Community Corner
🌱 Why a six-townhome project in Lewis Mountain never got built
Make time for Cirque Dreams Holidaze on the Charlottesville Patch calendar
Good morning Charlottesville! We're back again in your inbox, keeping you updated with what's happening in and around town. ☕️️
In today's newsletter:
- Why a six-townhome project in Lewis Mountain never got built
- How did Charlottesville and Albemarle schools really score in Virginia’s new rankings?
- How much does U.Va. really pump into Charlottesville’s economy?
Today's riddle: What did one tuna say to the other after getting caught stealing files from work? 🤔 (Answer below!)
Find out what's happening in Charlottesvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
- Thursday: Partly sunny, with a high of 41 and low of 28 degrees.
- Friday: Cold; afternoon snow showers, temps: high: 34, low: 28.
- Saturday: Mostly cloudy and not as cold, with a high of 44 and low of 30 degrees.
📰 News we're reading
1. Lewis Mountain neighborhood property has new owner after development fell through (c-ville.com) — A failed townhouse proposal on Alderman Road is highlighting how Charlottesville’s new zoning code can still stall relatively small housing projects, even after its 2023 overhaul. Evergreen Homebuilders abandoned plans for six townhomes after repeated denials and a likely City Council special exception, then sold the Lewis Mountain property to a California-based firm. Planning Commission will review initial zoning code tweaks in a January 13 hearing. 
Find out what's happening in Charlottesvillefor free with the latest updates from Patch.
2. Virginia releases school accreditation report with new ranking system (nbc12.com) — Charlottesville and Albemarle families can now see how their schools fared under Virginia’s new accreditation ranking system for 2024–25, with all local schools fully accredited. Albemarle County scored especially well statewide, while Charlottesville City Schools highlight steady progress toward state benchmarks and say they’re encouraged by their overall performance.
3. Finance Committee reviews U.Va.'s contribution to economy on region and state (cavalierdaily.com) — U.Va. leaders say the Charlottesville-centered region generates nearly three-quarters of the University’s statewide economic output, supporting tens of thousands of jobs and significant tax revenue. At a recent Finance Committee meeting, officials detailed a $15.5 billion endowment, a AAA-rated $3.2 billion debt portfolio, and approved new retirement benefits for medical residents and fellows at U.Va. Health.
4. Chief Kochis appointed to Spanberger's transition team (cvillerightnow.com) — Charlottesville Police Chief Michael Kochis is helping shape Governor-elect Abigail Spanberger’s public safety and homeland security agenda as part of her transition committee. He says the group of chiefs, sheriffs, and experts is focused on practical issues like regional police academy funding, mental health, and gun violence that also affect Charlottesville.
5. Republican attorneys general push to exclude Jay Jones from national groups (nbc12.com) — From Charlottesville, political analyst Larry Sabato says Attorney General-elect Jay Jones will likely face years of fallout after leaked campaign texts showed him fantasizing about a GOP leader’s death. Republican attorneys general from five states are now urging national AG groups to keep Jones out, a move Sabato frames as both moral rebuke and political strategy.
📸 Around Charlottesville
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🗓 Upcoming Events in Charlottesville
Add your event to our calendar and newsletter!
★ Featured events ★
- Cirque Dreams Holidaze
John Paul Jones Arena, 295 Massie Rd, Charlottesville
7:30 pm
Thursday December 11
Want to see your event featured? Click here!
Other local events
- Waynesboro Chapter Meeting
Virginia Organizing Waynesboro Public Library in Meeting Room B, 600 S Wayne Ave, Waynesboro, 22980, United States
6:00 pm - Charlottesville Redevelopment and Housing Authority Work Session
Charlottesville, VA Calendar , 605 East Main St , Charlottesville
6:00 pm - Police Civilian Oversight Board
Charlottesville Public Meetings CitySpace - Large Conference Room - 100 Fifth St NE Charlottesville VA 22902
6:30 pm - CMS Chorus Concert
Buford Middle Charlottesville High School MLK PAC
7:00 pm - Rising Professionals Coffee Networking
Amy Yang Photography Studio , 609 E Market St #110 , Charlottesville
8:00 am - SUN: oneClowder Read-In
Burnley-Moran Elementary Charlottesville, VA 22901
8:00 am - Historic Resources Committee
Charlottesville Public Meetings -
10:00 am
Thursday December 11
Friday December 12
📣 Charlottesville Shout Outs!
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🗓 Events Nearby
- Charlottesville Ballet and Charlottesville Symphony - The Nutcracker
MLK Performing Arts Center , 1400 Melbourne Rd , Charlottesville
11:30 am - Ramona & The Holy Smokes and Hannah Juanita
The Southern Café and Music Hall , 103 1st St S , Charlottesville
7:00 pm - Vienna Boys Choir
The Paramount Theater , 215 E Main St , Charlottesville
7:30 pm - Martinsville Chapter Meeting
Virginia Organizing , 703 Concord Ave , Charlottesville
6:00 pm
Saturday December 13
Monday December 15
Have we missed something on our calendar? Add an event yourself! As always, before attending confirm event details to ensure accuracy.
Thank you 👏👏👏 to the local businesses for making Charlottesville PatchAM possible:
- The Hoos Of Hooville — 540 764 0023
Approaching The End Of My Rope Here
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💬 Chatter
What your neighbors are talking about on social media
- Sentara Health scam alert --- I received a text messages and voicemail allegedly from Sentara Health saying I had an unpaid bill.
The voicemail left 2 different phone numbers asking for a callback, one starting with a 757 and one alleged toll free number that started with 1-888… (Nextdoor NDRA) - Missing cat- Please help!
Good evening, our cat Prada is missing. She was last seen on Hollymead/ Jefferson Village. She is super friendly and usually answers to her name. If… (Nextdoor Forest Lakes)
- News Release: Chief Kochis Appointed to Governor-Elect Spanberger's Public Safety Transition Committee... (X: cvillepolice)
- OPINION: BROWN AND FORD: UVA’s Board of Visitors cannot escape accountability with silence... (X: cavalierdaily)
- Molly Maid posted a job opening for Professional House Cleaner-No nights, no weekends in Charlottesville. Apply here.
- Afton Scientific, LLC posted a job opening for Pharmaceutical Operator II in Charlottesville. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Charlottesville here.
Ok Charlottesville! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!
-- The Patch AM Team
P.S. The answer to today's riddle: I could get canned for this!
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Send it to us!
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