[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",5966653,"mediaKeyId","5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454","parentId",5899352,"title","City council authorizes purchase of 2000 Holiday Drive to pursue low‑barrier shelter","audioSeconds",1154,"startMs",7542000,"endMs",8696000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454&start=7542&end=8696","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454/thumbnail_7542000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/5966653/Charlottesville/Albemarle-County/Virginia/City-council-authorizes-purchase-of-2000-Holiday-Drive-to-pursue-lowbarrier-shelter","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966653-e15f87417b96396e6dd992fc4837c87b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879100&Signature=WGEMmNsy2SB9-KDdtdnn94uQRLIf0FTp4c02JFWHx1JIBe3D~ePffBGHrGvK3HCY73lKP6C-BIPEk0~5cphj1e2fGS4SeOCEZehp43g11u9TUR8KRA2J1Ah4he6UqGRSCah~a0sJtNzNWU-4faZcP07OufXPwtYwo5Ic2wWpKmLPEiHeSszEVL1A7wTOuGdFh~VfWJ0UhK~dXK-5GhH0l0ieR-EoDuSNdYZYcgH9CTRvtCs5SEJksLPwhApZcR7mw67o8TB-D2JjDITZZmbQmvOWDA3UDAJWbiDjPgcGJ-Y-acs1kumSdGW1hZauuN0bKQm3y5kBu2KmS5uHv5BQhA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Charlottesville","date","2025-10-07T00:00:00Z","article","Charlottesville City Council on Oct. 6 authorized the city manager to enter a contract to buy 2000 Holiday Drive for $6.2 million to pursue a year‑round low‑barrier shelter and related services.

City Manager Sam Sanders said the purchase would give the city control of a 27,000‑square‑foot office building and an adjacent vacant parcel totaling about 3.8 acres, and allow the city to plan for a shelter and supportive services on site. The council voted 5‑0 to approve the purchase agreement and the $100,000 deposit to hold the property while the city completes due diligence.

The city placed a 30‑day study period in the purchase and sale agreement; staff said third‑party property‑condition inspections and life‑safety assessments are already under way and will inform renovation costs and timelines. Chris Engel, director of economic development, told council the building was constructed in 1964, was vacated about two years ago and appears to be in generally good condition but requires upgrades — including elevator work and code‑driven changes when converting from office to housing use.

Mayor Juan Diego Wade and council members framed the purchase as a first step in a larger homelessness strategy: a centrally managed shelter with space for on‑site services that could help people obtain identification, benefits and referrals to permanent housing. Several council members and staff emphasized the site is inside the city and close to transit and neighborhood services, while acknowledging the size of the local need means one facility will not solve homelessness by itself.

Sanders said the city is conducting outreach with nonprofit providers and the surrounding counties. He said a meeting with regional partners is scheduled for Nov. 7 and that nonprofit operators are already participating in a dedicated low‑barrier shelter work group.

Council directed staff to complete the inspections and return with detailed cost estimates, financing to cover renovation and operations, and a plan for an operator or operators. Final appropriation of contingency funds needed to close the purchase will be subject to a public hearing at the council’s next meeting, staff said.

Votes at a glance

- Resolution to adopt consent agenda (multiple grant appropriations and routine items): adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.
- Resolution approving lease agreement with Cultivate Charlottesville (210 Eighth St. NW): adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.
- Resolution amending lease with International Rescue Committee (410 Old Lynchburg Rd.): adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.
- Ordinance granting franchise to Cogent Fiber LLC (telecom franchise language, new enforcement penalties): adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.
- Ordinance authorizing temporary construction easement to Rivanna Water & Sewer Authority for Ragged Mountain pool‑raise work: adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.
- Resolution authorizing purchase of 2000 Holiday Drive and deposit toward sale: adopted, vote recorded 5‑0.

What happens next

City staff will finish the property‑condition assessment during the 30‑day study period and present renovation cost estimates, an operations plan and funding request to council. Staff identified Nov. 20 as the target closing date if the study period is resolved favorably; the contingency appropriation for the purchase will be taken up at a public hearing at the next council meeting, per staff.

Why it matters

Council and staff said a larger, year‑round low‑barrier shelter would provide a place for people to stay, allow coordinated on‑site services and reduce street camping and emergency calls. The purchase does not guarantee a final operator or completion schedule; those items require further assessments, interagency cooperation and funding decisions.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council, 10/06/2025 - 6:30PM","oneSentenceSummary","Charlottesville City Council approved a resolution to put the city under contract to buy 2000 Holiday Drive for $6.2 million and cleared a $100,000 deposit, beginning a 30‑day study period as the city evaluates renovations and operator options for a year‑round low‑barrier shelter.","taxTitle","Charlottesville, Albemarle County, Virginia","taxId",4418,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5966652,"Residents, students and housing advocates urge council to oppose luxury student housing near West Haven and Tenth & Page",930,970000,1900000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454&start=970&end=1900","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454/thumbnail_970000.jpg","/articles/5966652/Charlottesville/Albemarle-County/Virginia/Residents-students-and-housing-advocates-urge-council-to-oppose-luxury-student-housing-near-West-Haven-and-Tenth-Page","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966652-b525b907909c0d8e251695aed889e80a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879100&Signature=UCrNPwBGTrKnvZW7INsFcNiXlSGrpsnp4LsIUI-ATlO7Eal8q6bP2fZyJhXC3cEBc01~7w2022-jokIbQ2rpoQC8F~TTwMqiIbf13l1W8zbWlyJAfYeyRzvDlWV1aZ3YzoylY6z0fhG1UYOBZMLbI1RxbL90FOECs-Q~5Ed7iu75ozariEdVN7f2tJN2ooMMoKO4oHhx6ubnogqC6OM5pL~0wIRuDIi7yarxVB7vhW3t7MgvaywhaUd9Tm~lRUCJwAX~gIGFSQAc8yJ3AsgbQqH-8sY5EzDLeOBGw3l7xjjJ7te9MZAZvaFWHDpsADqRJdDq2R~s4EvkKyEno2PTCQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Speakers at the Oct. 6 Charlottesville City Council meeting sharply criticized proposed luxury student housing projects near West Haven and the Tenth and Page neighborhood and urged council to prioritize long‑term residents and deeply affordable housing.

Former Mayor Walker warned against reintroducing school resource officers while arguing that budget and policing choices illustrate a pattern of inequitable treatment of Black students. Several speakers focused on land use and displacement: Rachel Mulvaney, a University of Virginia student and a Friends of FAR volunteer, said a recent student survey showed only 10.6% of students would pay $1,400 or more in rent — a figure she said undermines the claim that new luxury student housing meets student needs.

George Johnson, identified as Fire Board chair, said city zoning allows large student housing projects near low‑income neighborhoods with “by‑right” approvals that give neighborhoods only one opportunity for comment. Johnson described a pattern — the Standard, Central, and the proposed LV Collective on West Main — he said will displace long‑term residents if zoning is not changed to give communities more opportunities to weigh in.

Organizers and residents from the Public Housing Association of Residents (FAR) and allied groups made repeated points: luxury market‑rate and high‑end student apartments in historically Black neighborhoods accelerate gentrification and displacement; the University of Virginia’s large endowment and tax‑exempt status intensify pressure on housing costs; and city zoning and housing policy should be changed to restore more land‑use control to affected communities.

Speakers asked council to: reject the LV Collective project and similar zoning changes that enable high‑density luxury student housing at the edges of low‑income neighborhoods; prioritize deeply affordable housing production; and suspend or table the city’s proposed anti‑camping ordinance.

Several public commenters tied housing concerns to other city decisions. Wendy, an organizer for FAR, pointed to spending choices (a downtown cleanup crew and a proposed $49 million jail renovation) as misaligned with affordable‑housing priorities. Sophia, a community organizer with the Housing Association of Residents, urged concentrating student housing along Jefferson Park Avenue rather than adjacent to long‑standing residential neighborhoods. Gillette Rosenblitt, a Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority board member and UVA professor, thanked council for past public‑housing support and asked council to change zoning to prevent further displacement.

Why it matters

Speakers framed the LV Collective and similar projects as part of a larger pattern of development that threatens the city’s historically Black neighborhoods. They called on council to use zoning, budget and policy tools to prioritize longtime residents and deeply affordable housing over high‑end, market‑rate developments.

Next steps

City council did not take an immediate land‑use vote on the LV Collective during the meeting. Speakers asked council to amend the zoning code to give communities more opportunity to comment on large projects adjacent to low‑income neighborhoods; council members and staff said they will continue planning code work and studies (discussed elsewhere on the agenda) that could feed into future zoning changes.","Multiple residents, students and public‑housing advocates used the Oct. 6 public‑comment period to oppose the LV Collective/West Main luxury student housing project and to call for zoning reforms and protections against displacement for long‑term, predominantly Black neighborhoods.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},5966651,"Social Services Advisory Board reports rising foster caseloads and SNAP policy changes at council meeting",757,3777000,4534000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454&start=3777&end=4534","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5899352-7f09743cbe294ab406eacbdce1d96454/thumbnail_3777000.jpg","/articles/5966651/Charlottesville/Albemarle-County/Virginia/Social-Services-Advisory-Board-reports-rising-foster-caseloads-and-SNAP-policy-changes-at-council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/5966651-c13e5069bc7445e7840ebda2483da28a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770879100&Signature=Hg59xszKf-fRdnCImhwsV3xo56iAiulksO2Civ~F4VwBfAWLYvFqmUS~2-qKTgmpWPvomngO0zih8md-Ggd8D1TNL1DRvE4kMiakc9ouE4gina2EpYaQwnVJSpwHcUrZ9HxUaysZN9naAK6RzCKFPhJOI0mm9t~ECydVDYlOM8bXYxpL6Z0sI8Wm0LkR6CilvQN9tbqqIOOago-V226H-m0hSO27tPx6UaG038nqoD2ZnoUykCCnEG~BRfa9PqCzeyuJ114R~htTpraI75QVH-AQzPwiZ-~y8y8ShlAw6cU-NPU3E7gq5RlSqPoRIkmvGQKtmu-m3Qs8EuMM7-EJqw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Charlottesville Department of Social Services Advisory Board presented its annual report to City Council on Oct. 6, reporting higher foster‑care caseloads, administrative workload increases tied to state and federal changes, and a need for staffing and systems investments.

Sherry Stewart, chair of the advisory board, told council foster care caseloads have increased roughly 50% over the past year and said the department currently has about 108 children in foster care. Stewart said Adult Protective Services reports of neglect or abuse increased and that new state rules are increasing administrative work: redeterminations will occur every six months, and able‑bodied adults receiving SNAP may face new work or community engagement requirements. She said the state‑to‑local funding mix for some benefits is shifting and will increase local fiscal pressure.

The presentation noted Charlottesville’s kinship placement rate — children placed with relatives rather than in foster homes — is about 55%, well above the statewide average. Stewart and Leon Henry (introduced as the department’s new director) praised staff and volunteers and asked council to consider additional staffing resources to meet new requirements while avoiding burnout.

Council members expressed concern about looming policy changes and potential impacts on housing and healthcare access. Deputy City Manager James Friess briefed council on a recent pedestrian fatality and the city’s commitment to rapid safety improvements; that item was presented during the same staff reports portion of the meeting.

Why it matters

Board and staff comments flagged a potential near‑term increase in demand for services and a heavier case management workload for frontline social‑services staff. Council members said they will monitor state policy developments that shift costs and work to identify local mitigation strategies.

Next steps

Staff said the department will continue implementing a new lobby technology system, complete vendor transitions for services paid by the department and seek additional staffing to handle higher intake and redetermination frequency. The advisory board invited residents to apply for vacancies on the board.","The Department of Social Services Advisory Board presented its annual report to council, highlighting increased foster care caseloads (about 108 children), administrative burdens from changing SNAP and Medicaid redetermination rules, and a need for additional staffing and technology upgrades.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City council authorizes purchase of 2000 Holiday Drive to pursue low‑barrier shelter

Residents, students and housing advocates urge council to oppose luxury student housing near West Haven and Tenth & Page

Social Services Advisory Board reports rising foster caseloads and SNAP policy changes at council meeting