In order to build a transportation improvement, the Virginia Department of Transportation or a locality must have the right of way to place the new infrastructure. In many cases, VDOT or local authorities negotiate with landowners for what they need but the public sector has the ability to take the land if these are unsuccessful.
On May 5, Charlottesville City Council held public hearings on the use of eminent domain to allow for two streetscape projects to continue. These are for the East High Streetscape as well as the Barracks Emmet Streetscape.
“The city’s right of way acquisition consultant has been successful in acquiring right of way and easements from 19 of the 26 property owners impacted by these projects,” said Mike Goddard, the deputy director of Charlottesville’s Department of Public Works. “The city’s consultant has been unable to reach agreement with several landowners and recommends eminent domain to allow utility relocation to take place in advance of the road improvement projects.”
The East High Streetscape will extend wider sidewalks and bike lanes north of the Belmont Bridge. The Barracks Emmet project is intended to make that intersection safer for pedestrians and will see a six-foot wide shared use path from Emmet Street to Buckingham Road.
Goddard said the projects are scheduled to go to construction next year but without the right of way they will continue to be late. The City of Charlottesville was awarded Smart Scale funds for the East High project in 2016 and the Barrack Emmet project in 2017.
There was only one speaker at the public hearing and this person did not give their name.
“I just want to say, please do,” said the unidentified. “East High sucks. Barracks sucks. Anything you can do to improve it would be great.”
The Barracks Emmet project was recently scaled back in town. City Councilor Michael Payne said he wished that had not been the case.
“I think it’s unfortunate the scale of projects in this area were significantly reduced because of the fear of acquisition of land for wealthy homeowners in the area,” Payne said.
The City of Charlottesville has so far not gone to construction on any of the Smart Scale projects it has received, though there have been three cancellations. One of them was on a second phase of a streetscape on Emmet Street. Last year, VDOT found the city to be deficient in terms of delivering transportation projects. See a list of stories below for more context.
Council voted 4-0 to authorize the use of eminent domain. Mayor Juandiego Wade is on a trip to Ghana.
- Charlottesville infrastructure updates: Sanders seeks more time to help city build back capacity, December 6, 2022
- Charlottesville’s new transportation planner briefs Council on future process, March 21, 2023
- VDOT has found Charlottesville “deficient” at building projects, May 6, 2024
- Charlottesville transportation planners seeking to rebuild public trust, May 16, 2024
- Transportation planning manager updates Charlottesville City Council on existing projects, May 17, 2024
- CTB considers cancellation of second phase of Charlottesville’s Emmet Street project, October 25, 2024
Before you go: This story originally went out in the May 7, 2025 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. To learn how to support the work, please visit this section of this website.
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