In her State of the City address at the City Council meeting last night, Charlottesville Mayor Virginia Daugherty said she hopes to see a decrease in the number of private homes being rented out as apartments as well as an increase in the quality of life."We have seen a trend toward an increase in rental homes. I would like to see that trend reversed," Daugherty said, addressing the University's role in the increase in rental housing.
"The University must take more responsibility" for its surrounding neighborhoods, she said.
She added that one method to reverse this trend is discussion among Council of ways to increase home ownership.
Daugherty stressed improving Charlottesville's economy.
"The city had $50,000 worth of development the previous year, allowing it to keep its AA Bond Rating," Daugherty said.
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But 20 percent of the city's residents live in poverty, she said. "Besides University jobs, we are lacking growth in jobs. We have unfortunately seen some companies leave our city."
Another main challenge involves continuing to improve the West Main Street area, which connects the Corner District to the Downtown Mall. Recently, to aid the West Main Street development project, the city allowed a new hotel.
Daugherty also discussed plans to improve city schools. Plans include raising starting teacher salaries, renovating school buildings and expanding schools' preschool programs.
She said she also sees a need for improving public transportation by expanding bus service, creating more bike paths and constructing more sidewalks.
She added that she also sees more cooperation between the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle County.
"Despite a recent, antagonistic past due to our plans for reversion, our city has started a new era of agreement with the county," Daugherty said.
In the past, the issue of reversion - the means by which Charlottesville officially would change its status from city to town - caused much controversy.
But some local residents were not enthralled with some of the city's future plans, especially for a new parking ordinance.
Charlottesville resident John Garnett said the city is acting improperly in its parking plans.
"The city's plan to have anything written on a sign become law is excessive delegation and is unconstitutional," Garnett said.
Del McLaughlin, a representative for the Community Council, a local watchdog group, presented a rebuttal to the mayor's address and expressed his displeasure.
The city "has no strategic plan, no plan for sustainability," McLaughlin said.
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