What are Your Favorite Bills in this Year’s General Assembly?
These are the bills I'm tracking on Richmond Sunlight - bill ranging from real estate licensing to the castle doctrine to eminent domain - and quite a few more. The Charlottesville real estate market has gotten busier since the General Assembly's session started so my…
Best Buy Ramp Still Delayed
Charlottesville Tomorrow reports that the Best Buy ramp project is still delayed. Is anyone surprised that the advice VDOT is offering is this? "Rich suggested that acceptance might be the best response to distant construction dates." This seems par for the course in the Charlottesville…
Virginia’s General Assembly Reconvening Soon – Pay Attention! (2012 edition)
The Virginia General Assembly reconvenes in 8 days. 8 Days until our part-time legislators make decisions that affect our lives. Start paying attention now at Richmond Sunlight. Between the House and the Senate, 169 bills have been filed so far. Everything from eminent domain to…
Amtrak Service in Charlottesville is Saved (for Two Years)
Hawes Spencer at The Hook reports that "The three-year pilot program to run a daily train between Lynchburg and Boston– greatly bolstering Charlottesville's railroad access to New York and other zesty cities in the Northeast– has won an additional two years of operating funding." Great…
Albemarle County Could Get 4G Mobile Service
While the internet is the new infrastructure, mobile infrastructure is crucial. I've had clients in the Charlottesville - Albemarle area choose to not buy property because 1) hard-wired internet accessibility - fiber (very limited), or DSL or cable - is not available and/or 2) Reliable…
What is Walking Distance to You? (in Charlottesville)
"Walkable houses in Charlottesville" - one of the more frequent requests I get both from buyer clients and from visitors to this site. But "walkable" means different things to different people. Clarifying and pulling out buyers' true intents is one of the most useful skills…
City-County Revenue Sharing, Albemarle County Redistricting and Property Taxes
Three big stories if you live in (or are considering moving to) Albemarle County: - Your elementary schools need balancing and need to be redistricted. (always check your school district before you buy!) (Update: these are the options for redistricting Hollymead and Baker Butler) -…
HR 1746 – If you’re An International Buyer Looking to Purchase in a College Town
This might be the program for you if if you're a wealthy foreigner who needs a Visa, if you buy a house (in Charlottesville) "worth" at least $500k, you can get a Visa. 1: Anything to stimulate investment in the US could be construed as…
Elections 2011 – What’s on Your Ballot?
“Politicians are like diapers; they need to be changed often and for the same reason.” ― Mark Twain We vote on Tuesday in what's termed an "off-off election" meaning … fewer people vote, so your vote will matter more. Please vote. Here are a few…
Your Vote Matters More
Neil at the Free Enterprise Forum writes in Apathy Increases Voter Value that in this year's "Off-Off election" your vote will matter more - with small percentages of voters turning out, your vote's value is increased. If you're not registered to vote, why not? Where…