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infocville.com/2026/03/06/sanders-propo... “A tax relief specialist to continue to work on our tax relief program specifically because as we have had challenges and the need has grown, we have had more work that […]

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nyc.streetsblog.org/2026/03/05/mamdani-deput... “metering just one-quarter of the currently free spaces would generate $1.3 billion annually while improving turnover for local businesses and reducing congestion” #NYC #ParkingReform […]

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www.richmonder.org/avula-council-members-at... “In 2023, the City Council approved the sale of $50 million in bonds over the next five years for the production and preservation of affordable housing” I’m very interested to […]

Why Los Angeles Quietly Stopped Repaving Its Streets Federal disability rules have turned routine maintenance into a legal liability.

www.city-journal.org/article/los-angeles-stre... “At the current pace, the city controller said, it would take 500 years to fix all the broken sidewalks in Los Angeles.” #LosAngeles #walkable #ADA #equity #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments #MaliciousCompliance

Charlottesville Planning Commission seeks some changes to city’s five year CIP As 2025 winds down, Charlottesville City Manager Sam Sanders is working to prepare a budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2026. That includes a five-year capital improvement plan which lays out where money will be spent on construction and maintenance of infrastructure. The Charlottesville Planning Commission has now seen a draft plan for FY27 through FY31 at both a work session in November and at a public hearing on December 9. At both meetings, the draft CIP anticipates spending nearly $36 million in FY27 and a total of nearly $201.5 million over five years. (view the materials) “This plan looks to fund the CIP with roughly $153 million of bonds, just over $44 million of transfers from the general fund in terms of cash,” said Krisy Hammill, the city’s budget director. _The materials for the public hearing should be located here_ The rules of financing only allow city-owned or other publicly-owned projects to be paid for through debt service. Anything the city gives to a third-party to fund has to be paid for through cash, though funding for the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority can be paid for through bond sales. There were no changes from the Charlottesville Planning Commission’s November 25 work session. For an overview of Hammill’s presentation, go back read a story I wrote from that meeting. After Hammill’s presentation, Planning Commissioners had a chance to ask questions. Several mobility advocates had questioned before the Planning Commission meeting why the draft CIP only depicts $100,000 a year on bicycle infrastructure. Transportation Planning Manager Ben Chambers said there is about a million dollars in the fund and there are plans to use $800,000 during this fiscal year. “We’re programming that out on things like the Fifth Street Cycle Track, the Rose Hill Drive re-striping and repaving, planning work that we’re starting up this winter, and a protected bike parking pilot that we’ll be looking at in the spring,” Chamber said. “So this will leave us with about $200,000 to carry over into FY27.” The “cycle track” project is also known as a road diet and would remove one vehicular lane from southbound Fifth Street in favor of more space for bikes and pedestrians. More information is here. The draft CIP also includes $1.2 million in FY2030 to replace the roof at the city-owned McGuffey Arts Center. At this meeting, a second member of the Planning Commission called for the city to study the potential use of the former McGuffey School as something different. Lyle Solla-Yates noted that a committee was in place in the mid 1970’s when city schools gave up the property. “Could we do a similar committee today to look at this issue?” Solla-Yates asked. “Could we look at a hybrid option like we have at Jefferson School, where many community needs are addressed with modernized facilities? I list a number of possibilities. Two acres downtown worth $10 million is potentially useful for many public purposes.” This was a rare joint meeting with City Council giving the chance of a dialogue between elected and appointed officials. Mayor Juandiego Wade said he was not ready to form such a committee but he would think of the idea. “We love committees here in this community,” Wade said. The capital budget for this fiscal year anticipates an allocation of $5 million to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority for the redevelopment of Westhaven, with additional payments programmed for FY27 and FY28. The chair of the Planning Commission asked how that would be used. “Is Westhaven going to be complete in two years or what is that?” said Carl Schwarz. “What’s the $10 million doing?” “I don’t know,” Hammill said. There was no one from CRHA on hand to provide a response but Councilor Michael Payne, a voting member of the CRHA Board, said the project will not be completed in two years. “There’s a very long way to go just in terms of even applying for and securing funding of multiple sources,” Payne said. Before the public hearing, Councilor Natalie Oschrin said she would like to see the CIP made more clear about how the city will be spending more on bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. “More people are going to get out of their cars and have safer driving and safer streets when we invest in good bike infrastructure and when people get out of their cars and the people left who do have to drive have a better experience, so it’s better for everybody,” Oschrin said. _Details on transportation categories (Credit: City of Charlottesville)_ The 2026 General Assembly will likely see the passage of a bill to allow localities to hold a referendum on a sales tax increase for schools. One Councilor wanted more information on how that might work. “If the state legislature approves and it is passed, the one cent sales tax for school facilities, is there at this point an expected date for when that additional money would get reflected in the CIP?” asked City Councilor Michael Payne. Hammill said they would work to get that funding as soon as possible as there are a lot of projects to pay for. Mike Goddard, deputy director of public works for the city, said a committee is putting together a look at long-term capital needs. “I anticipate that we’re ready with a list of projects to get started on and we’ll flesh that out even more the more time we have between now and when those funds become available,” Goddard said. Councilor Lloyd Snook said the city should be ready to have a list of projects by July 1, 2026 if the referendum is held next November. “If we don’t have a list of that by July 1, anybody who is going to be campaigning in favor of that passing the referendum is going to be seriously handicapped,” Snook said. The current year anticipates allocating $1,332,200 in cash to a consortium of the Piedmont Housing Alliance and Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville for their purchase of the Carlton Mobile Home Park. The next four years would see an additional $4.7 million through FY2031. “What’s the current status of that project and that funding?” asked City Councilor Lloyd Snook. “And is that going to be sufficient to fill, to carry us through? Do we know?” Hammill did not have an update on the status of the project but the money goes to support loans that the two nonprofits have secured for the purchase of the property. Deputy City Manager James Freas reminded everyone that the agreement between the nonprofits and existing tenants is that there would be a three-year period before there would be any change. “I believe they’ve begun planning for the future redevelopment part,” Freas said. “That’s going to be another resident-led effort. And we haven’t heard at this point whether there’s going to be any additional requests for funding.” After several people spoke at the public hearing, the Commission went through the document again to suggest amendments. They voted to recommend: * Increase the capital improvement program to reflect around $11 million in payments that will be made by developers who have opted to pay into the Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund in-lieu of providing affordable units on site and create a process for the money will be spent * Hiring additional city staff to support the city’s affordable housing projects * Fund additional quick-build projects to address urgent infrastructure needs * Create a plan to obtain “safe harbor” for solar projects whose federal funding through the Inflation Reduction Act may be threatened * * * **Before you go** : Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the December 15, 2025 edition of _Charlottesville Community Engagement_. You can either subscribe through Substack, make a monthly contribution through Patreon, or consider becoming a sponsor. The goal of _Town Crier Productions_ is to increase awareness about what is happening at the local, regional, state, and federal government levels. Please share the work with others if you want people to know things. ### Share this: * Click to share on X (Opens in new window) X * Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) Facebook * Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window) Reddit * Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window) LinkedIn * ### Like this: Like Loading... ### _Related_ * * * ### Discover more from Information Charlottesville Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email. Type your email… Subscribe

Thanks to Sean Tubbs for covering the #cville Planning Commission infocville.com/2025/12/19/charlottesvil... #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments #housing #BikeTooter #solar #CharlottesvilleCitySchools #CapitalImprovementPlan

A key Tysons leader is working to ensure state leaders provide dedicated new funding for transit that she says will help the region thrive. “Transit in Northern Virginia is cool again,” said Katie Cristol, CEO of the Tysons Community Alliance. “Northern Virginia transit riders are starting to take pride once again in how we get around,” said Cristol, who served as the keynote speaker during a legislative forum held in Arlington on Dec. 15 by the Northern Virginia Transportation Commission (NVTC) and Potomac and Rappahannock Transportation Commission (PRTC). In her remarks, Cristol touted plans proposed by a General Assembly subcommittee to provide an additional $400 million in annual funding to support Metro, the Virginia Railway Express and Northern Virginia’s bus networks, including Fairfax Connector and the City of Fairfax’s CUE. The funding proposal “provides a blueprint for the future we want,” said Cristol. The Northern Virginia Growing Needs of Public Transit Joint Subcommittee’s proposed funding package will be among key topics considered by the General Assembly when it convenes Jan. 14. Despite Democratic, and presumably pro-transit, majorities in both chambers, there is no guarantee that funds will be allocated and revenue options established during the 60-day legislative session. “We really need to figure out how to tell this story,” Board of Supervisors Chair Jeff McKay said while participating on the same panel. Cristol, who was tapped in 2023 to head the Tysons community development organization, said the message to non-Northern Virginia lawmakers needs to be what is good for the urban center is good for the commonwealth. “Tysons is in the middle of a transformation, all built around four Silver Line transit stations, [and] Tysons’ story is emblematic of a story that is repeated throughout our region,” Cristol said. Fairfax County Board Chair Jeff McKay (screenshot via Northern Virginia Transportation Commission) Referencing Arlington — where she served for nearly eight years on the County Board — Cristol said transit-oriented development is a key way to avoid sprawl. Arlington’s metro corridors “comprise only 11% of the county’s land but half of its tax base,” she said. “People want to be near other people,” Cristol said. When in elected office, Cristol served on both the NVTC and PRTC boards. Her views are worth listening to, said David Snyder, a member of the Falls Church City Council and current NVTC chair. “She’s one of those unique people who brings new ideas, energy and hard work to what she does,” Snyder said. For months, local officials have been gearing up to make the case in Richmond, but Del. Mark Sickles’s resignation (D-17) to become Virginia’s next secretary of finance leaves a void in working to secure passage of transit-funding measures in the 2026 General Assembly session. Sickles was among participants in one of the roundtable discussions at the Dec. 15 forum. Approximately a week later, he was tapped by Spanberger to join her cabinet. Sickles had planned to introduce legislation to boost transit funding in the House of Delegates, with state Sen. Adam Ebbin (D-39) taking up the cause in the state Senate. With Sickles’s departure, other delegates who could fill his shoes may include Del. Adele McClure (D-2). Representing part of Arlington, McClure sits on the House Committee on Transportation and was a member of the legislative subcommittee tasked with developing recommendations for funding Metro and other transit systems. “This dedicated funding would mean improvements in reliability, in service,” McClure said at the Dec. 15 forum. “We need to make sure we are dedicating the resources necessary.” Noting that the audience was composed of transit advocates, planners and elected officials, she acknowledged they didn’t need to be won over. “I feel like I’m preaching to the choir,” she said. Del. Adele McClure, D-2 (screenshot via Northern Virginia Transportation Authority) To score success in Richmond, Northern Virginia transit proponents will need to appeal to downstate legislators, who may have other budget priorities on their minds. McKay said the past year of work to develop plans for dedicated transit funding represented a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for those in the audience. “There are so many ways this helps our region,” he said of the proposals, which were endorsed by the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors. The projected $400 million in additional Northern Virginia spending needed to support transit through options like an increased sales tax is “a doable number,” McKay said. Randy Clarke, CEO and general manager of the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority, said efforts to reinvent the transit agency “never, ever ends,” and the decision on moving forward with dedicated funding represents a key fork in the road for the region. “We’re very good,” Clarke said of Metro, adding that new funding would help the system further improve, but without it, service will revert back to times when performance was more spotty. McKay was quick to point out that, when making the case in Richmond, the focus must be on the needs of the entire region, not just Metro. “Whatever solution we come up with in Richmond, we need to talk of it as a transit solution, not a Metro solution,” he said.

www.ffxnow.com/2026/01/02/n-va-official... “People want to be near other people” #DMV #Transit #Virginia #VAPol

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virginiamercury.com/2025/12/26/federal-fundi... “Federal funding in many ways will be] reduced or dried up. And in particular the USDOT has been ordered to oppose the funding of bike/ped projects. They are viewed as antagonistic to […]

‘Freedom is a city where you can breathe’: four experts on Europe’s most liveable capitals From Copenhagen’s cycle lanes and Vienna’s shared parks to Barcelona and London’s unfulfilled potential, better living is close at hand

www.theguardian.com/cities/2025/dec/24/four-... “It’s because of very conscious investment in bike lanes and infrastructure – and taking away some road space from cars” #Copenhagen #BikeTooter #WarOnCars #walkable #PublicHealth #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments

City of Charlottesville and Charlottesville City Schools Complete Solar System Installation at CATEC City of Charlottesville and Charlottesville City Schools complete installation of 262.9 kW solar system on CATEC.

www.charlottesville.gov/CivicAlerts.aspx “The positive climate impacts, cost savings, and educational benefits made this an extremely important project for the City to pursue” #cville #CATECH #solar #climate #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments #education

December 1, 2025: Planning Commission begins review of Charlottesville’s draft $201.5 million capital budget Plus: The Virginia State Board of Elections have certified the 2025 vote

Thanks to Sean Tubbs for covering the #cville Planning Commission open.substack.com/pub/communityengagement/... #housing #parks #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments #Education

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www.pilotonline.com/2025/09/11/committee-stu... “Much of the planned additional spending is for K-12 education and Medicaid, but other costs are expected as a result of federal changes.” #Virginia #education […]

New polling suggests broad support among Virginians for state-level legislation to support building more housing. A survey of about 1,300 Virginia voters found that the vast majority of respondents — about 73% — believe that the state lacks enough homes that people can afford to rent or buy. Overall, the cost and availability of housing emerged as respondents’ top concern in Virginia, just above inflation, according to polling commissioned by the Commonwealth Housing Coalition. Among Northern Virginians, 64% of respondents said that building more affordable housing is more important than protecting the character of neighborhoods from change, while 55% rated their town or county’s efforts to keep housing affordable as “poor” or “very poor.” Just 33% of the region’s respondents said that they trust their municipal government to effectively address the cost and availability of housing on its own. “These results make clear that Virginians want state lawmakers to lower housing costs,” Laura Dobbs, director of policy at HOME of VA, said in a press release. “Virginia voters are ready to support lawmakers who champion policies that make housing more affordable and accessible. If legislators stand up for housing solutions, they can count on having constituents behind them.” A total of 79% of Northern Virginia respondents supported allowing homes to be built on slightly smaller lots, 77% supported a cap on increasing rental costs at older properties and another 77% supported placing requirements on local governments that allow homes to be built faster. Another 68% supported a simpler process for constructing apartment buildings in areas near businesses and shopping districts, and 65% supported a more streamlined process for houses of worship that want to build affordable housing on land that they own. Jessica Sarriot, co-lead organizer of Virginians Organized for Interfaith Community Engagement (VOICE) — a member of the Commonwealth Housing Coalition — told ARLnow that her group is gearing up for a push to prioritize several housing policies in the Virginia General Assembly’s 2026 legislative session. Sarriot underscored efforts to allow Virginia congregations to build subsidized affordable housing by-right. She noted the recent struggles of Clarendon Presbyterian Church, which had sought to build a 102-unit affordable housing development in Lyon Village but dropped those plans earlier this year following opposition from some neighbors. “Their project right now is not moving because of the … overly bureaucratic process and the strong NIMBY pushback,” Sarriot said. “This bill would basically create a clear path for congregations that want to follow their missional call to serve their neighbors, and to be able to do that without as much red tape.” While VOICE isn’t specifically a housing advocacy group, Sarriot said that housing has consistently shown up as a core issue during listening sessions and outreach that the group has conducted across Northern Virginia. “Everyone knows someone in their own family, and certainly a ton of people in their community, that are struggling to afford rent, that have been priced out of their neighborhood,” she said. “They can’t live near their grandkids. They can’t live near their parents. They can’t live near their job.” VOICE is currently aiming for a large turnout at an October meeting in Herndon, where Sarriot hopes to see from both major candidates for Virginia governor. Ideally, she said she “would love to hear from them about putting housing at the top of the agenda.” Some housing policies, like Arlington’s Missing Middle zoning changes, have revealed deep divides in community members’ support for some reforms. However, even some of Missing Middle’s sharpest critics focus on the need for greater housing affordability in Arlington and across the state. Neighbors for Neighborhoods, which is currently fundraising for an ongoing lawsuit against Arlington’s Expanded Housing Option, supports the Commonwealth Housing Coalition’s goals of building more housing close to jobs and businesses, as well as more family size apartments. The group also told ARLnow that “Accessory Dwelling Units can be part of the answer to affordable housing needs.” “Increasing the supply of affordable housing requires funding and sufficient funding has not been provided by the federal, state, or local government to meet the needs of those who are most cost-burdened,” the organization said in response to the polling data. “Letting developers have free rein to build what they want is no solution.” Last year, the Arlington County Board included three housing priorities in its legislative package for the General Assembly: tenant rights, the Virginia Housing Trust Fund and land use policies. The Board hasn’t yet decided what it will advocate for this year. “The County is currently in the process of putting together the legislative package, and details on the timeline for public input will be provided at the upcoming September recessed meeting,” County Board spokesperson David Barrera told ARLnow. “While it is too soon to discuss specifics of the package, the Board expects housing issues will remain a priority for its legislative agenda this coming session.”

www.arlnow.com/2025/08/21/new-poll-find... “These results make clear that Virginians want state lawmakers to lower housing costs” #Virginia #housing #shortage #zoning #inflation #VAPol #BudgetsAreValuesDocuments

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www.wthr.com/article/news/politics/in... “We're already getting feedback that folks don't like the idea," Crider said. "I don't particularly like the […]

Original post on cville.online

infocville.com/2025/02/21/charlottesvil... “the city may be able to use the surplus to offset potential reductions, but he also warned that some programs may need to be cut […]

Charlottesville Planning Commission gives more direction on capital improvement program <p>On December 10, 2024, the Charlottesville Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on a $185.7 million capital improvement program for the next five years. On November 26, the appointed body gave initial feedback after getting a briefing from budget staff. (<a href="https://charlottesvilleva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2241/files/agenda/5270">agenda packet</a>)</p> <p>For those who may be in need of a definition for what a capital plan is, here’s budget director Krisy Hammill.</p> <p>“A capital budget is a multi year plan [and] we do it for five years,” Hammill said. “It forecasts the spending of both the revenues that will pay for that spending as well as the projects that we intend to undertake over the next five years. It should build on the priorities of the comprehensive plan.”</p> <p>The CIP also covers maintenance projects as well. Departments have been submitting requests this fall and the Planning Commission’s role is to check the document against the Comprehensive Plan.</p> <p>Before hearing more details about the CIP, Chair Hosea Mitchell pleaded with his colleagues to avoid micromanaging the budget.</p> <p>“We don’t try to move exact dollar amounts around,” Mitchell said. “We just make recommendations about additional programs that we want to make sure get attention or programs that we think should be deleted so that other programs can get attention.”</p> <p><a href="https://infocville.com/2024/10/03/charlottesville-pc-gives-broad-direction-on-capital-improvement-program/">The Planning Commission gave broad direction for the CIP in September</a> that included a request for more spending on sidewalks and other transportation infrastructure. There were also questions about City Manager Sam Sanders’ strategy to increase resources for homelessness services and the status to upgrade Walker Upper Elementary into a pre-K center.</p> <p>Funding for the CIP comes from multiple sources including a transfer of three percent of the city’s general fund as well as transfer from the year-end surplus into a contingency fund. A major source of funding is through the sale of bonds that the city pays back through debt service. Charlottesville’s AAA bond rating helps keep interest payments lower.</p> <p>“We are one of 87 cities nationwide that maintain the double AAA from both Moody’s and S&amp;P,” Hammill said. “And there are only 10 cities in the state of Virginia that have this distinction.”</p> <p>Charlottesville City Schools can seek their own grant funds that are transferred into the project such as a $17.5 million payment from the Commonwealth of Virginia for the Buford Middle School expansion and renovation project. <em>(<a href="https://infocville.com/2023/05/23/charlottesville-awarded-over-17-5-m-in-state-funds-for-buford-renovation/">Charlottesville awarded over $17.5 M in state funds for Buford renovation</a>, May 23, 2023)</em></p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-17701" data-attachment-id="17701" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="REVENUE-CIP" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?fit=640%2C259&amp;ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?fit=300%2C121&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?fit=1608%2C651&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1608,651" data-permalink="https://infocville.com/2024/12/06/charlottesville-planning-commission-gives-more-direction-on-capital-improvement-program/revenue-cip-2/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" height="259" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=640%2C259&amp;ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C415&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=300%2C121&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=768%2C311&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=1536%2C622&amp;ssl=1 1536w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C486&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?w=1608&amp;ssl=1 1608w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/REVENUE-CIP-1.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w" width="640"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>The draft Capital Improvement Program anticipates $185.7 million in funding across five years</em></figcaption></figure></div> <p>To keep that AAA-bond rating, the city has a policy in place to keep the debt service payment below ten percent of the general fund budget. <a href="https://infocville.com/2021/04/01/charlottesville-budget-staff-continues-to-warn-council-of-approaching-debt-limit/">In years past</a>, the city’s spending plan was close to exceeding that amount but the growth of the city budget has made that less of a problem with this draft CIP.</p> <p>“Right now our projections are even with this plan where we’re in the seven little bit over 7 percent range,” Hammill said. “Part of that is a function because we have had assessment increases, our revenues have done really well. And so as our general fund has grown, 9 percent or 10 percent of that general fund has grown, so our capacity has grown.”</p> <p>To put that in perspective, the general fund budget in FY2020 was built on $188,863,920 in revenues. There were two more years of incremental growth before revenues increased by around $20 million from FY22 to FY23. The budget for FY24 went up another 7.3 percent to $228,433,246 in revenues. The current fiscal year anticipates revenues of $251,948,630. Much of the increase is due to a dramatic spike in property assessments since 2020.</p> <p>Hammill said the debt service payment has risen each year from $12 million to about $24 million.</p> <p>The draft capital plan assumes spending of $186 million over the next five years with about $131 million will be paid for through the sale of bonds. The rest will be paid for with cash.</p> <p>Hammill gave an overview of the categories for where the money will go in FY26 which anticipates $31,412,635.</p> <p>“Education comes in first, affordable housing comes in second and transportation and access comes in third,” Hammill said.</p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-full"><img alt="" class="wp-image-17703" data-attachment-id="17703" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?fit=640%2C452&amp;ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?fit=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?fit=843%2C596&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="843,596" data-permalink="https://infocville.com/2024/12/06/charlottesville-planning-commission-gives-more-direction-on-capital-improvement-program/fy2026-cip-breakdown/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" height="452" sizes="(max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?resize=640%2C452&amp;ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?w=843&amp;ssl=1 843w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?resize=300%2C212&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/FY2026-CIP-BREAKDOWN.jpg?resize=768%2C543&amp;ssl=1 768w" width="640"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption"><em>A breakdown in the CIP Online Book that you can use to explore the details in the draft CIP. <a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c709906429bec969b78">Go take a look!</a> (Credit: City of Charlottesville)</em></figcaption></figure></div> <p>There are not too many differences from the current five-year plan so for some background <a href="https://infocville.com/2023/12/13/charlottesville-planning-commission-reviews-136m-capital-improvement-plan/">take a look at my November 2024 story</a> from when the Charlottesville Planning Commission had the equivalent meeting for this year.</p> <p>Some items to point out in the CIP. Unless otherwise noted, links go to the official project description in the CIP book.</p> <ul class="wp-block-list"> <li>The five-year plan calls for a total of $30 million to convert Walker School into a <a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c6f24af999d4f073367">Pre-K Center</a> with the first $4 million anticipated in FY27</li> <li>A million a year through FY29 is proposed for “<a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c6f3c527418c7d5f4e3">climate action initiatives</a>”</li> <li>Just under $9.7 million is anticipated for renovations of the <a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c6f9bc00d8051fdbfbd">Jefferson-Madison Regional Library’s Central branch in FY29</a></li> <li>One change is about $2.8 million to replace fire apparatus and another $1.47 million to replace EMS apparatus. These have increased due to higher costs. (<a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c6ffe101de259f77696">learn more</a>)</li> <li>Another piece of new funding is about $4.7 million spread out over five years in the “<a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c701cc5cad79a3b8bea">new sidewalk</a>” category</li> <li>One item already known is the $15 million for the redevelopment of Westhaven with $5 million a year through FY28. <a href="https://infocville.com/2023/10/01/crha-seeks-15-million-in-city-funds-for-redevelopment-of-westhaven-as-part-of-sustainability-plan/">I wrote about that last October</a>. (<a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=66be6c705e384d934ae22ad5">learn more</a>)</li> <li>An item under discussion is the amount to spend on the transition to become compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act. The draft CIP plan currently anticipates $2 million a year. (<a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=67360abd9ebe0e56be2f0f8c">learn more</a>)</li> </ul> <p>“The one big notable addition here is the ADA transition plan,” Hammill said. “That is the first time you’ll see that in the CIP. This is a number that we know is going to be an expensive endeavor. This is what we think we can afford at this time.”</p> <p>City Manager Sam Sanders said the city is often challenged by members of the public who point out the deficiencies in the sidewalk system. He said work continues on creation of a transition plan and the amount suggested in the fund will help pay for improvements.</p> <p>“We have a plan that’s dated 2013, we’ll get a new plan and then we will begin immediate implementation,” Sanders said. “The thought behind this is that we’re expecting a huge number associated with that plan.”</p> <p>Sanders suggested that money to invest in addressing compliance issues could save the city in the future if anyone ever decides to sue. He also added he will suggest using some of the year-end surplus from FY24 to pay for immediate improvements at areas identified as being high-risk for pedestrians. Sanders held back on providing a number.</p> <p>“We have a few sources that we can consider pulling that from, but I haven’t set a target yet because I’m actually preferring to get the list back and then determine if we have enough to cover what portion of that list,” Sanders said.</p> <p>Over the last several years, Council has stepped in to assist with housing situations such as the <a href="https://stories.opengov.com/charlottesvilleva/df247479-e9f1-497b-ad81-18e86b93e082/published/agcfBk40l?currentPageId=672cbdf0e2fe2549108cb36e">$8.7 million forgivable loan</a> to allow Habitat for Humanity of Greater Charlottesville and Piedmont Housing Alliance to buy the Carlton Mobile Home Park or the $5 million given to the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority to cover half the cost of purchasing the 74-unit Dogwood Housing portfolio.</p> <p>“We have been able to do a lot or multiple kinds of these arrangements over the last couple of years because we’ve had federal one-time money, we’ve had year-end surpluses, and the federal money is drying up and we won’t have those one-time sources,” Hammill said.</p> <p>The Affordable Housing Plan adopted by City Council in March 2021 called for the investment of $10 million a year in affordable housing projects. Hammill said the FY26 capital improvement plan includes $12.7 million in that category, but that’s not the total amount the city is spending.</p> <p>“This does not include the tax assistance programs and other things that are also funded in the operational budget,” Hammill said. “In addition, the City Manager has been leading discussions with council and on community interventions, which will include some homelessness and other potential uses of [American Rescue Plan Act funds]</p> <p>One of those interventions would be to invest in a low-barrier shelter to be housed at a property the Salvation Army owns on Cherry Avenue that is currently used as a thrift store. One Commissioner said one question he received was whether the agency would let in people who lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer.</p> <p>While it has not yet been determined who would actually run the low-barrier shelter, Deputy City Manager Ashley Marshall said this branch of the Salvation Army is more progressive than others.</p> <p>“This Salvation Army has always had space, even in their high barrier shelter, specifically for our LGBTQIA neighbors, who may, for example, be transitioning so they can have a private, comfortable space. I do know that’s unusual for a Salvation Army,” Marshall said.</p> <p>Marshall said the city has a 100 percent rating from the Municipality Equity Index from the Human Rights Campaign.</p> <p>“I’m not going to let that number slip away,” Marshall said. “I worked really hard for that.”</p> <p>Members of the Planning Commission had additional feedback at the end of the presentation.</p> <p>“I really appreciate all the affordable housing, homelessness, money being spent there,” said Betsy Roettger, a former member of the CRHA Board of Commissioners.</p> <p>Danny Yoder, the newest member of the Planning Commission, said he wanted the city public works department to have the capacity to build projects quickly.</p> <p>“You know, we saw this on, you know, Elliott Avenue and in other places and I’ve seen city crews building sidewalks,” Yoder said. “It’s great. I think members of the public see that the city is, is getting something done that positively affects their lives.”</p> <p>At least two Commissioners mentioned that there is a possibility that one apartment complex that provides low-income housing may soon lose their subsidy. They had been alerted by Emily Dreyfus of the Legal Aid Justice Center in a November 25 email.</p> <p>“One thing that does worry me a little bit, gives me a little bit of heartburn, is in fact Hearthwood,” said Mitchell said. “It looms large and I just want us to be certain that we’re thinking about that because we don’t want to revisit the mobile home crisis that we faced a few months back.”</p> <p>Hearthwood Apartments on Michie Drive was built in 1972 and renovated in 2012 <a href="https://mc-0e9acafd-48f4-4c49-b478-6257-cdn-endpoint.azureedge.net/-/media/docs/partners/rental-housing/historical-tax-credits-data/2022/9pct-market-study/sixth-street-phase-one---market-study.pdf?rev=0276ae92122d4d6d9d4dd813672f3d6b&amp;_gl=1*8g7y62*_gcl_au*MTE0NTE0NTQwMS4xNzMyNjM3MDI1">according to a market study conducted in 2022 for the CRHA’s Sixth Street Phase One project</a>. According to this market study and eight others available on Virginia Housing, the mechanism that restricts rents is through the sale of bonds.</p> <p>According to a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development database on low-income housing tax credits, Hearthwood received credits in 1996 for both new construction and rehabilitation.</p> <p>Mitchell said 200 residents might lose an affordable place to live when the subsidy expires in 2026, but provided no additional information. More information as it comes in. </p> <div class="wp-block-image"> <figure class="aligncenter size-large"><img alt="" class="wp-image-17705" data-attachment-id="17705" data-comments-opened="1" data-image-caption="" data-image-description="" data-image-meta='{"aperture":"0","credit":"","camera":"","caption":"","created_timestamp":"0","copyright":"","focal_length":"0","iso":"0","shutter_speed":"0","title":"","orientation":"0"}' data-image-title="LIHTC-DATABASE" data-large-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?fit=640%2C388&amp;ssl=1" data-medium-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?fit=300%2C182&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-file="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?fit=1405%2C851&amp;ssl=1" data-orig-size="1405,851" data-permalink="https://infocville.com/2024/12/06/charlottesville-planning-commission-gives-more-direction-on-capital-improvement-program/lihtc-database/" data-recalc-dims="1" decoding="async" height="388" loading="lazy" sizes="auto, (max-width: 640px) 100vw, 640px" src="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?resize=640%2C388&amp;ssl=1" srcset="https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?resize=1024%2C620&amp;ssl=1 1024w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?resize=300%2C182&amp;ssl=1 300w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?resize=768%2C465&amp;ssl=1 768w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?resize=1200%2C727&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?w=1405&amp;ssl=1 1405w, https://i0.wp.com/infocville.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/LIHTC-DATABASE.jpg?w=1280&amp;ssl=1 1280w" width="640"/><figcaption class="wp-element-caption">Information on Hearthwood from the Low Income Housing Tax Credit database</figcaption></figure></div> <hr class="wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity"/> <p><strong>Before you go</strong>: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to <em>Charlottesville Community Engagement</em>. In fact, this particular installment is from the <a href="https://communityengagement.substack.com/p/december-3-2024-charlottesville-planning">December 3, 2024 edition of the newsletter</a>. To ensure this research can be sustained, <a href="https://www.patreon.com/seantubbs">please consider becoming a paid subscriber or contributing monthly through Patreon</a>. There will be new options in 2025 if you’d like to wait. 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infocville.com/2024/12/06/charlottesvil... Thanks to Sean Tubbs for covering the #cville #capitalimprovementplan process #housing #safestreets #budgetsarevaluesdocuments

The packet for Tuesday November 26th's #cville Planning Commission worksession on the #capitalimprovementsplan is posted here charlottesvilleva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2241/files/agenda/... (7 pages) #budgetsarevaluesdocuments

www.ffxnow.com/2024/11/08/after-trump-w... “The residents that we serve need public transportation” #virginia #transit #climate #budgetsarevaluesdocuments

Unlike many plans I have seen, this is paired with $460,000 in funding from our friends at the #epa to ensure that compatible projects get done. #budgetsarevaluesdocuments

Thanks to Sean Tubbs for covering the #cville planning commission as we think through how best to fund the changes needed and desired here #budgetsarevaluesdocuments open.substack.com/pub/communityengagement/...