After decades of advocating for better living conditions, residents of two of Charlottesville’s public housing communities are moving into new homes.
On Monday, June 5 and Tuesday, June 6, Charlottesville’s Public Housing Association of Residents (PHAR) and the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority (CRHA) will hold ribbon cutting ceremonies for both Crescent Halls and South First Street, respectively.
Both properties are owned by CRHA, and residents’ rents are subsidized by government housing programs.
CRHA extensively renovated Crescent Halls, an apartment building with more than 100 homes for seniors, over the past two years.
The organization also rebuilt the South First Street community. Both projects together have cost about $30 million so far, paid for with taxpayer money, including some funding from the City of Charlottesville, as well as funding from the not-for-profit Virginia Housing and private donations from organizations like Bama Works. The projects are not complete, and it’s unclear what the total cost will be.
Construction on South First Street also began about two years ago. So far CRHA has built three new buildings that house 62 new apartments and a new community center. The apartments are ready for residents to move into. There will be two more phases of construction, with at least 113 additional homes.
Both the June 5 Crescent Halls event and the June 6 South First Street ribbon cuttings will begin at 3 p.m. There will be a party after the South First Street event. The entire Charlottesville community is welcome to attend.
Crescent Halls is located at 500 South First St. in downtown Charlottesville, next to IX Art Park. The South First Street community is located at 1000 South First Street, with the new buildings down the street from the 40-year-old brick and stucco homes.
While we can’t cover every story that’s important to you, we do our best to be responsive to your needs. We use tips from readers to choose which stories to cover, to incorporate information into broader reports or to help us decide how to grow Charlottesville Tomorrow. Here’s where you can tell us what you think we should be covering.
More about rebuilding public housing communities
After decades dealing with stigma, Friendship Court residents decide to rename their community
“I’m tired of them calling this ‘the hood,’” said Jace Wright, a teen who lives in Friendship Court, which is being completely rebuilt. “We’re trying to make the neighborhood better for the future.”
Midway Manor and its 98 affordable apartments has been sold and the new owner is asking Charlottesville for help securing $23 million for repairs
If the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority helps finance repairs with revenue bonds, it could also require the building to continue to be affordable. Community members and residents can express their views at a virtual public hearing on Monday at 6 p.m.
After years of advocating for redevelopment, Crescent Halls residents break ground on renovation
Alice Washington knew it was real when the port-a-potties arrived last week. And when the construction fencing went up the next day, she could finally, truly, believe it: After more than 20 years of redevelopment promises made and broken over and over again, after 20 years of advocating for better living conditions for herself and fellow Crescent Halls residents, renovations are about to begin on the eight-story building with 105 public housing apartments for seniors and people with disabilities. On Wednesday afternoon, between spates of April rain, the sun shone silver through the clouds just long enough for Washington and…
South First Street groundbreaking marks Phase One of resident-led redevelopment
Symbolism saturated the Sunday groundbreaking for the first phase of the redevelopment of the public housing on South First Street. The date was what would have been former Charlottesville City Councilor and housing advocate Holly Edward’s 62nd birthday. Sundays were also the days that several residents of South First Street convened as a committee over the course of nearly a year to collaborate with developers and offer insights into how the redevelopment could best fit the community. “To say that public housing or low-income residents don’t know what kind of community they can build, they proved them wrong,” said Joy…
More local News
City Council expresses support for creating a 10,000 square foot community garden in Booker T. Washington Park
Now officials must work with Cultivate Charlottesville to make it happen.
Voter Guide: Q&A with the only candidate for Cumberland County Clerk of Circuit Court
Deidre D. Martin ran against seven candidates in a 2018 special election; this year, she’s the sole candidate.
Voter Guide: Q&As with the two candidates seeking to represent the Palmyra District on Fluvanna County’s Board of Supervisors
Candidates James D. Schoenster and Timothy M. Hodge both emphasize diversifying the tax base, with different ideas about how to get there.
Voter Guide: Q&A with the only candidate for Commonwealth’s Attorney of Albemarle County
Incumbent James Hingeley is known for prosecuting high-profile crimes, including the indictments of participants of the 2017 white supremacist rally.
Voter Guide: Q&As with the two candidates for Commissioner of Revenue in Prince Edward County
Incumbent Edna Trent Goldman is seeking a second term. Challenger Crystal M. Hensley has worked in commissioners’ offices.
