Options for Stribling Avenue sidewalk to be presented at meeting tonight

Sanders also announces sidewalk gap filled on Elliott Avenue

Members of the public will have the chance tonight to review alternatives for a way to make Stribling Avenue in the Fry’s Spring neighborhood safer for cyclists and pedestrians.

“That has been a project that we talked about for quite some time about bringing a sidewalk section there, a much needed sidewalk there,” said City Manager Sam Sanders at the March 18, 2024 meeting of Charlottesville City Council. “It’s a very complicated project. It’s going to be a very expensive project.” 

In April 2022, City Council rezoned 12 acres of land at the western end of Stribling Avenue to allow for 170 units. One of the conditions recommended by the Planning Commission was to predicate approval on creation of a sidewalk. At the time, Southern Development offered a $2.9 million loan to help cover the cost, but further investigation has led to cost increases. 

Now the public can learn more at an open house at the Fry’s Spring Beach Club that begins at 6 p.m. 

“We will be able to demonstrate for the public that we have figured out what our various options are and get that community feedback as we make a decision on which was to proceed in how to get that project done,” Sanders said. 

Two years later, the capital improvement plan for FY25 has an allocation of over $4.2 million toward this project. The city will provide more information at a public meeting to be held at the Fry’s Spring Beach Club Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

“The City of Charlottesville is working to construct roadway improvements along Stribling Avenue from Jefferson Park Avenue to the City limits near Nob Hill Circle,” reads a public announcement of the meeting. “This project intends to enhance the safety along the corridor for pedestrians and others traveling along and exiting this roadway.”

Charlottesville has had a rocky history with being able to deliver on transportation projects. But this notice indicates that the public is being asked to weigh in on potential choices on how to proceed rather than starting from scratch.

“In the meeting, the public will be presented with a few different alternatives to enhance the corridor along Stribling Avenue,” the announcement continues. “The public’s opinion is highly requested on the alternatives presented.”

Sanders also told Council that a new sidewalk has been constructed on the north side of Elliot Avenue near Ridge Street where one had not been before. The firm Linco constructed about 100 linear feet at a cost of $13,503.45. 

This is the second new section of sidewalk constructed since Sanders took over as city manager last summer. The other was on East High Street where a 200 foot gap was filled last fall by Linco at a cost of $55,835.27 which included some drainage work and two driveway entrances. 

“We’ve basically been celebrating at this moment that we’ve been working on process and as we worked on that process, that leads to progress,” Sanders said. “We’re getting things done.”

Further updates on that process will come at a City Council work session on transportation planning scheduled for April 15. 

Before you go: The time to write and research of this article is covered by paid subscribers to Charlottesville Community Engagement. This particular post is actually a hybrid of two different segments that were in either the Week Ahead for March 25, 2024 as well as the March 25, 2024 regular newsletter. The audio version is in the March 26, 2024 podcast. As Town Crier Production grows, you’ll begin to see much of this writing in different places.

And now, a little behind the scenes. For whatever reason, I’ve spent a lot of time writing about how infrastructure is developed in this community over the past 20 years. At one point, I lived in the Fry’s Spring neighborhood and before I was at Charlottesville Tomorrow. At the risk of total embarrassment, I provide this link to an October 2005 podcast from something back then. The audio quality isn’t good, but it’s an interesting document of that time.

I am extremely grateful for everyone who is helping me find a way to keep doing this work.