The RWSA has put up a fairly comprehensive survey. If you live in Charlottesville/Albemarle, take three minutes. How they’re looking to pay for any improvements? That’s fodder for a longer-than-three-sentences post.
you searched for recycling
Wrapping up the recycling poll
Ok, so the “Poll of the Week” lasted slightly longer than a week.The question: How much would you be willing to pay for Curbside recycling?The clear winner (with 43% of the votes) was “I’ve never had to pay for curbside recycling in previous cities.” which was not one of the original selections and was added by a reader.Second place (23%) was had by “$5 a week,” third (14%) was “$10 a week,” and bringing up fourth (9%) was “I drive in to CVille everyday and recycle there for free.”… I wonder what political polls would look like if those polled were able to add their own answers, perhaps, “None of the Above?”I am befuddled and perplexed with the answer “I’ve never had to pay …” A better answer should have been “Recycling has always been a service provided by the local government, paid for with my taxes.”… I think this is an important distinction that (one of the many reasons) serves to dissuade private enterprise from making recycling a viable business.Recycling is something that is in greater demand from my clients. A “pulled from the air” analysis tells me that at least 50-60% of my clients either do or would like to do if it were readily available…. – Recycling is something that people would be willing to pay for as long as the cost is hidden from plain sight. Put your responsibilities in the hands of government and everything will be ok.The government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it.
Recycling poll
Recycling is hard to come by. The City of Charlottesville offers recycling (navigating their website makes me just want to give up and throw it all away). The County of Albemarle does not, but offers an informative page with drop-off recycling locations.I had no idea that our region was voted “most sustainable community in Virginia.The Daily Progress’ 2005 Welcome Guide has a recycling roundup. So does the HooK.One would think that a seemingly progressive region as ours would be willing to financially support recycling. Many of my clients, both existing residents and transplants, ask whether recycling is an option. Until economics dictate that something is viable, it won’t be an option. Check out the poll in the right sidebar; feel free to add an answer as an option. I’m curious.
Recycling in Albemarle?
The HooK has an interesting story this morning (story not up yet) that says that even though Albemarle County does not pick up recycling anymore, … county code mandates that haulers have to offer the service, “but doesn’t say how it should be managed,” … and George Shadman, Albemarle County’s director of general services, urges residents whose recycling isn’t getting picked up to call general services at 296-5811. “We will call the hauler,” he says, “and remind them of their obligation.” I called my hauler and they do not in fact offer recycling, for simple reasons with which I can understand…. They would have to come around with another truck to pick up the recycling, on a different day most likely, and this would cost more – gas prices have gone up, labor costs, etc. Personally, I would be willing to pay a little bit more so that I could feel better about subscribing to the Wall Street Journal.Maybe if we were all more willing to pay for this service, it would be more freely offered …… I know that I and many of my clients (and friends and neighbors) would love the option to easily recycle. One would think that a progressive community such as ours would be able to achieve a progressive recycling program.
Rural vs Urban Life
I love getting messages from friends and readers. What follows is an exchange with a particularly thoughtful client discussing rural and urban life in the Charlottesville area. (my words are italicized) * Actual urban living in…
How Much Does this House Cost? (To Run)
How much does this home cost to run? It’s become one of the most important question my buyer clients ask – and an answer that Sellers need to be prepared to answer.
In today’s market, much more so than the previous one(s), buyers are much more cognizant of the costs to operate a home.
Everyone can calculate the PITI payment – Principal + Interest + Taxes + Insurance
What’s not easily calculable by buyers is –
– How drafty is the house?
– What’s the natural gas bill?
– What’s the electric bill?
– What’s the water bill?
– Trash/recycling is a fairly fixed cost.
– Do the parents scrap over the thermostat?
– How much is my commute going to cost? (this is huge; many of my buyer clients are looking forward to the time when gas goes to $6/gallon )
If the mortgage is going to be $2500 per month, but the utilities are $900/month, I’m thinking that my clients may be disinclined to move forward with an offer – or they might knock $30k (or some other number) off the offer price.
I said late last year that I suspect 2012 will be the year when buyers start doing energy audits as part of the home inspection process – sellers need to be prepared for this component to the home selling process.
2015 update – I’ve not had more than a handful of people do energy audits, in large part because of the cost as well as due to the competitiveness of our market. Maybe 2016 …
More Bike Lanes in Charlottesville?
Council commits additional funds to build more bike lanes In February, Neighborhood Development Services Director Jim Tolbert told Council that there are very few opportunities to create additional bike lanes in Charlottesville without removing on-street parking or widening roads. … Tolbert said he would be bringing a proposal to Council this summer that would address the possibility of removing on-street parking and widening roads to increase the network of bike lanes. … The current year’s capital budget set aside that amount for “bicycle infrastructure†and the money was used in part to develop special signals to allow cyclists to trigger traffic lights. … DOT Secretary Ray LaHood stood on top of a table to address the National Bicycle Summit last week, but he waited until a few days later to reveal on his blog a new federal approach in transportation priorities: