In a quest to support future University growth and enhance the appearance of one of the University's major entry corridors, the University currently is in the process of buying a lot of land at the intersection of Emmet Street and Massie Road.
One part of the lot lies near University Gardens, which is University housing for married students.
The University wants to ensure that the land is not developed, which the city almost did about 35 years ago when it discussed building a road through the property, Board of Visitors Secretary Alexander "Sandy" Gilliam said.
"The city had a misguided attempt to connect downtown Charlottesville to Emmet Street by connecting Emmet Street to Rugby Road," Gilliam said. "Fortunately, the city never went through with its plan."
The University will pay $158,400 for the land and also will add about $1,750 to the annual fee it pays for the use of the Charlottesville Fire Department.
The Board of Visitors approved the acquisition at its February meeting.
The money the University will spend on this property comes from a blanket capital outlay authorization, or funds authorized by the General Assembly in 1998 that can be used for any capital improvement.
City Council member David Toscano said he sees the land purchase as positive for both Charlottesville and the University.
"It is a good deal for the city because the land was not on the tax rolls and did not bring in revenue for the city, and now the city is receiving money for the land" as well as the additional money for
the fire department, Toscano said. He said he also sees the purchase as an opportunity for the University to link its properties on Emmet Street.
Last Monday at the City Council meeting, the city voted for a second reading of the ordinance for the University's purchase of land, Vice Mayor Meredith Richards said. All city ordinances require two readings to be passed.
Richards and Toscano both said they feel Council most likely will approve the ordinance at the next Council meeting.
The University now pays $111,897 to cover the expense of having the Charlottesville fire department cover fire responses and false alarms, University spokeswoman Louise Dudley said.
Richards said she sees the University using the city's fire department as a good investment.
"At the University of Illinois they operated their own fire department and it was pretty costly. The University receives its money's worth and then some," she said.
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