August 16, 2024: DEQ lifts drought advisories across Virginia, but Shenandoah region remains under drought warning
Plus: Another look at falling prices for some homes in Albemarle and Charlottesville
Ninety-six years ago today, the Reverend Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker was born in Massachusetts and moved to Virginia in 1953 to attend Virginia Union University and entered the ministry by becoming pastor of Gillfield Baptist Church in Petersburg. There he led his congregation in protests against segregation and would later become chief of staff to the Reverend Martin Luther King and the executive director of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference. Later in life he would return to Virginia Union University and he died in January 2018. The following year, the General Assembly established every August 16 as Reverend Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker Day in Virginia.
This is the Charlottesville Community Engagement for August 16, 2024 and I’m Sean Tubbs.
In today’s installment:
The Shenandoah Valley remains under a drought advisory though the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality has lifted advisories in 76 localities
Two people are in custody after an alleged carjacking in Charlottesville on Wednesday night
A woman is in custody after alleged arson at a pizzeria on U.S. 29 in Albemarle
The Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership unveils a new dashboard to find out more about housing policy and statistics across the area
The latest information on housing construction data across the United States
Another look at price-drops in the housing market in Albemarle and Charlottesville
First-shout: Rivanna Conservation Alliance and Re-Leaf team up
In what might be the first combination shout-out, the Rivanna Conservation Alliance has recently partnered with a Green Team put together by Re-Leaf to help implement the Rivanna River Forest Health and Resilience Project. The Green Team consists of high schoolers who participate in a two-week training program about the value of trees, the impacts of climate change, tree maintenance and tree planting. This time around, they learned about the importance of tree canopy to our watershed, including benefits for climate resilience and stormwater management. Learn more about the program here!
Drought advisories lifted across Virginia
The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality cites last week’s rainfall from the remnants of Tropical Storm Debby as the reason why the agency has lifted drought advisories across dozens of localities across the Commonwealth.
That includes localities in the Middle James region such as Albemarle, Charlottesville, Fluvanna, and Nelson as well those in the Northern Piedmont region such as Louisa and Greene.
However, many localities in Virginia still remain under some form of an advisory.
“A drought warning is still in effect for the Shenandoah region and a drought watch exists in the Big Sandy region,” reads an announcement sent out this morning. “A drought warning advisory indicates a significant drought is imminent and remains in effect for the Shenandoah region, which includes Augusta, Rockingham, Shenandoah, Frederick, Page, Warren, and Clarke counties.”
The decision to lift advisories in some areas came after the Drought Monitoring Task Force met Tuesday.
“Widespread statewide precipitation due to tropical storm Debby has provided significant improvements across the majority of Virginia, with much of the central portions of the Commonwealth receiving two to eight inches over the past seven day period,” reads a summary of the 58 page report.
Four of five reservoirs maintained by the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority are full as of this morning with spillways overflowing. The exception is the Ragged Mountain Reservoir which is 92.43 percent full. That body of water has a very small watershed and is currently filled by a pipeline from the Sugar Hollow Reservoir that was opened back up on August 14.
Charlottesville police arrest two after carjacking
Two people are in custody after the alleged use of violence to steal a vehicle Wednesday night in Charlottesville’s Fifeville neighborhood.
“On August 14, 2024, at approximately 10:08PM, Charlottesville Police Officers were called to the area of 7 ½ St SW and Pine St for the report of a carjacking with a firearm involved,” reads an information release sent out by the Charlottesville Police Department this morning.
Police located the stolen vehicle in the 600 block of Cherry Avenue about 12 hours later with multiple occupants inside. The suspects fled and two of them were apprehended and a replica firearm was recovered. One is a male under the age of 18 and the other is an 18-year-old resident of Chester, Virginia.
The incident remains under investigation.
Albemarle arrests woman in connection with pizzeria fire
Officers with the Albemarle County Police Department have arrested someone in connection with a fire on August 11 that caused damage at a Vocelli Pizza franchise on U.S. 29 at Woodbrook.
Two charges against 38-year old Rachel Drame of Charlottesville were made Thursday after an investigation by the Albemarle Fire Marshal’s office. They are burning or destroying a building or structure as well as burning or destroying personal property less than $1,000.
Drame is in custody at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail.
Professional Albemarle Fire Rescue personnel and volunteer crews were dispatched to the site at around 1:45 a.m. on August 11.
“The first fire suppression unit arrived on scene 5 minutes after dispatch and observed fire showing from the front of the Vocelli Pizza building and two trash cans burning on the sidewalk,” reads the original release send out that morning.
The damage is estimated at $30,000 and the restaurant is temporarily closed.
Regional housing group unveils dashboard
One of the appointed bodies maintained by the Thomas Jefferson Planning District Commission is the Central Virginia Regional Housing Partnership. This month, the agency launched a new way for people across all six localities to find out information about what’s being built.
“The [Regional Housing Dashboard] is designed to provide comprehensive, up-to-date data and resources to support housing policy and decision-making in our region,” reads an information brief sent out this week.
The dashboard uses data from the most recent American Community Survey from the United States Census Bureau and also has information about affordable housing policies in all six of the localities. When you go to the website for the dashboard, one fact is highlighted.
“As of 2022, 43.5 percent of renters and 17.5 percent of homeowners in the region are cost burdened by their housing costs,” reads the website. “This means that 30 percent or more of their household income is going to their monthly housing expense.”
The ArcGIS software that powers the dashboard allows data to be pulled up quickly from the survey that can differentiate the six communities.
Albemarle County has the highest annual median income at $97,708 followed by Fluvanna at $90,766. Greene is next at $81,338 with Louisa next at $76,594. Charlottesville is fifth with $67,177 and Nelson has the lowest annual median income of $64,028.
The dashboard further breaks down information such as median monthly rent ranging from $921 in Nelson to $1,570 in Albemarle.
Housing starts down across the United States
The United States Department of Housing and Urban Development and the Census Bureau have released the latest snapshot of how many new homes are being built across the country. The data reports the number of building permits, housing starts, and housing completions.
“Privately-owned housing units authorized by building permits in July were at a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 1,396,000,” reads the latest announcement.
That’s four percent below the figures from June and seven percent below the data points for July 2023.
“Housing starts” is a measure of how many units have had construction begin. From June to July of this year, that figure was down 6.8 percent. From July 2023 to July 2024 the number is down 16 percent. The figure includes both single-family units and multifamily units.
The number of completed homes was also down with an estimate in July 2024 of 1,529,000. That’s 9.8 percent below the June figure of 1,696,000 but 13.8 percent above the July 2023 rate of 1,343,000.
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Another long list of price drops in Albemarle and Charlottesville
What will the real estate market in Charlottesville do next? As measured by the Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors, the median sales price for homes has been going up while sales volumes have been going down. In the most recent report, CAAR analysts found that more properties are staying on the market longer.
So now I bring you the latest in a series of anecdotal notes on prices being lowered for some of those units. Some of this information may be out of date either at publication or soon after. Research for this segment began on Wednesday.
Aspiring Developments LLC reduced the price of 117 S. Indian Spring in the Carrsbrook neighborhood on July 26, 2024. The figure was lowered $145,000 to $850,000. This would later be dropped to $799,000. The 2024 assessment for the four bedroom house is $523,500. The LLC purchased the property in September 2023 for $368,500. (see the listing)
There have been many reductions for a three bedroom house at 424 Carrsbrook Drive. The property was listed at $550,000 in early June and has subsequently lowered to $540,000 and then $519,000 and then $515,000. On July 26, this was dropped again to $499,000. Earlier this month it was reduced again to $475,000. The 2024 assessment remains at $454,200. (scrutinize the listing)
A three bedroom house on about eight acres in the Carrsbrook neighborhood was reduced by $100,000 to $895,000 on July 26, 2024. The 2024 assessment for 1704 Old Brook Road is $435,200. (analyze the listing)
A three bedroom house at 301 Gillums Ridge Road had its asking price reduced by $5,000 to $740,000 on July 26. The 2024 assessment is $640,600. (monitor the listing)
A four bedroom townhouse at 4537 Berwyn Lane in Spring Hill Village was further lowered on July 27, 2024 from $478,000 to $465,000. The 2024 assessment is $428,600. (take a look)
The asking price of a three bedroom house in the Marshall Manor subdivision in Scottsville Road was lowered on July 28 by $120,000 to $775,000. The 2024 assessment is $738,600. (look at it)
A 0.26 acre undeveloped lot at 1206 Carlton Avenue had its asking price dropped $76,000 to $349,000. The 2024 assessment is $119,100. A structure that was on the property was demolished in 2016. (this link goes to information)
A four bedroom house at 1984 Shadybrook Trail had its asking price lowered $14,000 to $709,000. The 2024 assessment is $636,400. A sale is pending. (go and see)
A two bedroom condominium with three bathrooms at 218 West Water Street was reduced in price by $50,000 to $1,595,000. That’s just over the 2024 assessment of $1,567,400. A sale is pending. (take a look)
A four bedroom house at 722 Park Avenue that is split into two units had its asking price lowered $50,000 to $795,000. The 2024 assessment is $660,600. A sale is pending. (want to see?)
On July 29, 2024, the asking price for 3101 Martin Kings Road was further reduced to $469,000. The four bedroom house on 3.53 acres was originally listed at $529,000 and dropped to $489,000 in mid-July. (learn more)
A six bedroom house at 927 Michie Tavern Lane was reduced another $20,000 to $1,450,000. The 2024 assessment is $912,100. (look at more)
A three bedroom house at 322 11th Street NE had its list price lowered by $51,000 to $599,000. This one is of note because a company called Little High LLC purchased the property in July 2023 for $505,000 and sold it on June 13 for $900,000. (view the listing)
A two bedroom single family attached house at 1304 Creekside Drive in Mill Creek Village had its asking price reduced $6,000 to $359,000. The 2024 assessment is $333,700. (go to the listing)
A two bedroom house at 1304 Poplar Street was reduced in price another $5,000 to $394,900. The 2024 assessment is $381,400. (peruse the listing)
A 1,182 square feet condominium in 200 Douglas Avenue had its price lowered $14,570 to $575,250. That’s according to an email from August 5. (know the listing)
A three bedroom townhouse at 2104 Elm Tree Court in the Briarwood subdivision had its price reduced by $5,000 to $398,000. The 2024 assessment is $348,800. The 2020 assessment is $252,200. (fire up the listing)
A four bedroom house at 3140 Horizon Road in the new section of Southwood had its asking price further reduced $5,100 to $644,9000. The 2024 assessment is $507,200. The first owner after Southern Development built the house purchased it for $627,663 on June 23, 2023. This information is from an email from August 8. (gander at the listing)
A three bedroom house at 1393 Auburn Drive in the Auburn Hills subdivision in Albemarle County had its asking price lowered $10,000 to $455,000. The 2024 assessment is $375,600. That’s up $100,000 from 2020. (partake of the listing)
The asking price for 903 Charlton Avenue in the Rose Hill neighborhood was dropped on August 8 by $20,000 to $599,000. The 2024 assessment is $543,900. Within the last week that was lowered again on August 14 to $585,000. This house and lot is within the Residential Neighborhood A zoning adopted in December 2023 that restricts property rights as a way of trying to prevent gentrification. In November 2021, Daddy Rabbit Inc purchased it for $160,000 and sold a year later for $525,000 after the house was “renovated to perfection.”(learn more)
A three bedroom townhouse at 1868 Verona Drive in the Pantops at Pavilions community has its price dropped by $10,000 to $379,900. That’s right around the 2024 assessment of $377,400. (click for the listing)
On August 9, a four bedroom house in the Northfields neighborhood at 2707 Huntington Road had its asking price reduced by $25,000 to $474,900. That’s lower than the 2024 assessment of $487,900. The 2020 assessment is $381,100. (view the listing)
On August 10, the asking price for a four bedroom house at 120 Lankford Avenue in Charlottesville was lowered by an additional $5,000 to $409,900. The 2024 assessment is $307,600 for the house and the 0.43 acre lot. The property last sold in September 2019 for $235,000. (looking for the listing?)
Also on August 10, the asking price of a four bedroom house at 1340 Mosby’s Reach in the Dunlora neighborhood was further reduced $10,000 to $739,000. On June 12, the asking price was $799,000. The 2024 assessment is $594,900. (view the listing)
On August 12, the asking price of a newly built two-bedroom townhouse at 5045 Orchid Bnd in the Hollymead Townhomes was lowered by $1,000 to $354,000. What is a “bnd” anyway? The 2024 assessment is $372,500.
304 Chestnut and 306 Chestnut in Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood are being sold together. 304 is an empty lot and 306 has five bedrooms. The asking price was lowered on Wednesday by $75,000 to $875,000. The house is assessed at $553,800 in 2024 and the lot is assessed at $56,300. The listing is inaccurate as the zoning is given as R-2 whereas it’s actually Residential-A. (take a look at the listing)
On August 14, a two bedroom house at 922 Monticello Avenue had its asking price lowered $12,500 to $372,500. That’s just above the 2024 assessment of $359,100. (go and see)
Reading material for #719
Virginia Free Farm to expand with pantry, Avery Davis, WVIR 29NBC, August 15, 2024
Hydraulic Road construction continues, 29News Digital Team, WVIR 29NBC, August 15, 2024
ACPS addresses absenteeism in schools, Mark Gad, CBS19 News, August 15, 2024
Emails show Charlottesville is investigating an unspecified complaint regarding its city attorney, Anastasiia Carrier, Charlottesville Tomorrow, August 16, 2024
Farewell, #719!
I’m on a working vacation visiting my parents, and every day I think that maybe I’ll just take the day off. But that’s not how my brain works. I need to process information and this newsletter is how I do it. In about two hours, I’ll watch the English Premiership kickoff with a match between Manchester United and Fulham beginning another season of watching with my father.
To be able to relax for that, I had to get today’s edition out and here you are with six segments. Whenever I leave Charlottesville I seem to want to work harder and my work will continue all weekend. This is how I remain sane.
Paid subscriptions go a long way to helping me be solvent, too. I’m now in my fifth year of this journalistic experiment and grateful for those who have decided to contribute financially and support the work. That’s enough about that for now because I have to go shopping.
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Thanks for mentioning August 16 as Rev. Dr. Wyatt Tee Walker day! Very interesting bit of history I did not know!