Work to resume on Stribling Avenue including a potential scope change in one section

A major theme in the city’s core planning documents is a vision of a city where people can safely move around without driving a car or other motorized vehicle.

“The City will place an emphasis on enhancing networks and safety for walking, riding bicycles, and public transportation,” reads one of the guiding principles of the Comprehensive Plan adopted in November 2021.

There is planning and there is implementation.

When Southern Development sought a rezoning of 12 acres of undeveloped land on Stribling Avenue, the original idea was to build 68 duplexes. The preliminary idea went before the Charlottesville Planning Commission on August 27, 2019.

“The PC is concerned with traffic, but indicated they believe the site should be denser than R-2 if the developer could help with infrastructure on Stribling,” reads the minutes.

There is no sidewalk on Stribling Avenue and the street has one of the most rural characters in the city.

Southern Development returned with a plan for 170 units and Council agreed to a rezoning on April 18, 2022 as well as a funding agreement where the company would provide a $2.9 million loan to begin work on a project.

“The City should upgrade this existing public street, and add sidewalk improvements to Stribling Avenue,” reads the staff report for the rezoning. “It has been estimated that the cost of establishing sidewalk along Stribling Avenue will be at least $2.9 million, but possibly up to $4.0 million.”

Charlottesville worked with the Fry’s Spring Neighborhood Association to identify an alternative and the project’s estimate climbed to $5.5 million as I reported in August 2024. The most recent update on the city’s Transportation and Mobility website had a total of $6,184,378 as of November 2025.

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