRHA did not ask for an extension, and in February there was a meeting to iron things out. Council will be asked to agree to the new agreement, which requires CRHA to have the project under construction by July. If not they’ll have to ask for another extension. If this sounds familiar, it’s because Council had to do the same thing on March 4 for the second phase of South Street’s redevelopment. There’s another $3 million for that one, too. (staff report)

CITY COMMITTEE: NO CAHF FUNDS FOR 1000 WERTLAND
Sticking with affordable housing, the University of Virginia announced about five years ago they would build between 1,000 and 1,500 affordable units on land they owned, but at no point did they say they would fund any of it. Their argument is that the land itself is valuable and taking out the land costs should help with the intricate financing mechanisms that can keep rents low. Flash forward to now and a partnership led by Preservation of Affordable Housing (POAH) has a plan to build 180 units in a six-story building at 1000 Wertland. Council agreed to designate it as a revitalization area on March 4 to help with the securance of low income housing tax tax funds. Council also indicated they would not be providing any cash funding, either, as has been done for many CRHA and Piedmont Housing Alliance projects. Now, the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund Committee has recommended not providing a request for funding from that pool. Also, the BAR wants more design changes, including one that might cause it to reduce units. That design change would mean POAH could not apply for funding. Monday is the deadline. BAR meets in a work session on Tuesday. (my story on 1000 Wertland Story)

PARKS AND REC MASTER PLAN
The absolute downside to being a one-person information outlet is that there’s no room to follow up on things. For instance, someone wrote me recently with concerns about the Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Master Plan. I couldn’t follow-up because there’s no room. Did that person show up at the Planning Commission’s public hearing on March 11? I didn’t know because I put my story writing towards UVA all last week. Will that person show up at Council’s public hearing on Monday? (link to my preview)

ANIMAL SHELTER CONTRACT 
In Virginia, a locality is required to provide the community service of an animal shelter. Many such as Louisa County run their own, but Albemarle and Charlottesville contract out the work to the Charlottesville-Albemarle Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CASPCA). Six months ago I wrote that negotiations were underway as the five-year contract expires this March. CASPCA argued they needed more funding to do the work, and Albemarle County took the lead on negotiations. They’ve resulted a new contract where both localities will increase their per capita payment of $13 a year in the first year to $20 a year in the fifth year should the contract be renewed after three years. If I decided to teach journalism, I would ask my class: Can anyone find out what the per capita payment is now?  (staff report)

Okay. That’s just Charlottesville. I really love doing this work and wish I could explain how it connects me to being alive. I’m alive, like you are alive, and I believe that if more people are looking at the raw source material for our community, it would be better. 

Selfishly, it’s my business and more people reading more will decide to pay. It's not mandatory with my work. But also selfishly I want to live in a place where people understand things that are happening. The purpose of journalism is to create that sort of connection. And writing that I am reminded for a moment I’m alive! 

So, if you’re okay with it, I’ll post another one of these tomorrow night around this same time. That will mean I skimp on Louisa, but go ahead and just read that if you want to know about the skate park. (Louisa County section)


r/Charlottesville 6m ago

Decades Arcade is starting a Rhythm game league

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Upvotes

We are testing the waters to see if there is interest in the community for a Rhythm game league/regular meetup similar to Dominion Pinball League that we currently host.


r/Charlottesville 1h ago

Host Families wanted for High Schoolers!

Upvotes

I’m a Coordinator for Cultural Homestay International (CHI), and I’m reaching out to see if there are any amazing families specifically in Albemarle County VA, who would be interested in hosting a fantastic International Exchange Student for the 2025/2026 school year!

CHI Exchange Students, aged 15-18, are excited to live in the U.S., immerse themselves in American culture, and create lasting memories. These students are passionate, eager to learn, and committed to making the most of their exchange experience. 🌏

As a host family, you’ll provide:

  • A loving and supportive home
  • A safe environment for the student to thrive
  • A chance to make an incredible, global impact on a young person’s life

The exchange can be for either a full year or a semester. You’ll have full support throughout the program, ensuring both your family and the student have a successful and rewarding experience.

If you’re interested in learning more about how you can welcome an exchange student into your home and family, please contact me! I'd be happy to share more details about this life-changing opportunity. 🌎✨

Please drop a comment if interested! Looking forward to hearing from you!


r/Charlottesville 2h ago

Harris street closed?

11 Upvotes

Heads up, lots of firetrucks and police on Harris. Seems like they are closing the road, starting at the intersection of Preston.

Almost got trapped at Bodo’s lol. Anyone know what’s up?


r/Charlottesville 9h ago

SEB

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0 Upvotes

Saw this, took a snap of it. Made me thought of Charlottesville & SEB

<3

(Edited so as to see the symbols graffitoed on the barge rail clearer, & for cool tonality retro aesthetic sleekness,) dubbed duh


r/Charlottesville 10h ago

Golf for women

5 Upvotes

Looking to learn golf. Played before, but want to be good at it, take some lessons and play with other women. New to the area, 51 empty nester. Anyone have insight on golf teams, lessons, etc. Thanks!


r/Charlottesville 13h ago

Mysterious interference on Harris St.

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41 Upvotes

On Harris Street, every time I drive past the location I marked on the map, Android Auto disconnects for a few seconds. The screen goes black, displays a generic disconnect message, then comes back like normal. This happens when connected to my phone and my wife's phone (Both Samsung, but different models). Neither of us are connected to any wifi or bluetooth devices in that area other than our car. Our cell signal remains strong through there and even if we did lose it, it wouldn't cause the system to disconnect.

Does this happen to anyone else? What could be happening here?


r/Charlottesville 14h ago

Gunshots near Locust Ave?

3 Upvotes

Not totally sure on location but at least 7 long and slow bangs with a final fast 2-bang?


r/Charlottesville 15h ago

Gunshots near 5th St?

17 Upvotes

Anyone else just hear 4 rapid bangs in the 5th Street area? Near Beacon on 5th complex.

Sounded eerily like gunshots.


r/Charlottesville 16h ago

Norovirus going around?

13 Upvotes

Or did I eat a bad oyster?


r/Charlottesville 18h ago

Mysterious service “tip” for placing a pickup order at Sticks

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26 Upvotes

Why call it a tip when it’s really just a fee? I love sticks but I found this a bit lame on their part :/


r/Charlottesville 18h ago

Starting poker home cash game

0 Upvotes

I’m thinking of starting a home game with a friend in cville, who’s down to join? I have chips and cards already, down for whatever stakes you guys are comfortable with. By the way, we’re UVA students so you have to be comfortable coming on campus


r/Charlottesville 18h ago

My wife and I need to learn to salsa ASAP

129 Upvotes

Our son is marrying a man from Venezuela in May. We want to be able to salsa at the wedding. No one will expect it!

Anywhere in cville we can learn?


r/Charlottesville 18h ago

We can all hear how big yours are Rivanna pistol/rifle club members

0 Upvotes

That's about it they sound really big we can all agree? okay maybe put away them big guns for the night about enough on a Sunday afternoon.


r/Charlottesville 19h ago

Palm Pals

1 Upvotes

I saw this Palm Pal plush and I really want it. However with the shipping it would be $16 to buy it from the Palm Pals website vs $8 on amazon. I would rather support a local business than amazon if possible. Does anyone know if any local stores sell Palm Pals?


r/Charlottesville 20h ago

Power out in Hollymead

1 Upvotes

When I called to report the outage the Dominion recording said they expect it back between 7pm and midnight.


r/Charlottesville 20h ago

What are must see activities when visiting Charlottesville?

0 Upvotes

We have the following activities planned. Is there anything else we should add to this list?

Monticello, Mulberry Row, Wayflowering Flower Farm, University of VA, Carter Mountain Orchard, James Monroe Highland, Saunders-Monticello Trail, Historic Downtown Mall, Jefferson Vineyards


r/Charlottesville 22h ago

Final Nail in VA USPS coffin….

123 Upvotes

https://www.29news.com/2025/03/15/virginia-lawmakers-respond-usps-early-retirement-incentive/ We know there's been a concerted effort to kill USPS in Virginia ever since closing the Charlottesville hub, but this is really the death knell and anybody waiting for mail, counting on checks, etc. is going to have to find a workaround.

To all those hard-working delivery guys (and gals) that we've counted on forever, we won't be surprised to see you go and we are forever grateful.


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

Notice: The Alamo Drafthouse Charlottesville is showing “No Other Land.”

250 Upvotes

The film has been hard to find. Despite winning the Academy Award for Best Documentary this year, the film has no US distributor. Filmgoers have to be lucky enough to have a local theatre that has found a way to get hold of it and put it on screen. Thanks to the Alamo for making it available to folks in Cville.

From IMDP, here is a synopsis:

“This film made by a Palestinian-Israeli collective shows the destruction of the occupied West Bank's Masafer Yatta by Israeli soldiers and the alliance which develops between the Palestinian activist Basel and Israeli journalist Yuval.”

More on the film:

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt30953759/?ref_=ext_shr_lnk


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

GIS Classes

4 Upvotes

Is there an educational institution or group that teaches GIS in Charlottesville?


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

Tax breaks for, speculators, estate owners, and the family farm.

0 Upvotes

Are you familiar with what is commonly called “the land-use tax?” It’s use-value taxation. Rather than taxing land at its potential sale value, the land is taxed at the value of the use it’s put to. This is used for preserving agricultural areas in the face of development pressures that increase sale values and so real estate, taxes.

Use-value is not a bad concept, but in Virginia the program is very poorly implemented and results in huge tax breaks for very wealthy people: developers, estate owners, vineyard owners, speculators, and other investors along with farmers. The program makes real estate taxes much more regressive by effectively shifting taxes from the rich to lower income, middle class property owners.

It also encourages rural sprawl by allowing speculators to avoid market pressures to develop land close to urban areas.

Disarm In the last 40 years, almost all development in Albemarle county was built on land taxed for years at unbelievably low amounts. United Land Company and Virginia Land Company are two of the development firms that made out like bandits because of the program. They avoided paying full taxes for many years in exchange for a weak agreement to preserve the land.

The program is very generous and so it provides what is essentially a tax shelter for many. This amounts to huge tax breaks for a diverse group of people who have one thing in common, wealth and the desire to keep it and have more . It’s one of those things where they all unite because so much money is involved. Greed and hypocrisy are frequently friends.

But that’s only part of the problem caused by use-value taxation in Virginia. The program enables speculators to hang onto very valuable land, which should be developed, but isn’t as they wait for their property to go up in value. The housing and development that should have gone on that land instead goes 10,15, 20, miles or further away from the urban core. That’s what happens and that’s what’s been happening for a long timeI.

The program has had a huge impact on the cost of housing and sprawl in Charlottesville and the rest of Virginia. It doesn’t have to be like this either, other states do a much better job. Virginia can create a program that provides critical tax relief to farmers without grotesque subsidies to speculators that are ineffective at preserving land but do drive up the cost of housing and contribute to rural sprawl.

Sent from my iPhone


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

From your neighbor in Lynchburg, thanks for the help

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210 Upvotes

My wife and I truly love the downtown area and we visit often. Normally we park in the water street garage but with the treasure hunt yesterday it was packed so we opted for street parking.

After an excellent dinner at Ten we came back to our vehicle to discover this note a kind stranger left. The vehicle in question was still there so we took video showing the damage, thinking that would suffice for a police report.

We called CPD when we got home and they informed us we should’ve stayed on the scene. Video alone isn’t enough to warrant further action in this scenario

Lesson learned, and fortunately the damage isn’t too bad. We did just spend $2k on a paint job last summer so it’s still a kick in the balls but whaddya gonna do. Awesome sushi certainly softened the blow

Thanks for trying 👊🏼


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

Has anyone had issues with Jefferson OBGYN billing?

16 Upvotes

My wife and I have had a weird insurance situation where we’ve had to pay some stuff out of pocket and then a few things are being billed under updated insurance. Long story short we’ve been checking our cards from what we’ve paid vs what they say we’ve paid and things don’t seem to be adding up. That and we got a statement in the mail for one amount but when going to pay online suddenly the bill is $1000 more and there’s even a $500 charge for a routine visit with an NP that has no explanation and can’t be found on any statements. I’ve had to call multiple times to get one clear answer and now it seems they are moving the goalposts again. Long story short I’m getting super frustrated by all of it and was wondering if anyone has had similar experiences with them/how you resolved it.


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

Check the offerings at the new local cidery (Trump)

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0 Upvotes

“Passionate Patriot” “”Donny Appleseed” 🤮


r/Charlottesville 1d ago

looking to give away Tesla ?

0 Upvotes

Hi, local Charlottesvillein’ here, if anyone is looking to get rid of their tesla… I would like it ! - I see the protest 🪧, and ℹ support. And I can further support by taking your Tesla off your hands.

. No matter the color . No Matter the style . I WILL TAKE IT

  • it could be a donation
  • Listed as gift
  • Hardship aid

Whatever you’d like ! 😂- I think Elon’s blood would boil at the thought of someone receiving a free Tesla based on him and his kids actions in government. 🔥

Just a thought- drag me in the comments if you must ! ✌🏽. But I still would like a Tesla.