Latest News

• 

  01.18.19 Education - Albemarle 2 MIN READ

  Haas requests $194.3M for Albemarle schools’ budget

  Albemarle County Public Schools superintendent Matt Haas presented the School Board with a $194.3 million budget request Thursday. The plan represents a 4 percent increase from the current school year. With revenues projected to grow by only 3.7 percent, to... More

  

  Josh Mandell
• 

  01.18.19 Innovation 3 MIN READ

  Planned data science school backed by largest-ever gift to UVa

  The University of Virginia plans to use the largest private gift in the institution’s history to establish a School of Data Science. “There’s no doubt that our future will be shaped by how we use data, and how we allow... More

  

  Josh Mandell

• 

  01.17.19 Education - Charlottesville 3 MIN READ

  Walker students vote on uses for $6,000 grant

  Three months ago, the sixth grade at Charlottesville’s Walker Upper Elementary School was presented with an exciting question: How would you use $6,000 to make your school better? On Wednesday evening, Walker held a schoolwide referendum on 15... More

  

  Josh Mandell

• Our
  Mission

  To inform and engage the public by providing clear, non-partisan information and research on land use, transportation, community design and public education issues with the confidence an informed public will make decisions that will protect and build upon the distinctive character of the Charlottesville-Albemarle area.

  More About Us
• 

  01.15.19 Affordable Living 2 MIN READ

  Committee to present estimates for costs of solving housing crisis

  Homelessness has hit more locals than usual this winter. The 65-bed emergency shelter run by People and Congregations Engaged in Ministry is operating at maximum capacity, and those who cannot go anywhere else are staying out of the cold... More

  

  Emily Hays
• 

  01.14.19 Land Use - Charlottesville 3 MIN READ

  Plans for River Road apartments, self-storage heading to council

  At a recent meeting that stretched nearly to 1 a.m., the Charlottesville Planning Commission moved forward a special-use permit for an apartment building and self-storage facility on a 2.2-acre lot at the corner of River Road and Belleview... More

  

  Elliott Robinson
• 

  01.14.19 Community Design 6 MIN READ

  Let's Talk: Shared Truth

  Watchdog and investigative reporting models remain essential, but I think today we are confronting the darker reality that we have let our systems off the hook. What if it’s our assumptions that are bad and our goals that are unjust? More

  

  Giles Morris
• 

  01.14.19 Elections - City 4 MIN READ

  New candidates for City Council emerge

  The race for three open seats on the Charlottesville City Council is heating up. Two new candidates officially kicked off their campaigns last week and three more went public with their plans to run. More

  

  Josh Mandell
• 

  01.11.19 Land Use - Charlottesville 3 MIN READ

  Southwood residents design entrance to new neighborhood

  Southwood residents, staff at the local Habitat for Humanity and design professionals have put together the rules that will govern the first phase of redevelopment of the Southwood Mobile Home Park. The team last week submitted a third... More

  

  Emily Hays
• 

  01.10.19 Education - Charlottesville 4 MIN READ

  Laufer resigns from city School Board; McKeever elected as chairwoman

  Amy Laufer no longer is a member of the Charlottesville School Board. A former teacher, Laufer resigned from the panel, effective immediately after Thursday’s meeting because of her family’s move to Albemarle County. Laufer first was elected to the School... More

  

  Josh Mandell
• 

  01.09.19 Affordable Living 4 MIN READ

  Planning Commission sends CIP to City Council with $1 million affordable housing fund request

  After about three hours of discussion largely centered on affordable housing, the Charlottesville Planning Commission on Tuesday endorsed the city’s five-year Capital Improvement Program budget in a 6-0 vote. The recommendation to the City Council included adding $1 million... More

  

  Elliott Robinson