September 11, 2024: There is a School Board race in Albemarle County's Rio District; Work underway to bring Blue Tunnel experience to more visitors
Plus: Another anecdotal look at properties whose sellers have lowered their asking price
A lot has happened in 23 years since four domestic flights were hijacked to kill people and cause damage. There are many tributes and commemorations today to what happened that morning worth reviewing, and this edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement will at least have links to some of them. I’m Sean Tubbs, and it is September 11, 2024.
In today’s installment:
Today is the 23rd anniversary of the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon
A School Board race is on the ballot in Albemarle’s Rio District this year
A round-up of some of what happened at the September 10 edition of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors
Nelson County is teaming up with a Waynesboro non-profit to increase access to the Blue Ridge Tunnel
Only one candidate for Virginia’s Fifth Congressional District showed up to a forum held this afternoon
Another look at the Albemarle and Charlottesville real estate market from the perspective of property owners lowering their asking price to entice a buyer
First-shout: ACHS presents The Sculpture of Alice Wesley Ivory
In today’s first subscriber-supported shout-out, the Albemarle Charlottesville Historical Society has partnered with the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center for a display of the work of a key local artist of the late 20th Century. There’s a reception coming up this Saturday at 6 p.m.
The ACHS is sponsoring Beyond Boundaries: The Sculpture of Alice Wesley Ivory, an exhibit celebrating the life and sculpture of a local artist who broke gender and racial boundaries in both her artistic and teaching careers. The exhibit will be held in the Contemporary Gallery of the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center (JSAAHC) from September 14 to December 14, with an opening reception and gallery talks Saturday, September 14, 6-8 pm.
At the reception, Local artists Richard Crozier and Frank Walker will lead a gallery talk. Light food and beverages will be provided. If you’d like to attend, please RSVP. Learn more about Alice Wesley Ivory on cvillepedia.
Remembering September 11, 2001
Twenty-three years have passed since a sunny September Day in which four airline flights were hijacked with the intent of causing massive casualties. The occasion has been and will be marked in many ways across the area.
This morning, Governor Glenn Youngkin laid a wreath at the Pentagon Group Burial Marker at the Arlington National Ceremony followed by another at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
On Saturday, both Albemarle County Fire Rescue and the Charlottesville Fire Department will hold a stair climb at the John Paul Jones Arena beginning at 8 a.m.
Such events are held across the country to commemorate the 343 firefighters killed as they attempted to rescue people at the World Trade Center. Local personnel will climb the equivalent of 110 stories.
Both fire chiefs are quoted in a press release sent out by Albemarle County. Albemarle Chief Dan Eggleston the event is a tribute to the courage and commitment.
“By coming together as a community, we ensure their bravery, along with the memories of all who perished that day, are forever honored and never forgotten,” Eggleston said.
Charlottesville Fire Chief Michael Thomas invited members of the community to join the event.
"It's a humbling experience to climb with fellow first responders and put ourselves in the shoes of those who risked their lives that day to preserve the lives of others,” Thomas said.
On Tuesday, the Nelson County Board of Supervisors marked the events of September 11, 2001 with a proclamation for what they call Patriot’s Day that states why the country should continue to commemorate the tragedy. Supervisor Jessica Ligon
“WHEREAS, this commemoration should be conducted each September throughout the land to include:
• The promotion of global peace and goodwill;
• The demonstration of America’s resolve and perseverance to win the war on terrorism;
• The advancement of responsible citizenship;
• The encouragement of patriotism and love of country; and
• The poignant remembrance of those innocent victims who died September 11th, as heroes, one and all.”
Supervisor Jesse Rutherford told the Board that American Legion Family of Post 17 will hold a commemoration at 3 p.m. at 22 Nelson Avenue in Shipman.
Did you do anything to mark the occasion? What would you like to say? Leave a comment or drop me a line.
School Board race underway in Albemarle County’s Rio District
In the Week Ahead for August 19, 2024, I incorrectly stated there were no local races this year. That alerted one reader who pointed out that there is a special race for the Albemarle County School Board.
When Delegate Katrina Callsen was elected to the 54th House District, she stepped down from the Rio District seat on the Albemarle School Board. Soon after, the Board selected Charles Pace to serve as a replacement.
State law requires Pace to run for the seat to fill out the remainder of Callsen’s term which runs through the end of 2025. Pace has worked in public education for 39 years according to his campaign website.
“During my time on the School Board, I’ve observed that there is no question we are doing well in most of what we do to serve students and their families,” Pace writes on the website. “But we do have challenges.”
Pace has an opponent in Jim Dillenbeck, a former teacher who left to work for the tour company WorldStrides.
“Unfortunately, the Albemarle County School system seems to be in a downward trajectory in recent years,” Dillenbeck writes on the issues portion of his website. “Test scores are failing, absenteeism and violence are increasing, teachers are leaving, and enrollment is down despite population growth.”
The Virginia Public Access Program tracks campaign finance results and as of June 30, 2024, Dillenbeck had outraised Pace $4,820 to $1,024.
Early voting in Albemarle County and the rest of Virginia begins on September 20 and continues through November 2. The deadline to register to vote is October 15, but same-day registration is available from October 16 to November 5. The last day to request a ballot by mail is October 25. For more information, visit Albemarle County’s elections page.
Nelson County round-up: Speed study meeting to be held Monday
The Virginia Department of Transportation will convene a meeting on Monday, September 16 that will continue a speed study of Route 151. Attendees will include the Nelson County Sheriff’s Department, the Virginia State Police, and county officials and the topic may also turn to U.S. 29.
“We’ll be looking at recent crashes that have resulted in fatalities to see what measures or actions we can take that may prevent them in the future,” said Robert Brown, the head of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s Appomattox Residency, which covers Nelson County.
Brown spoke at the September 10, 2024 afternoon meeting of the Nelson County Board of Supervisors.
At least four people have been killed in traffic crashes in Nelson County since the beginning of July, including one who died in a two-vehicle crash at U.S. 29 and Jackson Lane on August 21. (read more on that incident on Blue Ridge Life)
On August 30, Nelson County Sheriff Mark Embry announced a partnership with the Commonwealth’s Attorney to enforce moving violations.
“The partnership between our offices will enforce stricter consequences for speeding violations, and any other traffic-related violation that is a direct contributor to motor vehicle accidents,” reads a press release published by Blue Ridge Life.
At the September 10 meeting, Supervisors were introduced to two new department heads.
Jeffrey Brantley began work as Nelson County’s director of public works on August 31, 2024 . He had previously worked with the Nelson County Services Authority. Grace Mawyer is Nelson’s new director of finance and human resources. She worked in the department for a few years after graduating from Virginia Tech before entering the private sector. She’s spent the last two years working as an accountant for Albemarle County.
More details from the Nelson County Board of Supervisors in the next story as well as future editions.
Nelson County partnering with Waynesboro group to make Blue Ridge Tunnel more accessible
Since opening in September 2020, the historic Blue Ridge Tunnel connecting Nelson County with Augusta County has become one of the region’s hottest tourist attractions. Over 6,000 people visited the site in August, according to a written report in the Board of Supervisors’ packet for September 10.
However, the site can be inaccessible to people with mobility challenges. The director of Nelson’s parks and recreation department said a plan is being developed to make improvements.
“We are partnering with a new nonprofit based out of Waynesboro,” said director Jerry West. “It is a program called Blue Ridge Packs and Tracks.”
West said the group offers tours in off-road electric wheelchairs called “track chairs” which allows access to those who might not otherwise be able to travel through the 4,273 foot long tunnel as well as other challenging pathways.
“More rugged trails that a more normal wheelchair would not be able to access,” West said. “This allows those people the opportunity to get on those trails and see more of nature and have that opportunity.”
The chairs have dual controls with the person sitting in it being overseen by a volunteer who will help with the maneuvering. West said the goal is to have the first chair in place by October 1 when the Blue Ridge Tunnel has its annual Accessibility Day. West said registrations for that program were sold out within 26 minutes of going live.
West said the track chair program is intended to become a regular feature.
“This is the first of its kind in Virginia so hopefully this takes off and will be a good representation of the initiative here in Nelson County,” West said.
The annual closure of the tunnel for maintenance took place in mid-August.
Republican candidate McGuire did not attend candidate forum in Charlottesville today
There are many similarities between Republican congressional candidate John McGuire and the incumbent he narrowly defeated in the June 18 primary. Like Bob Good in October 2022, McGuire declined an opportunity to appear with his Democratic opponent at the Senior Statesmen of Virginia.
McGuire had been scheduled to appear at today’s Senior Statesmen of Virginia candidate forum at the Center at Belvedere, a forum co-hosted by the League of Women Voters of Charlottesville. According to the Senior Statesmen, McGuire had another obligation. Earlier today, his Facebook campaign broadcast from a 9/11 memorial. That can be viewed here.
In 2020, Good did appear in a virtual candidate forum held by the Senior Statesmen alongside Democrat Cameron Webb.
Will there be other chances for the two candidates to meet? If you know of any scheduled events, please drop me a line.
Second-shout out: Design Develop
In today’s Patreon-fueled shout-out, architectural firm Design Develop is offering a new service aimed at the development community that the rest of us might want to know about , too — 3D point cloud scanning! This technique uses specialized equipment, such as 3D scanner systems, to gather a large amount of data points that represent the surface of the scanned object or scene. This really comes in handy when working with historic structures, as the firm knows from its experience in Baltimore and Charlottesville. Read their blog post for more information!
The applications of 3D point cloud scanning are extensive and cover various fields, including architecture, construction, cultural heritage preservation, virtual reality, industrial design, manufacturing, and more. These applications require accurate 3D spatial information, and Design Develop’s workflow provides precise and comprehensive results, all while being more cost-effective than traditional methods.
Design Develop has expertise in this workflow for their own needs and now has a dedicated team offering this service in the Charlottesville and Albemarle Area. If you're involved in the real estate, design, or construction industry, contact them for more information or a free quote.
Visit their website for an introductory video that captures the 3D point cloud scanning of the Downtown Transit Center and a booklet that will explain more!
Another look at drops in asking prices for area homes
I am behind on getting out the Charlottesville real estate transactions report for July and will get to that by the middle of the month. But it is time again for another edition of the segment where I go through emails sent out by realtor.com that announce drops in prices.
This is an experiment and no artificial intelligence is used in the creation of these blurbs. This is a manifestation of the research I do into how this community functions. If you see an error, please notify me and I will correct it.
Thanks to Realtor.com for providing the material.
On August 16, a two bedroom house at 1304 Poplar Street in the Marta Jefferson Neighborhood was reduced in price another $5,000 to $384,900. The 2024 assessment is $381,400. (see the listing)
On August 16, the asking price for a three bedroom, five bathroom house at 901 East Jefferson Street was lowered $60,000 to $1,390,000. The 2024 assessment is $909,700. This property is zoned Node Mixed Use 10 under the new zoning, but what is known as the Leitch-Haden House is protected from demolition. (observe the listing)
On August 17, 2024, the asking price of a four bedroom house at 1340 Mosby’s Reach in the Dunlora neighborhood was reduced an additional $14,000 to $725,000. A week earlier it had been reduced $10,000 to $739,000. On June 12, the asking price had been $799,000. The 2024 assessment is $594,900. (view the listing)
On August 20, 2024, the asking price for a four bedroom house at 878 Ridge Street in Charlottesville was lowered by $10,000 to $365,000. The 2024 assessment is $326,200. Later in the month this property would be further reduced again by $90,000 to $365,000. (browse the listing)
On August 20, 2024, the desired price for a three bedroom townhouse at 843 Rainier Road in the Fry’s Spring neighborhood was reduced $24,000 to $525,000. The 2024 assessment is $444,400. (eye the listing)
On August 21, 2024, the wanted price for 3209 Horizon Road in the Southwood neighborhood was lowered by $5,000 to $479,900. The seller is Southern Development, one of two builders constructing the market rate units at Southwood. This is a brand new three bedroom townhome and the 2024 assessment is $464,400. (spy the listing)
On August 21, 2024, the asking price for 809 East Jefferson Street was reduced by $64,900. This is listed as a two bedroom house constructed in 1930, but it’s also been used as a commercial building. The 2024 assessment is $700,400. A sale is pending according to the listing. (evaluate the listing)
On August 21, 2024, the desired price for 748 Lexington Avenue was reduced by $150,000 to $2.1 million. This is a four bedroom house built in 1955. The 2024 assessment is $1,215,700. The last time the property was purchased was in June 2021 for $550,000. Later in the month, the price was further lowered to $1.97 million. (fetch the listing)
On August 22, 2024, the asking price for 111 Carrsbrook Court was reduced by $9,100 to $499,900. The 2024 assessment is $438,000. That would be further reduced by another $15,000 to $484,999. (look at the listing)
On August 23, 2024, the list price for 903 Charlton Avenue was dropped an additional $10,000 to $575,000. The property has since been taken off the market. (take a look anyway)
On August 24, 2024, the asking price for a four bedroom house at 120 Lankford Avenue in Charlottesville was lowered by an additional $10,000 to $399,900. 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. A sale is pending. (go see the info)
On August 27, 2024, the list price for a one bedroom condominium at 105 Monticello Avenue was dropped $15,000 to $410,000. This is in the ACAC complex. The 2024 assessment is $336,900. (learn more)
A recently built townhouse in the Hollymead Towns development had its asking price lowered by $5,000 to $435,000 on August 27, 2024. There’s no assessment for this year. A sale is pending. (hurry up and look!)
304 Chestnut and 306 Chestnut in Charlottesville’s Belmont neighborhood are being sold together. 304 is an empty lot and 306 has five bedrooms. On August 27, 2024, the asking price was reduced by $85,000 to $790,000. The house is assessed at $553,800 in 2024 and the lot is assessed at $56,300. (observe the listing)
On August 28, 2024, a six bedroom house at 207 Douglas Avenue had its list price reduced by $100,000 to $1,495,000. The 2024 assessment is $711,600. (see the property)
On August 28, 2024, the asking price for 307 Alderman Road was dropped $110,000 to $815,000. The three bedroom price was built in 1948 and is assessed in 2024 at $755,800. A sale is pending. This property is adjacent to 303 Alderman which will soon see a single family house demolished to make way for a six unit development made by-right by the new rules. (look at the info)
On August 29, 2024, the desired price for a five bedroom house at 1419 Burgess Lane in the Woolen Mills neighborhood was dropped $15,000 to $570,000. The 2024 assessment is $421,500. (acquire the info)
On September 2, 2024, the asking price for a two bedroom house at 1002 2nd Street SE in the Ridge Street neighborhood was dropped $51,000 to $469,000. The 2024 assessment is $299,200. (more to see)
On September 2, 2024, the asking price for a three bedroom townhouse at 2104 Elm Tree Court in the Briarwood subdivision went down another $8,000 to $390,000. had its price reduced by $5,000 to $398,000. The 2024 assessment is $348,800. The 2020 assessment is $252,200. (digitally travel to the property)
On September 3, 2024, the asking price for a four bedroom townhouse at 2417 Abington Drive was lowered $40,000 to $400,000. The 2024 assessment is $397,800. (more details)
On Sunday, the desired price for 424 Carrsbrook Drive was reduced another $4,000 to $471,000. The property had been listed at $550,000 in June. (information here)
On Monday, the asking price for 1036 Locust Avenue was lowered $30,000 to $905,000. This is a four bedroom house last purchased in December 2023 by Rich Valley Holdings for $610,000. The 2024 assessment jumped up to $882,800.
Reading material for #728
Fifth District GOP chair: “Where is John McGuire?”, Markus Schmidt, Virginia Mercury, September 9, 2024
Previewing the September meeting of the Board of Visitors, Thomas Baxter, Cavalier Daily, September 10, 2024
Fairfax County passes measure to regulate where data centers can be built, Max Marcilla, DC News Now, September 10, 2024
Corn mazes getting ready to open for the season, Sharra Klug, CBS19, September 10, 2024
Richmond pilots participatory budget program, hands residents $3 million, Charlotte Renee Woods, Virginia Mercury, September 11, 2024
Now, away with #728!
I’ve now been back in Charlottesville for over 36 hours and the memory of this conference pushes its way to the forefront. One of the aspects of this newsletter I hope to change are the shout-outs. Right now there is no formal system for how they work, but I owe it to every reader to be transparent.
No funding at all exchanged hands for the shout-out to the Albemarle-Charlottesville Historical Society. They are an informal partner with me on cvillepedia and I am grateful for their stewardship. There are many people who qualify for a shout-out who don’t use them, so I use my discretion to promote ACHS events.
The Design Develop spot is the result of a $25 a month Patreon sponsorship which grants shout-outs. This is a commercial entity and one day I can see this being transitioned to a more formal sponsorship. I will reach out to my contact and see if they would be interested.
The major lesson from the conference is a need to diversify revenues. Subscribers make up well over half of the mix at the moment, and if Town Crier Productions is to mature, I will need to be more certain.
It is certain that for every new subscriber, I get that much more confident about the work I’m doing. If you pay through Substack, Ting will match your initial payment. You can also pay through the mail with a check, but send me a note if you want to do that.
This is an incredibly generous sponsorship, and if you sign up for service and you are within Ting’s service area, enter the promo code COMMUNITY you’re going to get:
Free installation
A second month for free
A $75 gift card to the Downtown Mall
