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Developer updates council on West Village project as residents press on pricing and sidewalks
Summary
A developer updated the council on construction progress at West Village and answered questions about paving schedules, parking, duplex pricing and plans for sidewalks and walking trails; councilors pressed for clarity on who will finish internal streets and how affordable housing will be priced.
A developer presented an update on the West Village housing project and fielded questions from councilors and residents about final paving, parking and the price point for duplex units.
"Road instruction is well underway," said the developer representative (S10), describing utility relocation work with the regional utility (AEP) and a waterline upgrade on 1st Street; he said remaining top-coat paving of internal roads is scheduled for spring when temperatures permit.
Council members asked whether the developer or the town would stripe or finish the parking area near the library and whether the town would accept internal streets before houses are complete. S6 asked whether the contractor would return to do a final top coat and how long the internal roads would be held before acceptance; S10 responded that acceptance typically waits until most houses are complete to ensure long-term performance.
On housing costs, residents and councilors asked whether the duplexes would be priced within local affordability targets or based on Charlottesville median income. The developer said, "our goal is to build these and sell them as affordably as we possibly can," but warned that higher land and construction costs make pricing challenging. Council members pressed for concrete price points and suggested the developer explore financing models and state or regional assistance to lower buyer costs.
S10 said the project includes engineering work for a potential sidewalk on Versailles and internal walking trails that will connect to the neighborhood and pond; he characterized the sidewalk plan as an engineering deliverable that would position the town to apply for state funding when available.
The council did not take an immediate vote on West Village approvals. Members asked staff and the developer to follow up on final paving timing, parking design and pricing information for duplex units, and to return with specifics on sidewalk engineering and funding options.
