Charlottesville Community Engagement

Town Crier Productions
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Regular updates of what's happening in local and regional government in and around Charlottesville, Virginia from an award-winning journalist with nearly thirty years of experience. communityengagement.substack.com

  1. 13h ago

    October 13, 2026: Charlottesville’s parks and recreation director describes master plan’s $78.2 million slate of projects

    Today’s sponsor: Big builds, small repairs, and everything in between, Nola Builds does it all On October 13, 1892, astronomer E.E. Barnard set up a photographic plate to capture the night sky towards Altair with an exposure time of four hours and 20 minutes. Upon analysis, Barnard spotted a comet, the first time one had been discovered using the technology. The Nashville native would go on to make many more discoveries including the identification of the movement of a star system that is the second closest to our own. This edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement never did get to hop off at the interstellar roundabout at Barnard’s Star. In the print edition: * The Virginia Department of Transportation opens up two surveys to get feedback on specific ways on two “pipeline” studies intended to make conditions on U.S. 29 safer for pedestrians * Charlottesville Parks and Recreation Director Riaan Anthony presents the details of proposed capital projects that come out of the 2025 master plan Audio version of previous stories in the podcast version: * Assistant City Manager Roman provides updates on 2000 Holiday Drive (read the story) * Albemarle staff continue work on transportation plans including two bike lanes in urban areas (read the story) * VDOT updates Albemarle Supervisors on state-funded transportation projects (read the story) * Proffit Road to remain closed for at least three months while VDOT obtains permission to work in railroad right-of-way (read the story) Charlottesville Community Engagement is an ongoing experimental in reader-supported journalism A sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! VDOT seeks input on alternatives that come from two recent “pipeline” studies The way that transportation projects are developed and built has changed over time as different advances have been made in a variety of fields ranging from engineering to urban design to community engagement. There are a variety of ways transportation projects get funded in Virginia during this era with a lot of decisions made through comparing different candidates with each other to see how well they purport to provide various functions. For ten years, this has been the basic principle behind the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Smart Scale process. But where do the ideas themselves come from? One source is through VDOT’s Strategically Targeted Affordable Roadway Solutions studies, known as STARS. Two such projects have been underway in Albemarle County and Charlottesville with one focusing on Seminole Trail between Hydraulic Road and Woodbrook Road and the other looking at the Route 29/250 Bypass interchange with Emmet Street. A first round of input on both studies was held in May 2025 and now the consultants working on the project have opened a feedback round for specific alternatives. “The options shown are planning-level concepts, which have not been finalized, and have not yet been funded for construction,” reads an information release sent out today. “Responses received through the public surveys will help VDOT refine recommendations and develop planning-level cost estimates for preferred alternatives.” * STARS US 29 Corridor Study Hydraulic Rd to Woodbrook Rd Alternatives * STARS US 29/250 Bypass Interchange with Emmet St Alternatives Both studies offer the chance to comment on no-build scenarios. Hydraulic / Woodbrook Road The Hydraulic / Woodbrook Road has several different potential projects with details in the study for each. Text comes from the survey. * Fashion Square Drive Thru Cut - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: This alternative would add a marked crosswalk with a waiting area in the median (refuge area) on the north side of the intersection. This crosswalk will be controlled by audible/visual pedestrian signals (Walk/Don’t Walk with audible messaging for the hearing impaired). The alternative would also change the intersection so drivers coming from the side streets could no longer drive straight across US 29. * Fashion Square Drive Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: This alternative would add a marked crosswalk diagonally across US 29 with a waiting area in the median. This crosswalk will be controlled by audible/visual pedestrian signals (Walk/Don’t Walk with audible messaging for the hearing impaired). The alternative would change the intersection so drivers coming from the side streets could only turn right onto US 29. Drivers would no longer be able to turn left or drive straight across US 29 from the side streets. * Branchlands Boulevard Restricted Crossing U-Turn (RCUT) - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: This alternative would add a marked crosswalk across US 29 with a waiting area in the median (refuge area). This crosswalk will be controlled by audible/visual pedestrian signals (Walk/Don’t Walk with audible messaging for the hearing impaired). The alternative would also change the intersection so drivers coming from the side streets could only turn right onto US 29. Drivers would no longer be able to turn left or drive straight across US 29 from the side streets. * Greenbrier Drive Intersection Reconfiguration - Pedestrian Crossing Improvements: This alternative would move the crosswalk across US 29 to the south side of the intersection. Left turns from northbound US 29 would be redirected to Westfield Road, which would make room for a large waiting area in the median (refuge area) for pedestrians crossing US 29. This alternative would also widen the sidewalk area at the southwest corner of the intersection, shortening the distance people need to walk across US 29. * Seminole Court Intersection – Operations and Safety Improvements: This alternative would change the Northrop Grumman driveway so vehicles could only enter from US 29 and could no longer exit onto US 29 from that driveway. It would also repaint the lane markings on Seminole Court so the left lane is only for left turns, and the right lane is for turning left, going straight, or turning right. * Hillsdale Drive Shared-Use-Path: This alternative proposes reconfiguring or reconstructing Hillsdale Drive to include a shared-use-path for both bicyclists and pedestrians between Greenbrier Drive and Branchlands Boulevard. * Install a physical barrier on northbound US 29 from the Rio Road underpass to Woodbrook Road: Install a physical barrier on northbound US 29 from the Rio Road underpass to Woodbrook Road with two through lanes on each side of the barrier as shown in the inset of the graphic. * Redirected Route for Vehicles from Rio Road: Today, drivers traveling west on Rio Road take the ramp onto northbound US 29 and cut over to the left lanes to turn left onto Woodbrook Road. With this change, they would stay on Rio Road to cross US 29 and turn right onto Berkmar Drive to reach Woodbrook Road. Drivers could also merge onto US 29 northbound from Rio Road, continue northbound past Woodbrook Drive, and make a U-turn at Gander Drive / Schewells Furniture (this option is not shown in the graphic). * Redirected Route for Vehicles from Northbound US 29: Today, drivers heading north on US 29 go under the Rio Road bridge and cut over to the right lanes to reach businesses on the east side of US 29 or turn right onto Woodbrook Road. With this change, they would instead use the ramps to exit up to the Rio Road intersection, cross through the intersection, and take the ramp back onto northbound US 29 to reach those businesses or to turn right onto Woodbrook Road. US 29/250 Bypass Interchange area * Removal of Northbound to Westbound loop-ramp at US 250 Bypass/ Emmet St Interchange: This concept removes the northbound-to-westbound loop ramp and diverts traffic to the Barracks Road interchange. This is a very low volume ramp with only 32 vehicles in the morning peak hour and 72 vehicles during the evening peak hour in the existing condition. * Removal of Westbound to Southbound left-turn lane at US 250 Bypass/Emmet St Interchange: This alternative would remove the existing left-turn lane from westbound US 250 Bypass onto southbound Emmet Street and would require drivers who currently make this turn to use the Barracks Road interchange instead. This turn is used by relatively few vehicles today—about 70 vehicles during the morning peak hour and 39 vehicles during the evening peak hour. * Hillsdale Drive Extension: This alternative extends Hillsdale Drive south from the roundabout at Hydraulic Road to the US 250 bypass to replace the existing ramps shown being removed in the image above (westbound US 250 Bypass to northbound US 29 Business ramp & the northbound US 29 Business to westbound US 250 Bypass loop ramp). * Intersection Modifications – Restrict through movements and left-turns from Angus Road and Hotel Exit: This alternative would prevent drivers from going straight across or turning left from Angus Road and the hotel entrance. Drivers would still be able to make right turns, and all existing pedestrian crossings would remain. Drivers would also still be able to make left-turns from Emmet Street onto Angus Road or into the hotel. * Reconfigure existing lanes and extend eastbound left-turn storage

  2. Oct 6

    Podcast for October 6, 2026: Three stories about transit and one on CRHA’s pending purchases

    In a perfect world the audio versions and the newsletter versions of Charlottesville Community Engagement would come out at the exact same time as part of a well-funded information outlet’s mission to provide information about a small metropolis in flux to benefit the people who live there. Then again in a perfect world, the sole person who does this work would have benefits, a guaranteed amount of money, and the ability to take time off. Until then, a sonic edition to catch up those who use their ears. In this edition: * CRHA briefs Charlottesville City Council on pending purchases, requested policy changes (read the story) * CARTA members briefly discuss the entity’s future (read the story) * CAT Route 7 to go to 15-minute headways in late October (read the story) * Afton Express continues to see ridership increase (read the story) Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. No sponsorships, shout-outs, or anything But there is this note in which I say that Charlottesville Community Engagement is an experimental newsletter which seeks to get out information that might not otherwise be heard, read, spindled, or mutilated. The current ratio of paid subscriptions to free subscriptions via Substack is 0.163554157657 which is a long string of numbers. I would like to get that number to 0.2 but I would also like to find other ways to measure subscriber success. There is a pall over me today because another Substack subscriber disputed a renewal charge. That’s two in a week, and the first one reported a terrible experience with Substack’s customer service humanity-faking software. I feel awful about it. I am hopeful the second, someone I know, just forgot they paid me. But seeing the phrase “fraudulent activity” hit a nerve that seems to be hit a lot these days. I dedicate my entire life to this work, something I know may not be healthy but all of us have different expectations of life. All I want to do is do the work and be able to live a somewhat decent life. And I want that for others, too, which is why I work so hard. I can’t think of any other line of work that would bring me satisfaction, especially in this 21st century of uncertainty and chaos. For now, Substack is the vehicle I use to get this information out to most of you. There is also Information Charlottesville, a Wordpress website on which I have tried to get advertisements. There’s also a way you can make a tax-deductible charitable contribution through the Tiny News Collective. Take a look here! Paid Substack subscribers skip a lot of the shout-outs now and also get access to some behind the scenes stuff where I talk a little about the business and may seek specific help. While I’m fairly good at being a reporter, I need more than experimenting to fix the metaphorical tree-house where I do my work. Back with another edition tomorrow. Production of this podcast today helps me clear my brain. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

  3. Sep 28

    September 28, 2026: Charlottesville Planning Commissioners provide updates on UVa affordable housing initiative, the Missing Middle, and quick-builds

    Today’s sponsor: Big builds, small repairs, and everything in between, Nola Builds does it all A hundred years ago today, fingerprint expert Irving Lindsay Leafe became the chief of police in Charlottesville. He would serve in the position for less than six weeks. Both pieces of information can be traced to the archives of the Charlottesville Daily Progress. What else can be found in the digital archives for September 28, 2026? Let me know what you find out! In this edition: * Updates from the Charlottesville Planning Commission that have not yet been reported in this newsletter and perhaps no other place * Charlottesville City Council reappoints Schwarz and Harness to Planning Commission * Schwarz renamed as chair while Yoder remains vice chair * A brief update on the University of Virginia’s affordable housing initiative * A brief description of the Missing Middle Committee * Planning Commissioner Carp provides an update on the quick build initiative * Area planners tour the Birdwood * No one speaks at the Planning Commission’s public hearing on a Comprehensive Plan updae * A very brief report on the Central Library Want to subscribe to an information outlet that still believes in experimenting and innovating with format? If so, put your email address in the box. Charlottesville PC update: Schwarz re-elected chair, update on UVA Housing projects A slightly less busy week gives us the chance to catch up with items in September that have so far not yet been reported. That includes two meetings that happened on the ninth day of the month at just about the same time. The first is the joint meeting of the Charlottesville City Council and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority called to order by Mayor Juandiego Wade. There are usually no action items on the agendas of work sessions but Council had to make two appointments to the Charlottesville Planning Commission before that body could meet. The terms of Carl Schwarz and Ross Harness expired on August 31, 2026. Before moving on to business with the CRHA, Council reappointed both to new terms. More from the CRHA in the next newsletter. Schwarz served two terms on the Board of Architectural Review from 2014 to the end of 2021 before being appointed to the Planning Commission beginning September 2022. He continues to serve on the BAR as the representative from the Planning Commission. Harness was appointed to the PC earlier this year to fill a vacancy left with the resignation of Phil d’Oronzio. Harness is a realtor with Long and Foster. The Planning Commission also met on September 9 for a regular meeting and the first act was to elect leadership for the next year. Schwarz had been serving as chair and Danny Yoder had been vice chair. “The nominating committee of Hosea Mitchell and myself met, and we would like to request that Carl Schwarz serve again as chair and Danny Yoder serve again as vice chair,” said Commissioner Lyle Solla-Yates. Two of UVA’s affordable housing sites in holding pattern With new chairs in place, Planning Commissioners gave updates including non-voting member Michael Joy who had updates on the University of Virginia’s plans to contribute land for affordable housing projects. Just before the pandemic, former UVA President Jim Ryan had announced that up to 1,500 units would be built on three sites. UVA selected a group called Preservation of Affordable Housing to develop a two-acre site at the intersection of 10th and Wertland as well as the Piedmont Housing Alliance to build on a 12-acre tract of land off of Fontaine Avenue known as Piedmont. Both are in a holding pattern and Joy said both projects are dealing with fundamental shifts in what he called the affordable housing industry. “These shifts have been creating funding challenges, both nationally and locally, which is impacting affordable housing development,” Joy said. “The timing for this construction is contingent on the financing and the entitlements, and both of which are currently being worked through.” Preservation of Affordable Housing had submitted plans for a six story building at 1000 Wertland Street that would have 180 units with about 16,000 square feet of non-residential space. The city’s Department of Neighborhood Development Services signed off on a development plan but a final site plan will need to be approved. In addition, the project needs a Certificate of Appropriateness from the BAR, a body that was not ready to grant one in February 2025. The Piedmont Housing Alliance submitted a rezoning in December 2025 for the Piedmont site for 375 units but has since asked for an indefinite deferral. “Both of these sites are being treated as unique developments and they’ll continue to progress on their own timelines,” Joy said. The third site is at North Fork and UVA has selected Bluestone Land LLC as a development partner. “North Fork is a very different site from the initial two properties in terms of size, scale, project phasing, and affordability mix,” reads the website of the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships. “We anticipate market rate and workforce/middle-income housing in addition to affordable units at this site.” Previous coverage: * University of Virginia resumes housing initiative for up to 1,500 units, April 30, 2021 * UVA announces three sites for affordable housing projects, December 14, 2021 * University of Virginia issues first request for qualifications for affordable housing developer, June 10, 2022 * Nonprofits have been asked to work on UVA housing projects, February 15, 2023 * UVA Foundation seeks firms to build 600 units of mixed-income housing at North Fork, November 26, 2024 * A quick update on the UVA Housing Initiative, July 24, 2026 * UVA still committed to affordable housing initiative launched during Ryan administration, C-Ville Weekly, July 29, 2026 Sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! Missing Middle working group update Last week, the Stony Point Development Group held a required community meeting for the third phase of Dairy Central, a mixed-use project that is just under the threshold required for City Council to approve a special exception permit for additional height. In other words, this project is by-right under the city’s 2023 zoning code. That Development Code is the third and final component of the Cville Plans Together initiative, a series of projects intended to increase the amount of housing that could be built across the city of Charlottesville. The Affordable Housing Plan was the first and it called for “soft density” across the city which resulted in a Future Land Use Map and a new zoning which allows for many more residential units without City Council’s input. “Soft density” is also known as “missing middle” and the ability is embedded in the Development Code. One example of this in practice can be seen at 1040 St. Clair Avenue in the Locust Grove neighborhood on which a single-family home will be demolished to make way for six units. The 0.213 acre parcel is zoned Residential-A, which allows six units on a lot if half of them are designated affordable. Learn more in this story from August 2026. A final site plan has been approved. A working group of developers, staff, and other interested parties is leading efforts to loosen regulations in order to make it even easier for builders to construct more homes. The Planning Commission got an update on this missing middle work group from Ross Harness who said utilities are a barrier. “It was also noted difficulties that arise from the city having a gravity-fed only sewer system and how sometimes that prevents lots in town from even being reached without having a private pump system that… increases the cost of construction of those properties and long-term maintenance on the private side,” Harness said. Harness said there are many city policies that are preventing more housing units from being constructed such as requiring structures built on sublots needing to be spaced apart. He said the purpose of the group is to identify what developers call constraints. “Next steps for this group are a site visit to some of the parcels that some of the members of the subcommittee have so that we can actually get out there and have a little bit more physical discussion about some of these constraints,” Harness said. The Missing Middle work group is an informal committee, but I asked the city to provide a list of members. This was what was provided on September 10. * Local Builders and Developers: Bob Pineo, A.J. Amigoni, Richard Price, Nicole Scro, Dan Zimmerman, Trent Lawhorn, and Dan Rosensweig * Neighborhood Development Service: Matt Alfele, Carrie Rainey, Dannan O’Connell, Ben Koby, Madelyn Metzler, and Chuck Miller * Public Works: Brennan Duncan, Caleb Smith * Fire: Jason Campbell * Utilities: Cody Tusing, Calvin Chan, Chuck Drennen, and Donald Schrager * City Attorney’s Office: J Vaden Hunt and one other staff member * Planning Commission: Ross Harnes and Betsy Roettger Learn more about the Missing Middle Work Group here and also here on Connect Charlottesville. Quick-builds stuck? In the wake of a pedestrian being k

  4. Sep 28

    Podcast for September 28, 2026: Stories about Azalea Springs, no-driving, sales-tax referenda, UVA construction, and solid waste

    Sometimes the math doesn’t quite work out and the podcast does not come together the way I would like. That is the case for this edition which should have gone out Saturday morning but I had ambitions that ended up causing more confusion. To get the week of September 28 moving correctly, it is time to finally present the sonic version of some recent stories. For a further explanation of why this is late, you’ll have to listen at least until the second ad break or be a paid subscribers. In this edition: * Council addresses concerns related mass grading for Azalea Springs development (read the story) * Charlottesville asks: Can you go a week without driving? (read the story) * The UVA Buildings and Grounds Committee gets an update on construction projects (read the story) * A look at the sales-tax referendums in Albemarle and Charlottesville (read the story) * This year’s usage of the Ivy Creek Solid Waste and Recycling Center continues to surpass previous years (read the story) * Charlottesville City Council briefed on regional solid waste plan (read the story) Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! Thoughts on CCE-1130 The sun is about to rise and the sky is pretty. I’m going to go look at that and then get to work on the next newsletter, which will have audio in it. It may come out later today, but it may come out tomorrow. I do not know yet. I also have to write up stories for C-Ville Weekly and I have an idea of what I want to do for both of them, but I also need to sit and have a think. But first, I need to go see the sky. The waning moon is still large and will soon disappear as the light grows. The following image is here to give a cover for this post and has no connection to anything in this newsletter or podcast. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

  5. Sep 19

    Podcast for September 19, 2026: Reviewing Charlottesville’s affordable housing goals and Albemarle wants more of a say in building the region’s transit future

    The podcast edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement marks the end of one week and the beginning of the next, and serves as a way to process and reset. The mission of this newsletter is to bring people stories about local and regional government and the audio version is a good way to hear some of the voices of decision-makers and those who speak up at meetings. Most of you are not listeners of the podcast but this is also a time for you to catch up on some of the stories. The links below go to Information Charlottesville, the archive for most of what goes out in the newsletter. If you learned something from the stories, please share them with other people you think might be interested. In this edition: * Charlottesville is on track to meet a 2021 spending goal for subsidized housing (read the story on C-Ville Weekly) * Lack of administrative capacity slowing Charlottesville’s affordable housing progress (read the story) * Albemarle County Supervisors learned in early August that growth area master plans will no longer be updated in favor of “activity centers” and “multimodal transportation planning” (read the story) * The Charlottesville Albemarle Regional Transit Authority in late August took another look at a study intended to determine what route expansions should be selected to seek additional funding (read the story) * Albemarle Supervisors want a say in governance of actual transit decisions (read the story) Charlottesville Community Engagement is a reader-supported publication. To receive new posts and support my work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! Thoughts at the end of #1127-A for paid subscribers Fun fact: This is only the third edition of this newsletter to come out on September 19. * In 2022, I did a Week Ahead with previews about what was coming up that week including City Council taking up a special use permit for student housing building on JPA, the rezoning of the second phase of Southwood in Albemarle County, and more. * In 2024, I had stories about temporary detention orders, sustainability efforts at the University of Virginia, and Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders telling Council he did not want to raise any taxes for the next budget. My memory tells me he didn’t but memory is not to be trusted. But I’m not going to look it up now. This is behind the paywall as a thank you note to those who are helping me create an archive of what’s been happening these last few years. With your support, I’ve been able to devote my life to this work. You’re allowing me to pay attention to things and bring you stories that hopefully capture the conversations. The last time I did the calculations, about 16.2 percent of the Substack audience pays something. That’s over 800 people at this point. I would like that number to increase and one way is to offer more content where I can. And less content in some places, too! For the past month, paid subscribers skip the “shout-outs” to give the newsletter a less cluttered look. The sponsored messages remain, but there’s only one display ad per edition. I’ve been considering writing up photo essays of the changing landscape in Charlottesville. However, adding more work to the pile can sometimes cause me to shut down new ideas. But, I noted in the 2022 edition I wrote about what’s now being called “The Adelaide” on JPA. I end this edition sharing some of those pictures and others from a recent walk around Grounds. I’m taking the pictures anyway as I walk around the community and I share them on my personal Facebook. So, as another perk for paid subscribers and to hopefully boost the numbers for these podcast posts, here are some recent photos. For more information on the above project, take a look at cvillepedia. The article is not up to date but a lot of the basics are there. While I helped create it, I have no ownership of the website but spend a lot of time there. Perhaps you might be interested in being an editor? Thoughts on the Verve? Learn more on cvillepedia. This post has bonus content for paid subscribers. Upgrade to get full access which also has the effect of helping me continue this work. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

  6. Sep 12

    Podcast for September 12, 2026: An update on 2000 Holiday Drive, Fry’s Spring residents want answers, and two elected bodies discuss budget procedure

    On September 12, 1885, Arbroath Football Club defeated Bon Accord Football Club 36 to 0, setting a world-record for the biggest victory in a professional match. The two were playing in the first round of the Scottish Cup. The sport was still relatively new and today and today the winning club plays in the Scottish Championship and matches can be watched outside the United Kingdom for £20 a month. Perhaps they might advertise on Charlottesville Community Engagement? In this audio edition: * Assistant City Manager Sam Roman provides an update on 2000 Holiday Drive (read the story) * Azalea Springs’ neighbors want city to revoke developer’s construction permits (read the story) * The Albemarle Board of Supervisors approves a rezoning to add 165 units at an existing residential complex on Fifth Street Extended (story TK) * Charlottesville School Board members express concern about FY27 budget process at August work session (read the story) Sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! Thoughts at the end of CCE-1123A Honestly I don’t really have any at the moment. It’s early on a Saturday and there’s no premiership match at 7:30 a.m. There are five at 10 a.m. and then two more at the 12:30 p.m. and 3 p.m. windows. I’ll spend most of that time watching the matches but also working on something related to the business or perhaps I’ll get a jump on the next week of stories. There’s a lot to organize and a lot of decisions to make. I gather so much raw information but can’t always get to everything. Between now and then I’m going to go a walk. Thank you to paid subscribers and sponsors for allowing me to keep going on this journey. I had thought about posting pictures from some of my recent walks and writing a bit but that feels a bit like work and I see two and a half hours of non-computer time in my future. Yet, I did say somewhere I was going to do it and photos of my recent walks are well worth organizing. We’re alive once and we have resources to capture and share our journeys. So, here’s a trip I took on a day I really needed to get out and some of the world around me. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

  7. Sep 5

    Podcast for September 5, 2026: Four stories about Albemarle and a segment about the removal of Rivanna River encampments

    Do consider a paid subscription today in case a time accident takes place and suddenly I’m whisked back to September 5, 1698, when Tsar Peter I of Russia levied a tax on beards for everyone except the clergy and peasants. This is most likely not going to happen, but this is one possible reason to make a contribution. This Saturday edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement also offers me the opportunity to experiment. This particular version has material that did not appear on the WTJU radio program and is created fresh for the loyal listeners of the podcast. But for the first time in a regular post, paid subscribers get access to a synopsis of a particular project. There’s nothing new in the reporting, but I took the opportunity to write up a summary of the ill-fated West2nd project based on a combination of previous reporting and new research. That part is not in the audio. Stories this week: * Charlottesville follows through with plans to clear encampments along the Rivanna River after 2000 Holiday Drive opens (look at the story) * Albemarle Supervisors presented with metrics on county performance in FY2026 (read story) * Albemarle Supervisors agree to allow County Executive to sign performance agreement for Southwood’s second phase (view story) * Albemarle Supervisors agreed to charge fares for MicroCAT (see story) * Albemarle Supervisors approved rezoning for 18-unit development on three acres in Crozet (story forthcoming on C-Ville Weekly) * Paid subscribers get a written summary of what happened with West2nd, an unbuilt development that would been constructed on a city parking lot They are not all podcasts, but this one is. If you sign up for free, you’ll get that each week as well as a lot of other information. Paid subscribers get a smidge more and support the work financially A sponsored message: Panorama Natural Burial At Panorama Natural Burial, we believe caring for the deceased can be simple, meaningful, and deeply connected to the natural world. As a natural burial ground just outside Charlottesville, we offer families an alternative to traditional burial that honors both the people we love and the land that will carry them forward. Whether you are planning ahead, navigating a recent loss, or are just curious about natural burial, we welcome the conversation. We host regular tours and community events throughout the year. At Panorama we are building new ways of understanding death, land, ecology, ritual, memory, and community. We believe that building community around death care helps us all to live fuller lives. We are open to the public daily 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Come visit! No arrests made in conjunction with Charlottesville removal of people from Rivanna River encampments This story assembles coverage from previous editions of the newsletter This week the City of Charlottesville followed through on a deadline to remove people from encampments along the Rivanna River as soon as an emergency shelter opened at 2000 Holiday Drive to provide an alternative. Charlottesville’s chief building official issued a temporary certificate of occupancy early September 1 after work crews cleared a list of violations that held up issuance the day before. The city closed off the Rivanna Trail at Free Bridge on Tuesday to give space for the clean-up and asked media representatives to stay clear. By the end of the first day, sixteen people had opted to move into the emergency shelter and the camps were declared to be closed. The same night, video footage captured someone setting fire to two of tents still standing at one of the camp sites. Officials are still requesting help. By the end of Wednesday night, ten more people had moved in. The city that day also posted a video with Nathan Smith, the CEO of Central Arizona Shelter Services. That firm is being paid $3.2 million for a year’s worth of running the emergency low-barrier shelter. “Low-barrier shelter means we do everything we can to eliminate all the things that prevent people from accessing shelter,” said Nathan Smith. “For example, people don’t access shelter because they can’t bring their pets.” In the video, Smith takes viewers through the renovated first floor of 2000 Holiday Drive which includes storage space for people’s belongings. “We have 240 bins for what could be up to 120 people,” Smith said. “Not certain 120 people are going to be here. If so, great, everyone can have two bins, but if not, maybe they can have three.” The men’s dorm currently has 37 twin-size beds in a congregate setting but more can be added. Each has a locker underneath. Charging stations are nearby for phones and other devices, but also for health equipment like CPAP machines. There are currently 21 beds in the women’s dorm. There are also four isolation rooms for a variety of purposes such as if guests are sick. Tables have also been set up for guests to play games and to share time with each other. Smith said that many people experiencing homelessness are also feeling isolated. “One of the reasons why people enjoy living in encampment situations is because they have a sense of community,” Smith said. “We want to bring them into a safer space where they’re not worried about getting flooded or the other things that happen with the elements, particularly in the winter.” On Thursday, the city also released images and a video of what appears to be a person dressed in light clothing along a paved portion of the trail. As they walk into the frame of the security camera, they put a hat on their head to shield their identity. The person briefly leaves the trail and walks to one of the tents still standing alongside discarded items. They use some sort of a mechanism to start a flame and walk away when it ignites. The person that moves further down the trail and appears to walk away. They turn back to catch another tent on fire. This flame burns more quickly and continues to grow as the video ends. The city asks anyone with information to call the Crime Stoppers line at 434-977-4000. Take a look at the video here. City Councilor Jen Fleisher updated the members of the Thomas Planning District Commission on the closure of the encampments at the group’s meeting on September 3. “We’ve moved everyone out into shelter or alternative housing,” Fleisher said. “And that was an effort that involved multiple departments and agencies, as well as nonprofits and community volunteers. We’ve met with 26 guests, well, 27 guests as of this afternoon. Doors are open.” Fleisher said Central Arizona Shelter Services is being paid to run the site for the next year while plans continue to be developed to convert 2000 Holiday Drive into a permanent emergency shelter. Fleisher also said the cleanup of the trail will continue through Saturday and damages are being repaired. When asked about the fire, Fleisher said the fire happened after the last three residents of the encampment left on Wednesday night. So far no lawsuits have been filed against the city, but Fleisher confirmed there many people on site observing activities during the removal period. “While they were with us all day, no one communicated with us any concerns, and I haven’t seen any reports yet,” Fleisher said. People staying there are getting two meals, a place to shower, and access to case managers. “That’s the goal, to make this a stepping stone into transitional housing, then permanent supportive housing, and do so by really getting back on or first time connected to that case management, the support needed,” Fleisher said. On Friday, the city’s Communications and Public Engagement office did another in-house video with City Manager Sam Sanders. He said that even though the shelter is operating under a temporary permit, the intent is for it to never close. “We’re gonna make improvements to the space while we continue to serve in that location. I see it as a one-stop homeless services center,” Sanders said. “That’s what I would like it to be. That is what we’re hoping that our partners can come together and produce and that we can find as many providers who are willing to come to that location.” Sanders said the city will also be investing in transitional housing as a next step for many after a congregate emergency shelter. He thanked all involved with the swift opening of 2000 Holiday Drive. “We started this conversation in mid-July, and here we are in early September with the facility open that I never envisioned could be possible this quickly after buying the building last year,” Sanders said. “And our community partners, the assessment team members, all the folks who have really, really rallied around the idea that An emergency response is what was needed for what was happening at the Rivanna River.” The topic is likely to come up in some form at City Council’s meeting on Tuesday, September 8. One item in the packet is Sanders’ written report which contains a mention that he met with the executive director of the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission on September 1 to “to discuss opportunities to align funding priorities to support a regional response to homelessness using currently allocated opportunities to engage all regional parties in the discussion.” What will that look like? Stay tuned to Charlottesville Community Engagement. Background context on why one Downtown Charlottesville project didn’t work out This week, the formerly daily newspaper called the Charlottesville Daily Progress printed an article about the demise of West2nd that appears to have been based on previous reporting in this newsletter. It’s likely behind a paywall, but somehow I was able to click through. West2nd is a failed development by Woodard Properties that began life as Market Plaza. The article prompted a polemic on Reddit from someone demanding that the Board of Architectural Review be disbanded due to their role in the pr

  8. Aug 29

    Podcast for August 29, 2026: Opening of 2000 Holiday Drive as emergency shelter is result of three years of planning

    On September 1, the City of Charlottesville is expected to begin clearing out people who have been living in encampments along the Rivanna River and charging anyone who tries to stay with trespassing. September 1 is also the same day that Central Arizona Shelter Services is contractually obligated to begin operating an emergency low-barrier facility at 2000 Holiday Drive. In this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement, you’ll hear some of the story of how we got to this point from prior stories that appeared in the newsletter and podcast since September 2023 concluding with an update of where things are before what the city calls a “transition” is expected to occur. If you’ve never heard one of these podcasts before, this is a good one that includes three years of coverage on this one topic. The goal of this newsletter is to help remind people of recent conversations in an attempt to expand our collective attention span. We as a species face so many complex issues and stories like this are intended to capture some of the details. At the very least, take a look at all of the stories some of which are sampled in this sonic edition. Previous coverage over the years: * Chief Kochis refutes charges of police brutality in Market Street Park, October 3, 2023 * Sanders outlines work plan, homeless intervention strategy, October 9, 2023 * City Manager Sanders provides update on Charlottesville’s efforts to assist the unhoused, September 12, 2024 * Charlottesville City Manager Sanders announces upcoming “community interventions” including $5 million for the Salvation Army, October 23, 2024 * Charlottesville City Manager Sanders announces upcoming “community interventions” including $5 million for the Salvation Army, October 23, 2024 * Sanders briefs Council on other community interventions such as purchase of portable restrooms, November 1, 2024 * Sanders addresses low-barrier shelter before Council approves $3 million for other Salvation Army project, December 20, 2024 * City Council ends consideration of anti-camping ordinance after pushback from homeless advocates, September 5, 2025 * Sanders provides an update on efforts to address homeless population of Charlottesville, September 19, 2025 * Council holds first reading on use of $7.95 million in surplus funds, October 10, 2025 * Council agrees to reallocate funding intended to run low-barrier shelter, February 10, 2025 * Charlottesville City Council briefed on low-barrier shelter by groups that provide the programming, March 27, 2026 * City Council presented with The State of Homelessness 2026 by four nonprofit groups working on the issue, May 12, 2026 * Salvation Army launches fundraising campaign for Center for Hope, May 15, 2026 * Many details remain to be worked out for how three groups will work together at Charlottesville’s future low-barrier shelter, May 15, 2026 * Sanders gives first progress report on operations plan for 2000 Holiday Drive, May 22, 2026 * Albemarle Supervisor Pruitt provides short briefing on low-barrier shelter plan, May 29, 2026 * Work continues to develop operations plan for low-barrier shelter and service center for unhoused, July 10, 2026 * Charlottesville Mayor Wade announces steps to be taken at Free Bridge encampment, July 12, 2026 * Charlottesville speakers provide multiple perspectives on how to help those without a home, July 24, 2026 * Charlottesville to pay outside groups up to $4 million to manage emergency shelter and help to clear encampments, August 4, 2026 * Sanders: 2000 Holiday Drive is just part of the city’s response to homelessness, August 7, 2026 * Council allocates $3 million more to Salvation Army’s Center for Hope, August 19, 2026 * Charlottesville continues to prepare to move people from Rivanna River encampment while some residents call for a halt, August 21, 2026 * Webinar participants introduced to Central Arizona Shelter Services, August 25, 2026 * Sanders says no to McGuire’s request to delay opening of 2000 Holiday Drive, August 25, 2026 * Charlottesville formally awards contract for 2000 Holiday Drive to Central Arizona Shelter Services, August 29, 2026 Thoughts on CCE-1115A: The idea for an archive edition began Wednesday when I realized I did not have enough fresh audio for a new show. This week has been spent outside the usual study with more family obligation than usual. Somehow, though, this edition took more work than producing four or five segments! I think it was worth it to have gone through all of this, but now I need to get on to a day’s worth of travel. Please let me know if you heard it all the way through or if you heard an error. I’m not sure I’ll be able to correct it because there’s a lot of work to get to this upcoming week. Please also share the link with others. This is a public episode. If you'd like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit communityengagement.substack.com/subscribe

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Regular updates of what's happening in local and regional government in and around Charlottesville, Virginia from an award-winning journalist with nearly thirty years of experience. communityengagement.substack.com

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