Posts Published by Jim Duncan

Father, husband, Charlottesville real estate agent, bicycle rider & soccer coach. And more. Lots more.

Can Crozet have Three Centers?

Downtown Crozet needs to do something to combat the challenges put forth by: – The 250 West Corridor – Anytime Fitness, Harris Teeter, medical and dental offices, restaurants, office space … residential housing … – Old Trail Village – ACAC Fitness, Trailside Coffee, restaurants, Augusta Medical facility, Advanced Center for Physical Therapy (awesome place – they helped me rehab my ankle after a soccer injury) … residential housing in Old Trail Village .

…A group that oversees planning in Crozet has endorsed a new concept to redevelop a lumber yard on the Square into a walkable and livable community similar to Charlottesville’s Downtown Mall. 


…“This is a very small scale, a version of that, but what it does create is the ability to have a gathering space and some place where people love to go [in] Crozet.” 
… “From [research and development] business to office space, restaurants, retail [and] some housing,” Roell said, “it will provide a variety of opportunities for people to locate their businesses, live, work, play and entertain each other.”

Read More

Three Common Questions Homebuyers Ask – About Homeowner’s Insurance – Part One

I asked David Jenkins, who last wrote here about vacant homes and homeowners’ insurance , to answer three common questions that homeowners have. … Some insurance companies contract out the claims process, so if one has a claim, they may not even really deal with the insurance company themselves. One agent or company may just give out the company claims number, while another agent may initially handle the claim and even have authority to write a check to the homeowner. … Editor’s Note 2 : Knowing who to call is crucial and is yet another reason to work with a local agent; I would much rather call David or John or Mary in Charlottesville than call an 800 number.

Read More

Dear Albemarle County Schools: Why Not Accept Online Payments?

Pay to Play: One of the budgetary changes enacted this school year in Albemarle County schools is the “student activity fee” –

…The Athletic Fee Letter recently distributed to Western Albemarle High School parents notes the ways to make payments … bring the check or mail the check. … FALL COLLECTION NIGHTS Friday, August 13 (Football Scrimmage); 6:00 -7:00 at WAHS Stadium Wednesday, August 18 (Fall Sports Parents Meeting); 6:30 -8:00 at WAHS Cafeteria Thursday, August 19 (Open House); 6:30-7:30 at WAHS Cafeteria 2. Bring or mail directly to Western Albemarle Athletic Department: Western Albemarle High School Athletic Department 5941 Rockfish Gap turnpike Crozet, VA 22932

Read More

Closings Down in July in Albemarle and Charlottesville

If the fact that home sales are down, relative to previous months and years, comes as a surprise to you, you probably haven’t been paying attention. … And part of that “is” is that last month in Charlottesville and Albemarle, 85 single family homes closed and 22 attached homes closed. … Attached Home Home Closings in July for the past ten years : Charlottesville and Albemarle Attached Home Closings - July Single Family Home Closings in July for the past ten years : Charlottesville and Albemarle Single Family Home Closings - July Now, looking back of June and July for the past ten years … The Spike in 2009 seems to be new construction attached properties in Abington Place , Brookwood and the Pavilions at Pantops (more on new construction’s impact on MLS data in a later post). Charlottesville and Albemarle - Attached Home Closings - June and July.jpg Single Family home closings in Charlottesville and Albemarle for the past ten years: Charlottesville and Albemarle - Single Family Home Closings - June and July

Read More

Blast From the Past – Why Charlottesville and Albemarle Can’t Build Roads

Browsing through the archives, I found this comment , which could have been written fifteen years ago, four years ago or this morning:

My biggest issues with the county and city are the relentless studies and meetings to conclude what an average driver in Charlottesville could tell you. I mean I understand the point of a few studies to make sure money is being spent right, but for god sakes at some point you need to start laying pavement. … Now the county is spending tons of money on studies to figure out if 29 needs to be widened to Greene and if 250 needs to be widened to Fluvanna.

Read More