Natalie Oschrin, Charlottesville City Council

Inclusionary Zoning: Making it Work in Charlottesville Webinar, presented by Livable Cville Learn about making Inclusionary Zoning work in Charlottesville with national and local experts.

If you’re thinking “I’d like to learn more about this important topic from a national and local expert,” well have a I got a treat for you: events.humanitix.com/inclusionary...

Governor Spanberger just announced she is rejoining RGGI. 🎉🏞️

Nice to see Charlottesville noted for removing parking minimums in the updated zoning code 👍

Why? Local zoning laws are largely to blame. In Virginia, even small apartment buildings are illegal to build on 95% of residential land. Furthermore, more than half of the land across the commonwealth designated for single-family homes requires a lot the size of a football field, forcing sprawl and inflating costs. With too few homes, people have few options.

Accessory Dwelling Units: This bill lets homeowners add backyard cottages or convert their garages, expanding housing options and property rights. • Faith in housing: This bill allows religious organizations and nonprofits to build affordable housing on their property with clear standards. • Housing near jobs: This bill facilitates the conversion of old strip malls and empty offices into vibrant, walkable, mixed-use communities. • Parking mandate reform: This bill repeals outdated and wasteful parking mandates. Today, local zoning codes require new parking to be built with each new home or business, regardless of whether that new spot is actually needed. Each new parking spot increases rent or mortgages by roughly $200 per month — that's nearly $2,500 a year. Some local governments - including Charlottesville, Newport News, Onancock, Roanoke and Richmond - have realized this and already repealed their parking mandates.

Virginians need more homes - and we need affordable homes. A problem of this magnitude requires a proportionate response from state leaders, not a patchwork of local plans. As the legislative session begins, Virginians expect their legislators to step up, cut red tape, set clear standards and legalize more homes across the commonwealth. Based in Richmond, Joh Gehlbach is the senior campaigns manager at YIMBY Action, a network which builds and supports statewide pro-housing coalitions. In Virginia, the network convenes and advises the Commonwealth Housing Coalition, which

Great opinion piece in the paper today -

“This legislative session in Richmond, the Commonwealth Housing Coalition is prioritizing four bills designed to take significant steps to address Virginia’s housing shortage:”

dailyprogress.com/opinion/colu...

Belvedere *does* easily connect to the Butterfly Greenway that gets bikers & walkers downtown easily and safely if that is their destination. Bike/ped access is less comfortable headed towards 29 tho :/

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Wade to stay on as Charlottesville mayor; Oschrin to serve as vice mayor >>>
https://www.29news.com/2026/01/05/wade-stay-charlottesville-mayor-oschrin-serve-vice-mayor/

Vélo Québec | If you love cycling, make room for it The election campaign that’s coming to an end has been difficult for those who care about cycling development. With all the challenges municipalities are

“Being truly pro-cycling isn’t just about saying you like bikes. It’s about accepting that [...] we sometimes need to rebalance public space, which means, yes, removing a few parking spaces or reallocating a traffic lane.”

“If you love cycling, make room for it” by @jfrheault.bsky.social

Issue As part of its Homeless Intervention Plan, the City of Charlottesville, Virginia ("City"), has actively been seeking a facility to serve as a low-barrier shelter for those experiencing homelessness in our community. During the search, the City became aware of an opportunity to acquire the property located at 2000 Holiday Drive ("Property") in the City. Background / Rule The Property consists of two (2) contiguous land parcels totaling approximately 3.8 acres of land and a building with 27,000 gross square feet. The building has most recently been used as an office space accommodating over one-hundred (100) employees on site. There are sixty-nine (69) off-street parking spaces, as well as a number of street spaces on Holiday Drive. The site is also served by a transit stop 800'east at the intersection of Emmet Street and Holiday Drive. Given the building's current configuration, it will require renovation to be suitable for overnight shelter purposes. Initial review by City Staff indicates the building is sound and its configuration is conducive to conversion to an overnight/day shelter use. At this point, plans have not been developed, and costs are unknown at this time. The proposed Purchase Agreement provides a short study period until October 30 to more fully identify any issues that would significantly prevent transition to a shelter use. The City plans to engage with various nonprofit service providers regarding the operation of the facility and the local philanthropic community to seek assistance in funding the necessary renovations. City Staff proposes to use available funds from the CIP Contingency account to acquire the Property.

Some good news in the City Council packet for Monday’s meeting: the city is planning to purchase 2000 Holiday Drive to use as a low-barrier homelessness shelter.

More here: charlottesvilleva.portal.civicclerk.com/event/2511/f...

there are almost certainly more people — more blue collar laborers, specifically — involved in the cultivation and production of chardonnay grapes and wine than in coal

WEEKWITHOUTDRIVING September 29-October 5, 2025 PUBLIC TRANSIT • WALKING • BIKING TAKE THE WEEK WITHOUT DRIVING CHALLENGE! What would a Week Without Driving look like? The Week Without Driving is a chance to see Charlottesville through the eyes of neighbors who already rely on walking, biking, and transit. Exploring these transportation options highlights both the connections they create and the gaps we need to address as a community. Public transit and other connected mobility choices strengthen neighborhoods, bring people together, and open doors to opportunity. Together we can build a system that works for every age, ability, and income. #WeekWithoutDriving Livablecville.org/WeekWithoutDriving

It’s the start of Week Without Driving in the Charlottesville area and beyond!

#weekwithoutdriving

A graphic with a purple background and three photos of volunteers during a quick-build project to improve pedestrian safety in Pueblo of Jemez New Mexico with text that reads "new blog, how quick-build projects lead to improvements in pedestrian safety," and the america walks logo in white

Quick-build projects are an effective and cost-efficient tool to demonstrate changes that lead to improvements in pedestrian safety!

America Walks is proud to have participated in a tribal pedestrian safety workshop and quick-build demonstration in Pueblo of Jemez, NM.

Read more ➡️ buff.ly/vVb93Kb

Loop de'Ville - Annual Trail Festival in Charlottesville, Virginia Loop de 'Ville is the go-to event for trail users to celebrate the connectedness of our community through the trails that surround Charlottesville.

Come out to Loop de Ville this Saturday! Circumnavigate Cville on a our wonderful trail system with fellow walkers, runners, or bikers.

It will still happen in light rain, so join for any or all of the 20 miles! Snacks along the route & a big party (with a GONG) at the end.

loopdeville.org

As the seasons change, you might be wondering about biking in different weather conditions.

E-Bike Dad and Livable Cville member @yyahn.bsky.social wrote a very nice guide to biking in the cold weather months.

Check it out! yyahn.com/wiki/Bike/Wi...

Modular, mass timber, and single-stair

This workforce housing project in Montana maxes out the current IBC code limitations on single housing with a 10,000 sf floor plate and 8-bed units that each feature shared living, kitchen, and laundry.

www.idcubedmodular.com/blank

How can you not be romantic about density?

Improving bike/ped infrastructure takes longer and is more expensive than I want. And we have a LOT of catching up to do. But after decades of ignoring it, we do finally have the support to prioritize bike lanes, sidewalks, and traffic calming at the City. Keep riding, walking, and pushing for more!

'Car-light' families in C’ville are trading car trips for e-bike rides - C-VILLE Weekly A single car no longer sufficed. Kevin Driscoll, his wife, and their young daughter needed another way to get around. But instead of a second car, they chose a different set of wheels. “I debated a lo...

Getting an e-bike is just about the best purchase and lifestyle change I’ve ever made.
Thank you to all of the users who are biking and advocates who are helping others make the switch. Check out Cville’s e-bike lending library to see for yourself! www.ebikelibrarycville.org 🚲

Map for walk

Group of walkers pausing to read info on paper packet

Woman facing away from camera walks across small wooden bridge in the woods

Bodos Bagel bike rack with four bikes packed onto it

I saw a lunchtime traffic jam at the bike rack at Bodos 🥯, proof that biking is possible & popular!
And Sunday was the monthly neighborhood walk with fun facts from by the Historic Resources Committee. This month, we checked out the JPA neighborhood and Oct 12 will be walking around 10th & Page!🚶‍♀️

Cluster of faces smiling at the camera Ina selfie. People are wearing bike helmets and holding bikes

Man riding a bike in the street

Calendar event for weekly bike ride from www.bikecville.com

What an incredible weekend to be outdoors in Charlottesville! Every Saturday morning there’s a casual bike ride that starts at the City Market (wear a silly shirt), and this time Mayor Juandiego Wade joined on a ebike! 🚲

Www.bikecville.com

Could you go a week without driving? CHARLOTTESVILLE, Va. (CBS19 NEWS) -- Charlottesville is challenging residents go a Week Without Driving from Sept. 29 to Oct. 5th.

Could you go a week without driving?

Several bikes in a single car parking spot with their riders standing in a row in the background

Look at how many bikes can fit in one car parking spot.

P.S. Join Bike Cville every Saturday morning at 9 am for a casual ride around the city (we also often stop for a snack/coffee break). Meet at the City Market downtown! 🚲

Schedule and more info here: bikecville.com/rides-and-ev...

New mixed-use building on Broadway in Lakeview that retained some ornament and design elements from its much-smaller predecessor. Turned out well!

People oppose bike infrastructure because “not everyone can bike”, but you don’t have to bike to use it. I commonly see mobility scooters on bike infrastructure here too.

It’s typically smoother and wider than the sidewalk. As long as there’s enough room for everyone, it works fine.

Screenshot of webpage listing links to urbanist books, podcasts, articles, and videos.

Btw, this and more useful videos, books, podcasts, and articles can be found on the Resources & Research page of my website:

nat4cville.com/resourcesand...

YouTube video by Livable Cville Missing Middle Housing: Racial Equity and Opportunity

Always good to rewatch and share the @livablecville.bsky.social webinar about missing middle housing and density. All of it is worth watching but especially the convo starting around min 17 about how building housing at any level helps demand at every level.

youtu.be/ydCDxAWbKcU?...

Also because not enough people live within walking distance from it! Imagine how lively it would be at more hours with more mallside apartments! More people out and about = spending more money! If I were a mall business owner I’d be clamoring for taller apartments and development in the parking lots

I sprinkled seeds in the empty lot at the end of my street last year and they finally bloomed this summer! 🌺 Every time I biked by I was so thrilled to see them thriving. Hopefully even more next year 🤞

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