Garrett Street in Charlottesville, between Ridge Street and Avon, has excellent “green infrastructure”. It is a canopy street. Trees provide shade and shelter, and lower temperatures in the summer. In 2006 the Charlottesville City Council adopted a 2025 Vision. Item five of the eight point vision was “A Green City” The City adopted a plan in 2016 to guide the morphology of its streets. Citizens were involved in the development of the plan. People like canopy trees. Shade is a necessity in a southern city if you intend to walk in the summertime. The Garrett Street trees have been celebrated over the years. In the last decade development pressure has focused on this corridor. But still, in the time of COVID-19, a number of the trees remain. (construction workers maintaining distance). This past week, seven Garrett Street corridor Pin Oaks were dispatched. 10-15,000 square feet of shade gone. Over a million leaves, gone. Carbon sequestration gone. Apex Energy is building an eight storey energy efficient structure to the south of the stumps . The landscape plan for Apex’s new corporate headquarters shows these noble oaks being replaced by pagoda dogwoods, a flowering plant, a small deciduous shrub that grows to twenty feet, with a trunk up to six inches in diameter. Token trees. The proposed plantings will not provide the environmental services that these trees brought to our City. This canopy street destruction is deeply discouraging. According to talk on the street, the Apex building is being designed by William McDonough + Partners, two thoughtful companies… Sometimes green is not green.
Then. Seven years ago, Charlottesville's Dogwood Festival Parade. People watch motorcyclists spin their rear tires with front tires locked. Burnout! Particulates. Rubber stench. Fun!
Now Three days ago. Man alone. In the fog. In the morning. Next to the river. Birds sing. Air is sweet. A new day to make things right.
Work continues on multiple fronts on the Carlton Avenue PUD in East Belmont Carlton on the old 4.855 acre HT Ferron site. When complete the site will have a total of 154 affordable units. The development is happening in phases.Phase 1 was the PACE center. Medical care, dental, medications, transportation, physical therapy, and social support. All-inclusive care that helps loved ones stay independent and in their own home. All-inclusive Healthcare. Currently they are closed. Phase II was Carlton Views I. 48 Units I think. All affordable, all leased up… Phase III, Carlton Views II is currently under construction. Not sure regarding how many units. 48? 54? Will check. All affordable…Phase IV, Carlton Views III will sit on the eastern-most edge of the lot. This piece of concrete is currently being busted up and removed to make way for the 3rd building of 48/54? affordable units. Will checkxxxxxxx. Place holder here. The quality of “open space” provided to residents remains to be seen.
I think this place of worship was/is in the Rose Hill neighborhood. Temple of Deliverance House of Victory, Inc Pastor-Overseer Louvenia Sumpter Nowell
collecting signatures to get PPMB on the VA democratic primary ballot.
I am running to be the president who will pick up the rubble, pick up the pieces of our divided nation, and lead us to real action to do right by Americans who have waited for far too long.