Downtown Charlottesville continues to evolve.
No matter how you name or brand it, the West2nd (archived: 2018), neé Market Plaza, is going to reshape Downtown Charlottesville. More information on the project is here (archived: 2018).
We noticed the sign yesterday morning when walking from Nest to a meeting; one of the benefits of walking and knowing an area is being able to note new things.
Sean Tubbs with Charlottesville Tomorrow, naturally, has the detailed story, and I’ll unfairly pull one quote from the story … bolding mine.
In late 2013, councilors voted to ask developers to submit plans for how they would use the site while maintaining public parking spaces and providing a new space for the market.
Four proposals were received and the council selected the one from developer Keith Woodard in June 2014.
Signer said the use of the land as a parking lot was not in the city’s best interest long-term.
Credit: Powe Studio ArchitectsRendering of West2nd building“It wasn’t adding to the cultural base of our city,” Signer said. “It wasn’t adding much to our revenue picture and wasn’t helping with our housing shortage.”
Ok.
One thing I know is this – the congestion of downtown Charlottesville is going to 1) force people to walk/ride bikes to the Charlottesville City Market and 2) said congestion is going to provide opportunities for other farmers markets, such as the one about which I’ve heard good things in Stonefield (archived: 2017).
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