Coalition wants Albemarle County to pay $10 million a year toward construction and preservation of affordable housing

In less than a month, Albemarle County Executive Jeffrey Richardson will unveil his budget for the fiscal year that begins on July 1, 2025.

In late January, a coalition of groups sent a letter to the Albemarle Board of Supervisors asking for major investments in subsidized housing including a higher real estate tax rate. (read the letter)

“Real estate taxes haven’t been raised in 5 years,” reads the January 25 letter. “You have the opportunity to educate the public about the budget impact of professional firefighters in our community and other rising costs.”

Groups who have signed on to the letter run the gamut from the Albemarle Education Association to Virginia Organizing and include at least one group who would likely receive additional funding requested in the letter.

“Establish a ‘Housing Trust Fund’ with at least $10 million in dedicated annual funding that would go specifically toward affordable housing needs such as new construction and preservation,” reads one of the requests.

That would match the amount the City of Charlottesville spends each year on projects, with a lot of that funding going to the Piedmont Housing Alliance for various projects such as the redevelopment of Kindlewood into Friendship Court.

The Piedmont Housing Alliance signed on to the letter.

Shortly before several members of the coalition spoke, Supervisor Michael Pruitt urged his colleagues and the community to read the letter and its various demands.

“Some of them will be more achievable than others but I think there are things we need to really dig into collectively as a Board and I am grateful that they are here today,” Pruitt said.

One of the speakers was Mark Lorenzoni, the owner of the Ragged Mountain Running and Walking Shop who recently moved to the Samuel Miller District.

“We’ve also been now, along with our two oldest kids, city business owners for the past 43 years,” Lorenzoni said. “Living in the same community where we work used to be a given, even when our personal income was much lower. But now I look upon it as a privilege and that bothers me. Everywhere I turn, there are glaring examples of folks working in the city or county who can’t afford to live here. Like overhearing Costco employees while I’m checking out, talking about their long drive home to Louisa or Buckingham.”

Lorenzoni also said there are many people in many trades who cannot afford to continue living here. He thanked the Board of Supervisors for their investment in places like Premier Circle and the redevelopment of the Southwood Mobile Home Park, but he said more needed to be done.

Vicki Bravo spoke on behalf of the group IMPACT which has advocated for various policies over the years. She called for the $10 million housing trust fund to be created to fulfill some of the promises enshrined in the Housing Albemarle plan adopted by the Board of Supervisors in July 2021.

“When you passed the new housing policy, an affordable housing trust fund was part of that, but the trust fund hasn’t been set up yet,” Bravo said. “Why are we pushing so much for an affordable housing trust fund? It’s best practised nationally and has a record of success for more than four decades. It ensures regular funding. It provides financing for local solutions and priorities.”

In the budget for fiscal year 2025, Supervisors did agree to set aside $2 million for the Affordable Housing Investment Fund, a fund created in 2019 for “to support housing initiatives that are one-time costs and will support the County’s strategic and housing goals.”

Bravo also referenced that Fairfax County puts $18 million a year into such a fund. It should also be noted that Fairfax County’s population is ten times the size of Albemarle. That locality also has a redevelopment and housing authority where Albemarle does not.

Several other speakers also had their say. The video of the meeting is here and users can navigate to the section they would like to see. Click here.

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Before you go: This article was originally sent out as part of the Charlottesville Community Engagement newsletter in the February 7, 2025 edition. Both are functions of Town Crier Productions. You can support the work by purchasing a paid subscription or contributing monthly through Patreon. You can also send in a check or send an email, but drop me a line first!