About NDRA

From South Street and the Downtown Mall to the 250 Bypass, and from McIntire and Birdwood Road in the west to Kelly Avenue in the east, North Downtown is located in the heart of Charlottesville.

The North Downtown Residents Association is our neighborhood’s voice in matters of community and neighborhood concern, uniting the thoughts and concerns of many into one voice that speaks for the neighborhood as a whole. We need your ideas, your suggestions, your help, and we welcome your support.

Unless we make our opinions known on issues of common concern, neighborhood interests can easily be ignored or simply taken for granted. The NDRA serves as a clearinghouse for information, a forum for discussion of neighborhood issues and a vehicle for making our concerns known to those who make decisions. Join us and make your voice heard.

Current Neighborhood Issues

April 30, 2008

2nd St. Neighbors Appeal to City Council

"Dear Neighbors,

Several of us who are property owners contiguous to the proposed residential project at 509 Second Street, NE are appearing before City Council on Monday, May 5 to appeal the Board of Architectural Review’s approval of the concept design.  We are appealing on the grounds that the process insufficiently addressed the issue of mass and scale in relation to the lot, the surrounding area, and the character of the neighborhood.

To a person, those of us appealing this decision support urban in-fill, especially with right-sized, right-priced housing stock.  We do support green building, especially when it reduces reliance on the car and promotes walkability.  And we do support a variety of architectural styles in downtown Charlottesville, especially when they contribute to the vitality and neighborliness of the street.  As currently designed, the proposed building will take up almost all of the buildable area of the lot and includes a three-car garage.  We have met with architect and the owner and appreciate their attempts to address our concerns, but the scale of the project and its orientation around the car prevent it from meeting these objectives.

If you would like more information please contact Kristen Suokko () or Fred Schneider ()”.

On May 5, City Council decided to send the applicant back to the BAR to see if the front of the building, which appears to alienate itself from the fabric of the neighborhood, can be redesigned.

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 0 Comments

April 28, 2008

Water/Sewer Rates Are Going Up for EVERYONE !

Regardless of who you are: owner or renter, socioeconomic level, employed or student. Water/sewer rates are going up and you will be paying the increase. Want to have input?

The NDRA Board requests that the City Council consider dredging the South Fork Rivanna Reservoir as part of the solution for the “50-year Water Supply Plan.”

A nationally recognized dredging engineering company, Gahagan & Bryant Associates will present their findings to the Charlottesville City Council at a “work session” on Tuesday, May 6, 5:00 PM. (The company is making site visits to the Reservoir on April 29th/30th and May 5th/6th.)

The meeting will be held in the new “City Space” room of CCDC on the Downtown Mall, just adjacent to the Market Street parking garage/Mall side, formerly the Social Security Office.

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 0 Comments

April 22, 2008

Report on the April 21, 250 Interchange Public Hearing

At the April 21 City Council meeting, the North Downtown residents and many others expressed their views about the over-sized proposed 250 Interchange. (A BIG thank you to those who spoke. “All legitimate government authority flows from the consent of the governed, and the governed can’t consent if they don’t know what’s going on.” John Comyn, U.S. Senator, 2004)

Council has decided it needs a work session to sort out what ideas need to be modified to keep costs within the Federal earmark, to decrease the size/mass, to maintain bike and pedestrian access, to solve the Hillcrest closure dilemma, and how to fit this structure into the historic landscape.

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 2 Comments

February 25, 2008

NDRA President Awarded “Citizen Planner of the Year”

NDRA President Colette Hall was the recipient of the Charlottesville’s 2008 Citizen Planner of the Year award!

The award states:

“Colette is recognized for keeping track and staying in tune with a multitude of issues affecting the North Downtown area including the Meadowcreek Parkway interchange and traffic and zoning concerns in her neighborhood.  She is neighborhood president and has made a point to attend countless public meetings in the past year.”

Way to go, Colette!

Posted by NDRA Administrator Permanent Link 0 Comments

February 19, 2008

50 Year Water Plan

"Citizens for a Sustainable Water Plan” is a group of former city councilors and civic leaders concerned about the cost and sustainability of the Rivanna Water and Sewer Authority 50 year water proposal.  We have created a web-site to help citizens get more information about this important and complicated issue.” http://www.cvillewater.info/home.html

Will dredging be one answer to increase our water supply? Go to “The Hook” link:
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2008/02/28/COVER-reservoir-combined.aspx

Connection between the airport and Nature Conservancy? link:
http://www.readthehook.com/blog/index.php/2008/03/23/is-conservancy-impeding-dredge-options/

When and what?
http://www.readthehook.com/stories/2008/04/24/NEWS-water-CouncilUnited-A.aspx

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 0 Comments

December 12, 2007

Meetings open to the public for the 250 Interchange Project impact on “historic properties.”

"Historic Properties” eligible for the National Registry: McIntire School/Covenant School, 501 and 502 Park Hill, Rock Hill Landscape garden (now MACAA), McIntire Park, and the McIntire Golf Course. The Vietnam Memorial is ineligible although it appears to be the first Vietnam Memorial in the USA.

NDRA was granted “consulting party” status by the FHWA regarding the 250 Interchange effects on “historic properties.” The Neighborhood will be now be able to attend the previous “private” meetings and add its voice regarding “historic properties” that are located in the North Downtown Neighborhood. These properties may be negatively affected by the proposed 250 Interchange Project.

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 0 Comments

November 13, 2007

Neighborhood Development Update, February 2008

Recent update can be read in the Daily Progress article by Seth Rosen, Officials see bad omens for projects January 22, 2008.

NORTH DOWNTOWN
1. Third Street Improvements: Now open to pedestrians only.

2. Downtown Mall: Status: Planning stages
The City hosted several meetings in the past weeks with various stakeholders in the Downtown Mall refurbishment project.

3. 301 W. Main Rezoning/Site Plan: Status: Rezoning Approved/Site Plan: In Discussion
A proposed 9 story mixed use development on the corner of West Main Street and McIntire Road. This development is proposed to have 79 condo units, 4 retail establishments, underground parking and provide streetscape improvements along the 300 block of Main Street.  No change.

4. First and Main: Status: In Review
The applicant has deferred review of this project in order to address staff comments and make some decisions about how to proceed.  This plan will go to the Planning Commission for review prior to approval. No change.

5. Hotel Charlottesville: Status: Only front facade left. Planned completion July, 09

6. 600 East Water Street: Status: In Review
The applicant for this 9-story project has received comments from staff since the last neighborhood update memo, and is revising the plan.

Posted by Colette Hall Permanent Link 0 Comments