While much attention this summer was focused on the actions of one of Charlottesville’s largest institutions — the University — the Charlottesville City Council spent the summer advancing initiatives on schools, housing, transportation and more. In meetings from May through August, members authorized millions in new investments, made key administrative appointments and reviewed major community needs.
But the season’s most significant controversy came in June, when the firm hired by the city missed a filing deadline in the lawsuit challenging the Council’s 2023 adoption of a new zoning ordinance which designates the type of buildings that can be built in each part of the city. The lawsuit alleges that the city did not follow the law in passing its zoning ordinance because only part of it was approved by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The mistake temporarily left Charlottesville without any zoning code in effect, but the plaintiffs succeeded in asking the judge to reverse the default judgment while the case plays out in trial.
Proponents of the ordinance say it is designed to spur housing density by allowing more multifamily and mixed-use development, particularly along major corridors. It also includes a requirement that at least 10 percent of units in large projects be designated as affordable, a figure that varies by the median income of the neighborhood.
The implications for University-adjacent housing projects are particularly relevant. Alongside the zoning code, which aimed to create more building density and affordable housing citywide, the Council approved two large developments near Grounds in late 2023 — one on Jefferson Park Avenue and another on Ivy Road. These projects were intended to provide new housing options for students. While development on the projects will continue, new projects like them in Charlottesville could face uncertainty going forward until the lawsuit is resolved.
Charlottesville Mayor Juandiego Wade said he hopes residents will see progress in the near future, adding that the ripple effects of increased housing supply could improve affordability across the market.
“Right now, we have couples who can’t get their first apartment because the people in that apartment can’t find their first home,” Wade said. “When [that] happens, things start to move and everyone can hopefully move up [to] that next housing that they want. You’re going to hopefully start seeing some movement in that over the next year.”
Beyond zoning, the Council also turned its attention to longer-term housing solutions this summer. Members allocated more than $460,000 in Housing Operations and Program Support funding for affordable housing and homelessness programs, extended the city’s supplemental rental assistance program through December 2025 and approved business formation for two major redevelopment projects at Westhaven and Sixth Street.
The rental assistance program, funded locally and administered by the Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority, helps low-income residents bridge the gap between what they can afford and actual market rents.
At the Council’s May 19 meeting, city councilors received a community briefing from organizations including the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless and The Haven to examine tackling homelessness in Charlottesville.
Presenters explained how service providers maintain a “By-Name List,” a real-time database that tracks every reported individual experiencing homelessness in Charlottesville. At the time of the report, that list documented 241 people without stable housing.
Wade said the presentation offered a reminder of the scale of the issue.
“We know that on any given night, between 220 and 240 individuals in Charlottesville do not have a place to lay their heads,” Wade said. “That’s something we are working on at this very moment, trying to find a long-term solution.”
The Council also took one of its largest financial steps of the summer by approving the issuance of up to $38 million in general obligation public improvement bonds on July 21. These bonds give the city authority to borrow money from investors for major construction and infrastructure projects, and then repay it gradually using taxpayer money over the next two decades.
The proceeds are earmarked for projects already included in Charlottesville’s five-year Capital Improvement Plan, from fiscal years 2023 through 2027. About $12.3 million will support public school facilities, while another $6.6 million is directed toward transportation and access improvements. Nearly $13 million is planned for upgrades to the city’s water, wastewater and stormwater systems, with the remaining portion funding public facilities, safety measures and parks.
Transportation was another area of focus for council this summer, with members advancing both immediate funding measures and longer-term planning. In June, the Council signed off on the Move Safely Blue Ridge regional safety action plan, a federally backed initiative that identifies dangerous corridors across the region and makes the city eligible for future grant funding to improve intersections, crosswalks and bike and pedestrian routes.
Members also selected a preferred design change for the East High Street demonstration project, a project which aims to improve safety for pedestrians and drivers along one of the city’s busiest corridors.
The Council paired those planning steps with major financial commitments. In July, members approved a $23.3 million appropriation to cover the city’s share of VDOT projects already underway, from bridge replacements to intersection upgrades.
They also advanced more than $6.6 million in federal transit grants that will help Charlottesville Area Transit purchase and maintain buses. In addition, the Council added $1.4 million to the Emmet Street Streetscape, a multi-year project that will add sidewalks, bike lanes and transit stops near Grounds.
Wade said the city’s long-term goal is to reduce reliance on single-occupancy vehicles and make it easier for residents to walk, bike or ride transit.
“It’s important that the public knows that in the future, we really want the focus of our transit to be away from single occupancy vehicles, and more focus on walking, bike lanes and transit,” Wade said. “We understand that it’s going to be a transition period, because right now, it’s not the way we would want it.”
Council members also joined the Charlottesville School Board Aug. 4 for a joint work session that reviewed the condition of school facilities across the city. The review highlighted aging infrastructure across the district, with several schools built in the early to mid-20th century now requiring significant maintenance and modernization.
The presentation noted that schools face widespread issues with outdated mechanical, electrical and plumbing systems, worn flooring and bathrooms that do not meet modern accessibility or design standards.
For example, Greenbrier Elementary School, which was built in 1962 and located in the city’s Greenbrier neighborhood, will require an estimated $8.3 million in capital maintenance projects, including a major HVAC overhaul, new windows and roof replacement. Summit Elementary School, constructed in 1930 and located off Belmont Avenue, faces an estimated $6.8 million in repairs, while Trailblazer Elementary School, built in 1925 and located just behind the Corner on 14th Street, requires about $3 million just to address maintenance concerns.
Across the system, the packet estimated $101 million in modernization costs spread across multiple fiscal years.
“It costs a lot to maintain the schools, particularly the roofing and the HVAC systems, and many of them have aging electrical systems,” Wade said. “It’s really expensive.”
Looking ahead, Wade said his focus is on stability and follow-through. He emphasized the importance of maintaining core city services despite uncertainty at the federal level and continuing to pursue the goals laid out in the council’s strategic plan.
“My personal goals for the city are that we are able to maintain the services that we have in spite of what’s happening at the federal level,” Wade said. “But basically, it's to create a city where everyone has the ability to thrive, not just live, but to thrive. And if we can do that, man, it'll be awesome.”
A previous version of this article incorrectly stated that the City Attorney’s Office had missed the deadline. The party responsible was the third-party firm the City had hired. The article has been updated to reflect these changes.
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