Former University of Virginia President Jim Ryan announced in March 2020 that the institution would support the development of between a thousand and 1,500 affordable housing units through donating land.
“As an anchor institution, we feel a responsibility to be a good neighbor,” Ryan said at the time. “One of the most pressing needs in our region is affordable housing, and we are looking forward to doing our part to help increase the supply.”
The goal is for all of these units to be sold or rented at prices considered affordable for a household making 60 percent or less of the area median income.
The idea was quickly overshadowed by the COVID-19 pandemic but work resumed in 2021. Three sites were announced in late December of that year including a 12.734 acre parcel in Albemarle County owned by UVA known as the Piedmont site. The Piedmont Housing Alliance was chosen in August 2023 to develop this site and now the entity is seeking a rezoning.
“The applicant proposes to develop the property with up to 375 residential units and to realize this proposal respecƞully requests a rezoning of the property from R-1 Residential to Planned Residential Development (PRD),” reads the narrative dated December 15, 2025.
PHA is also seeking an exception or modification to allow structures as tall as 70 feet, one to reduce the number of required parking spaces, and to have stepback requirements removed for buildings constructed 30 feet away from Fontaine Avenue.
According to the county’s GIS, the land is owned by the Rector and Board of Visitors at the University of Virginia. The narrative, however, stated the separate University of Virginia Foundation will own the property and PHA will enter into a ground lease for the development.
“The site will include amenities and services that support residents and the broader community, which may include childcare, shared gathering spaces, or other community-serving uses,” the narrative continues.
Any non-residential use would require a special use permit and the scope has not yet been decided. The project is within the scope of the Fontaine Streetscape and a crosswalk will be installed at Mimosa Drive.
There are currently 10 single-family houses, 16 single-family attached units, and 35 low-rise multifamily apartments.
The other two selected sites are at 10th and Wertland and the North Fork Discovery Park.
Another group called Preservation of Affordable Housing was selected for the 10th and Wertland site and they are seeking financing and design approval for a six-story building with 180 units. Council is debating whether to grant a request for $3 million in funding and the Board of Architectural Review has held two preliminary discussions.
“Based on conversations with the developers, the earliest start date for construction is 2028 at the Wertland & 10th St site and 2028-2029 at the Piedmont site pending completion of rezoning and project funding (estimated),” reads the website of the President’s Council on UVA-Community Partnerships.
A firm called Bluestone Land LLC has been selected for the North Fork site.
“North Fork is a very different site from the initial two properties in terms of size, scale, project phasing, and affordability mix,” the website continues. “We anticipate market rate and workforce/middle-income housing in addition to affordable units at this site.”
The Albemarle Board of Supervisors approved a rezoning for a portion of North Fork on February 7, 2024.
The next update in this story will come in the next regular edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement as there are new documents to review.
Before you go: Paid subscribers cover the cost of conducting research for this article which was originally published in the January 30, 2026 edition of Charlottesville Community Engagement. You can either subscribe through Substack or make a charitable contribution. The goal of Town Crier Productions is to increase awareness about what is happening at the local, regional, state, and federal government levels. Please share the work with others if you want people to know things!
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