Benjamin F. Yancey Elementary School and its predecessors have anchored Southern Albemarle’s African-American community for almost 150 years. In 2017, Albemarle County closed the school in response to low enrollment and a loss of funding.
Tag: Placemaking
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Plans to memorialize local lynching victim moving along
Fluvanna County held a memorial ceremony on Tuesday for William Young, a victim of an 1892 lynching in Palmyra. A similar commemoration is gaining momentum in Charlottesville. On March 19, Charlottesville’s City Council voted, 4-0, to expedite its plans to memorialize John Henry James, the victim of an 1898 lynching in Albemarle County. Councilor Mike […]
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Death of local child sparks campaign for accessible playground
Two Charlottesville parents who lost a son this year hope to honor his memory by creating a playground that all area children can enjoy. Five-year-old Bennett McClurken-Gibney died Feb. 28 from sepsis incurred after influenza. As an infant, Bennett was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type I, a rare genetic disorder that causes muscular weakness […]
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Freedom and Liberation Day illuminates “lost history” of black leadership
When Union soldiers marched into Charlottesville and Albemarle County on March 3, 1865, over half of the population became officially free. So began a period of hope and intense political activity for African Americans in the area. One elderly slave told a Union soldier at the time, “I’s prayed and I’s prayed for you. And […]
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CHS track closes for renovation
The Charlottesville High School track will be closed to the public starting Tuesday to undergo a long-awaited renovation. The $2.05 million track replacement project will enable CHS to host track and meets by expanding the current track from six to eight lanes and adding new bleachers and restrooms. The school last hosted a meet in […]
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UVa event aims to kickstart planning for Charlottesville’s “Driverless Future”
The University of Virginia will host Gov. Terry McAuliffe and numerous transportation experts on Sept. 30 for a discussion about how autonomous vehicles will transform Charlottesville and other small and mid-sized cities. “The Driverless Future: Asking the Big Questions” is being organized by UVa, Charlottesville and the new Virginia Autonomous Systems Center of Excellence. “I […]
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City’s open data portal goes online with hopes of creative use by public
The city of Charlottesville recently unveiled an online portal for datasets from the city government, with the hope that “civic hackers” will use the data to improve the community. Many American cities have adopted policies governing the online distribution of open data. By definition, open data is free, has no legal restrictions on its […]
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Timmons Group growing to meet area’s construction needs
The acceleration of development in the Charlottesville area can be tracked with many measurements. The expansion of a prominent engineering firm’s local office also is a good indicator. “We are growing along with our clients, and making sure we can serve all of them in the right way,” said Craig Kotarski, senior project manager at […]
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Program showcases Charlottesville’s makers, products
A new initiative is promoting candy, furniture and software under a single brand: Made in Charlottesville. The program, sponsored by the city’s Office of Economic Development, aims to increase the visibility of businesses that design or manufacture products within the city limits. “There are many businesses in Charlottesville that are really well known nationally — […]
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Pedestrian connections desired by urban Albemarle residents
The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors will be briefed next week on dozens of suggestions on how to use $1.4 million set aside for small infrastructure projects in the county’s urban area. “Part of the project is getting people together to talk about what matters most to them and what would make a difference in […]
