Tuesday’s five-hour Charlottesville planning commission work session on the Future Land Use Map ended with both planning commissioners and city councilors agreeing on a general consensus: We’re getting there. But there’s still work to do. The comprehensive plan update has been a yearslong process, one that is years overdue, city councilor Michael Payne pointed out […]
Author Archives: Erin O'Hare
I'm Charlottesville Tomorrow's neighborhoods reporter. I’ve never met a stranger and love to listen, so, get in touch with me here. If you’re not already subscribed to our free newsletter, you can do that here, and we’ll let you know when there’s a fresh story for you to read. I’m looking forward to getting to know more of you.
Posted inRace and equity
What will happen to Charlottesville’s auction block site on which humans were bought and sold? That building is now for sale.
On a hot and hazy afternoon smack dab in the middle of September, Jalane Schmidt stood on a brick sidewalk in Court Square, her gaze cast downward. “These are so fresh,” she said with delight, gesturing with open palms at more than half a dozen vases of fresh flowers placed on the sidewalk. Pink roses, […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
‘I’d do it all over again.’ Former Iraqi translator talks about his desire to continue serving the United States now that he’s here
This is the fourth installment of a multi-part series, in Razul’s own words, as told to Erin O’Hare. Catch up on the first, second, and third parts. Tony Razul has done well for himself since arriving in the United States — and in Charlottesville — in 2009. As he noted in the previous installment of […]
Posted inOur neighborhoods
HUD confirms Midway Manor owners to sign new Section 8 contract
Residents of Midway Manor have one fewer thing to worry about right now: Their leases. Charlottesville Tomorrow has confirmed that Midway Manor LLLP, the company that owns the building whose apartments are publicly subsidized for seniors and folks with disabilities, is in the process of renewing its Section 8 contract with the U.S. Department of […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Race and equity
Mayor Nikuyah Walker opens up about her agonizing decision to drop out of the City Council race — ‘It’s really taken a toll on me.’
Charlottesville Mayor Nikuyah Walker had tears in her eyes Wednesday morning while discussing her decision to withdraw from this year’s City Council race. In an interview with Charlottesville Tomorrow over Zoom she confirmed the news she’d posted to her personal Facebook page a few minutes prior, that she had signed and submitted the official paperwork […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions, Race and equity
Breaking: Charlottesville city Mayor Nikuyah Walker will not seek reelection
Mayor Nikuyah Walker announced this morning that she has withdrawn from the current city council race and she will not seek a second term on council.In a Facebook post announcing her decision, Walker alleged that in-fighting and racism within city government, as well as her need to take care of herself, are among her reasons […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Former translator for U.S. troops in Iraq talks about resettling in a place he’d never heard of — Charlottesville
This is the third installment of a multi-part series, in Razul’s own words, as told to Erin O’Hare. Catch up on the first and second parts. After growing up in a poor family in Iraq, teaching himself English, and doing life-threatening work as a translator for United States Army and allied troops in Iraq, Tony […]
Posted inOur neighborhoods
Citizens, planning commissioners, city councilors continue to clash over contested vision for city’s future as suggested in the draft future land use map
This story has been updated with more information on when the Planning Commission and City Council are expected to vote on recommending and adopting, respectively, the comprehensive plan. A five and a half hour Planning Commission work session Tuesday night proved that the Future Land Use Map remains the most contentious part of the City […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
‘As soon as they arrive they get killed’ — former Iraqi translator for U.S. Army describes the slow and gut-wrenching process of immigrating from a war zone
This is the second installment of a multi-part series, in Razul’s own words, as told to Erin O’Hare. If you missed the first part, you can read it here.In the next installment of his resettlement story, Tony Razul, a former translator for the United States Army and allied troops in Iraq, lays out just how […]
Posted inGovernment and public institutions
Former translator from Iraq talks about his journey to resettlement in Charlottesville, what the process might be like for Afghans
What’s happening in Afghanistan looks familiar to Tony Razul. Born and raised in Karbala City, Iraq, he knew early on in his life that he wanted to leave Iraq for a better chance at education and a better life. He taught himself English and, not long after U.S. and allied troops arrived in Iraq in […]
