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.
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NDRA is no longer mailing out a newsletter. News/ND issues are now online at this web site.
AGENDA for NDRA/ND Neighborhood meeting *
Thursday, August 28, 2008, 7 pm, Library, 3rd floor
Approval of minutes from June 26, 2008
Treasurer report
Old Business:
A. Report on picnic plans
B. Advertising the picnic
C. Candidates for 2008 - 2009 NDRA Board Elections (changed)
D. Report of 2nd St. Neighbors appeal to City Council (a new zoning ordinance needed for ND?)
E. Entrance into the new “Alliance of Neighborhoods”
New Business:
A. Hillcrest (Birdwood Neighborhood) closure meeting, September 16th
B. Police Districts 3 &4 meeting, 06-30-08
C. Matters by Directors
D. Reservoir Task Force
* Report 5-10 minutes to leave time for Q & A
NEXT NDRA/ND MEETING: September 25, 2008, 7 PM
Just as importantly, Councilors acknowledged that size matters, and suggested a task force to look at the tools the City has in place to deal with oversized development.
We consider both of these major victories, and thank you for your willingness to weigh in on the issues.”
Kristen Suokkok suokko@gmail.com
Fred Schneider redbox@charlottesville.net
Story
“Dear Neighbors,
Several of us who are property owners contiguous to the proposed residential project at 509 Second Street, NE appeared before City Council on May 5 to appeal the Board of Architectural Review 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.”
Are you concerned this may set a neighborhood precedent regarding mass/size? Do we need a zoning change regrading infill, demolition and massing/size to avoid this situation in the future?
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Sept 18: WATER FOR ELEPHANTS by Sara Gruen.
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“With a clear focus on achieving a cleaner, safer, more environmentally-sustainable and attractive Downtown Mall, the Charlottesville Downtown Pedestrian Mall has been undergoing a community-driven interactive process for a structural and cosmetic update with MMM Design Group since October 2007. The project, slated to begin construction in early 2009, will preserve the current design, work to eliminate structural and safety concerns, update materials and add extended life to the City’s pedestrian-friendly center core.” City staff
“The construction period is 5 months. . . . the first month is December [2008] when much of the material will be ordered and “out of sight” work will be done. The intent is still to start on January 2nd and finish on April 30th at the latest.” City staff
For updates on the project design through the summer and fall, http://www.mydowntownmall.com, or contact Jim Tolbert or Tony Edwards at NDS, 970-3182.
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Results: modified G 1 Alternative (250 Interchange web site- right sidebar - for G1 photo), signalized intersection, flat bridge rather than arches, move trail closer to road (these four will result in smaller footprint and hopefully project will come in within earmark)
Possible - only have trail on McIntire Rd. to 250 on the west side of McIntire which means one has to enter /cross at Harris St.area.
Hillcrest St. closure not addressed other than consultant said, it has to close due to ramp
No additional attempt made to mitigate the effects on the historic surroundings.
Redesign Nelson & Perry intersections is under review . . . by traffic engineer.
The RWSA’s 50 Year Water Supply Plan proposal will have huge implications for our community. All city residents and those in the urban county will see drastically increased water/sewer bills for years to come, far into the future.
Whatever plan is chosen to provide enough water for 50 years, the money for that must be in any plan that our elected officials approve. The money will also go toward sewer infrastructure and water/sewer treatment center renovations.
At the first meeting of the joint Task Force considering uses of the Southfork Reservoir, dredging was the elephant in the room that was ignored. Yet, dredging could save millions of taxpayers dollars, serve to lengthen the life of the Southfork, continue to provide potable water and insure continued recreational uses.
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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!
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To insure the survival of the neighborhood, to protect its integrity and maintain its character, residents must educate themselves on the footprint, mass, effect, and longevity of the proposed 250 Interchange.
This project is a monster, folks, and we need to make our voices heard NOW.
Full info at the 250 Interchange website.
]]>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.
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NORTH DOWNTOWN - Update July, 2008
1. Third Street Improvements: Status: Complete
The project has recently been completed, although some signage concerns regarding vehicle traffic around the improvements remains to be worked out.
2. Downtown Mall: Status: Planning stages
City Council has approved the Mall repaving plan. There will be a public meeting at Sage Moon Gallery on August 6 from 3-5 pm to discuss how to best communicate with the public during the re-bricking to make the disruption to the businesses as minimal as possible.
3. 301 W. Main Site Plan: Status: In Review
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. The applicant has had submitted plans for review to the Board of Architectural Review. No site plan has been received.
4. First and Main: Status: Deferred
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: Under Construction
The hotel is under construction, with a targeted completion date of the summer of 2009.
6. 600 East Water Street: Status: In Review
The applicant for this 9-story project has preliminary site plan approval. The project still needs BAR approval before moving forward.
You can:
Contact ,
President, NDRA
or call her at 434-296-6224.
OR
send email to our general address:
info@northdowntown.org
and we’ll either answer you or forward it to someone who can assist you.