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Council authorizes eminent domain for streetscape projects and approves easements and housing measures
Summary
Council authorized exercise of eminent domain for right‑of‑way and easements to keep East High and Barracks/Emmet streetscape projects on schedule, approved an easement with Dominion Energy for electric school‑bus charging at 1505 Avon Street Extended, and adopted several routine housing and park partnership resolutions including CHAP funding and a long‑term lease for the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial Foundation.
The Charlottesville City Council adopted multiple resolutions advancing transportation, electrification and housing programs.
Eminent domain: Staff introduced public hearings for right‑of‑way and easement acquisition to complete the East High Streetscape and Barracks/Emmet Streetscape projects, which include ADA improvements, wider sidewalks, bike lanes, undergrounding overhead utilities and stormwater upgrades. The city’s right‑of‑way consultant reported voluntary agreements with 19 of 26 landowners; staff recommended authorizing eminent domain for the remaining parcels so undergrounding and utility relocations can proceed on the project timelines (East High scheduled for early 2026; Barracks/Emmet for August 2026). Council approved the resolution authorizing use of eminent domain as recommended by staff.
Electric school buses and Dominion easement: Staff presented a request to grant Dominion Energy a right‑of‑way easement at 1505 Avon Street Extended to install a transformer, underground conduit and two DC fast chargers to support two EPA‑funded electric school buses. Dominion will install the infrastructure at no cost to the district as part of statewide support for school‑bus electrification. Council approved the easement.
Housing and other routine measures: Council approved the Charlottesville Homeowner Assistance Program (CHAP) funding package (staff cited a household income limit near $62,100 and a home value threshold of $525,000 and an approximate $1.1 million allocation for the program); approved an emergency $41,500 grant to the Blue Ridge Area Coalition for the Homeless from the FY26 Charlottesville Affordable Housing Fund after outreach about lost external grants; adopted a lease with the Dogwood Vietnam Memorial Foundation formalizing maintenance and a plaza‑brick fundraising program (language on a proposed pedestrian bridge remains subject to separate approvals); and approved a confidential settlement in closed session.
Council emphasized that eminent‑domain actions do not end the negotiation process and that staff will continue to seek voluntary agreements while preserving project schedules. Staff noted funding and scheduling dependencies and said they will return with procurement and implementation details where appropriate.
