CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA – At their regular meeting on January 19, 2016, Charlottesville City Council passed a resolution detailing an action plan for the Landmark Hotel property.
In the resolution, Council expressed their concern that the Landmark Hotel property adversely affects the character of the City’s Downtown Historic District and that there is no time frame, provided by the property owner, for the completion of the construction.
“With this unanimous resolution, City Council has ensured that the City will take careful, well-grounded, and forceful next steps on the enduring problem of the Landmark Hotel, including doing the work required for a possible condemnation,” said Mayor Mike Signer. “This resolution shows our commitment to resolving this situation once and for all, either by Dewberry Properties, a third party, or the City.”
Council has directed the City Manager to prepare a report to Council, containing an analysis of any legal actions (including both civil and criminal proceedings) that City Council might initiate to abate the impacts being caused by the owner’s neglect of the property.
Additionally, Council authorized the City Manager to engage a professional appraisal of the fair market value property, for use in planning for a public acquisition of the property through condemnation.
The full text of the resolution is included below.
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RESOLUTION
DIRECTING A DETAILED ACTION PLAN FOR
THE LANDMARK HOTEL PROPERTY
WHEREAS, this Council is concerned that the Landmark Hotel property, which contains a partially constructed building on which no construction has taken place since 2009, is adversely affecting the character of the City’s Downtown Historic District and, if not properly monitored, secured and maintained by its owner on an ongoing basis, will further endanger the public health, safety or welfare as it did during the week of January 10, 2016; and
WHEREAS, the current Owner of the property appears to have either no willingness or no ability to complete construction of the development approved by the City in 2008, within any specific time frame;
NOW, THEREFORE, City Council hereby directs the City Manager to prepare a report to Council, containing an analysis of any legal actions (including both civil and criminal proceedings) that City Council might initiate to abate the impacts being caused by the owner’s neglect of the property. In preparing the report the City Manager will obtain detailed factual information and opinions from: the City’s Building Code, Property Maintenance and Fire Code Officials; the Director of Neighborhood Development Services; the Director of Economic Development, and others as necessary to support initiation of legal action. The City Manager’s report shall contain a fiscal and budgetary analysis of any recommended options.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the City Manager is authorized to engage a professional appraisal of the fair market value property, for use in planning for a public acquisition of the property through condemnation.
