Strategic Investment Area

The Strategic Investment Area refers to a City Council initiative to identify and shape potential redevelopment opportunities in a 330-acre section of Central Charlottesville.

The firm Cunningham Quill from D.C. was hired as the consultant and a report was presented to Council in December 2013.

The plan builds on previous studies such as the 2010 redevelopment master plan for Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority properties and the Torti Gallas study of 200.

Main ideas

The main vision of the plan envisions building a new mixed-income and mixed-use neighborhood along a new linear park to be built along a daylighted Pollocks Branch. This new greenway would serve as an open space that would help create a sense of place and would include pedestrian connections to the rest of the community. A civic plaza would be created adjacent to the greenway to serve as the central area for the SIA. New retail would surround the plaza, and a pedestrian connection to the downtown mall would be strengthened.

To facilitate the development, design standards were also established and the city was encouraged to create a new city overlaying district and to examine the possibility of form-based zoning.

Boundaries

The boundaries for the study area are the CSX/Buckingham Branch Railroad line, Rialto Street, Ridge Street, and Palatine Avenue, as well as a small northern spur into the Martha Jefferson neighborhood.

The area makes up less than 5 percent of the city's 10.4 square miles.

The SIA includes sections of the Fifeville, Belmont-Carlton, Ridge Street and Martha Jefferson neighborhoods.

Residential areas include two Charlottesville Housing & Redevelopment Authority sites and the subsidized Friendship Court community.

Area History

In the late 19th century until the mid-20th century, the area was home to various industrial companies such as the Charlottesville Lumber Company, the Charlottesville Ice Company, and the Frank Ix and Sons Textile Mill. As these buildings began to close, jobs began to leave the SIA area. Following the destruction of Vinegar Hill in the name of urban renewal, large blocks were created to serve as a home for subsidized and public housing.

Firms

In additional to Cunningham Quill, other firms that worked on the plan include Bolan Smart Associates and Kittleson & Associates.

Project Goals

1. To rebuild and preserve public and assisted housing as part of an integrated plan for revitalizing neighborhoods hallmarked by concentrated poverty.
2. To catalyze coordinated investments in neighborhood revitalization, including improvements in infrastructure, education and community assets that attracts businesses and industries.
3. To build the foundations for economically viable neighborhoods of opportunity and choice within one of the city’s most distressed communities by promoting mixed income residential development without displacement and employment growth.
4. To address interconnected challenges: housing decay, crime, disinvestment, health disparities, adult educational opportunities, transportation and economic opportunities for youth and adults.
5. To create a healthy, viable neighborhood with urban amenities such as public parks, institutions like libraries and excellent food sources and safe, interconnected streets that promote walking, biking, and efficient public transit.
6. To adhere to and comply with the Residents’ Bill of Rights for Redevelopment. (Note, the Residents’ Bill of Rights for Redevelopment can be found on following page.)

Steering Committee

• Richard Price
• Pete O'Shea
• Claudette Grant
• Kathy Galvin
• Genevieve Keller
• Valerie Long
• Fabian Kuttner
• Carolyn Shears
• Greg Jackson
• Alex Ix
• John Foster
• Monica Scott
• One representative to be named from Friendship Court
• Three representatives to be named by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority board

Steering Committee Guiding Principles

1. Improve and maintain a high quality of life for the people who live there and those who may in the future by addressing issues surrounding housing decay, crime, health, jobs, adult education, child care, and transportation.
2. Create a healthy neighborhood and a “sense of place” with public parks, libraries, other amenities and healthy food sources with safe and interconnected streets that promote walking, bicycling and efficient public transit and use green infrastructure techniques to improve water quality.
3. Promote mixed income residential development without displacing current residents.
4. Focus and coordinate private and public investment in infrastructure, education and community assets to increase economic, recreation and housing opportunities.
5. Honor the CRHA Residents Bill of Rights and rebuild and preserve existing public and assisted housing as part of an overall plan to revitalize the area. (The SIA will work in concert with the CRHA redevelopment plan and not supersede or replace it).
6. Develop shared understandings of the issues, challenges, opportunities and desired outcome for the SIA.

Meetings

Public meetings

• Public Site Tour - March 14, 21013
• Public Open House - March 14, 2013
• Public Presentation and Hands-on Discussion - March 14, 2013 (Ix Property)
• Public Presentation and Hands-on Discussion - April 22, 2013 (Crescent Halls)
• Public Presentation and Hands-on Discussion - April 23, 2013(6th Street Community Center)
• Public Presentation and Hands-on Discussion - May 16, 2013 (Mt. Zion Church)
• Public Presentation and Discussion - July 17, 2013 (Jefferson Center)

Steering Committee Meetings

• Project Team Introduction - February 20, 2013
• Steering Committee Site tour - February 21, 2013
• Steering Committee Meeting - February 22, 2013
• Steering Committee Meeting - March 15, 2013
• Steering Committee Meeting - April 24, 2013
• Steering Committee Meeting - May 17, 2013
• Steering Committee Meeting - July 16, 2013

Feasibility

To address feasibility of the plan's goals, the vision plan contains a "development feasibility" section featuring the work of Bolan Smart Associates.

Reaction

The study was unveiled to the public in mid-July 2013.

Public housing advocates are skeptical.

References

• File:SIA-scope-of-work.pdf

External links

Page on City website

Resources

• RFP/RFQ for area
• Final report