PLAN 303: URBAN THEORY/Pamuk
Department of Urban and Environmental Planning
University of Virginia
Spring 1996
CITY TOUR ASSIGNMENT
Due: Tuesday, February 13
This assignment is worth 15% of your grade for this course. Follow the attached tour and take some notes of your impressions and observations as you go along. It is not necessary to answer the questions posed in the Tour, just think about them as you walk through the city. Then, after taking the tour, prepare a two-part report/project as described below.
PART I: CITY DESCRIPTION (60 points)
This is a short (one to two pages) double-spaced, typed, written description of what you saw during the tour -- the spaces, traffic, construction, buildings, people -- who they were, what they were doing, and so forth. You may wish to use one of the questions listed at the end of the attached tour as a starting point. This part should be straight forward, objective description. It will be graded on the quality of your observations and communication.
PART II: PERSONAL INTERPRETATION (40 points)
This is a personal statement about some aspect of the city, or your experience of understanding it. Your personal statement can be expressed in any form you like, for example prose, poetry, music, sketches, or photographs. Unlike Part I, this is meant to convey your personal impressions. This is not a test of creativity, but an opportunity to share your reactions and feelings. It will be graded on your ability to convey your feelings so that others understand. If your personal statement needs to be performed, please let me know in advance so time can be scheduled for your presentation.
Prof. Ayse Pamuk
PLAN 303 -- Urban Theory
Assignment #1
City Planner's Tour of Charlottesville
Bundle up and put on your walking your shoes for your first PLAN 303 assignment -- a walking tour of the City of Charlottesville. (If you are unable to make the tour on foot, you may drive, but please walk if possible.) The tour is designed to show the variety of neighborhoods, the nature of change in the downtown area, and the issues that community groups and city planners are facing today. Most of the questions posed here have no easy answers -- they are presented merely as food for thought. Allow about two to three hours for the tour, and please, make the tour with at least one classmate or friend. You may wish to break the tour up into two parts, taking one of the Side Trips on another day.
* * *
Begin the tour on the steps of the Rotunda. As you should already know, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. Consider the role the university plays in the city's economic and social life. For starters, in 1994, the city's labor force averaged 21,400, with UVa directly employing 14,700 persons, or about two-thirds of the city's workers.
Walk down University Avenue towards West Main Street. As you pass by the area of shops and businesses known as "the Corner," continue to think about the relationship between the University and the city. The residences in this area are occupied primarily by students.
As you walk down West Main St., keep track of the types of businesses you pass by. Notice that there are several vacant lots and several buildings being renovated. West Main Street has always been a manufacturing district as well as a residential neighborhood. Years ago, West Main was home to iron works and an apple cider factory. To the left (north) and right (south) of West Main St. lie the residential neighborhoods knows as Starr Hill (north) and Fifeville (south). These are both older neighborhoods with high poverty rates. These neighborhoods have always been predominantly African-American communities. Fifeville's population is almost 100% African- American, although it is slowly becoming more integrated as the area has become known as an "affordable" neighborhood for hospital employees.
What do you think will rise on West Main St.'s vacant lots? What kinds of businesses do you think would be good for the neighborhood? A new hotel will be constructed on the corner of 9th St. Considering the demographics of the neighborhood as described above, do you think a hotel is a good business for the neighborhood? Why or why not? If your answer is no, what would be better? What do you think about the existing businesses? Remember that West Main St. is an important connector road -- it links the university with "downtown." What else could be done to improve this neighborhood? Consider issues of design (for example, facades and landscaping) as well as economics.
Continue down West Main Street and cross over the train tracks (there is a pedestrian walkway on the right side of the road). To the right is the city's Amtrak station. What would you think of Charlottesville if you arrived here by train? A developer is currently negotiating the purchase of the Amtrak building and is planning major renovations; the City is also considering it as a site for a transit center.
Continue on West Main for another block and a half or so, and turn right on 5th Street. Take note of the condition of the houses you walk by and continue to think about the needs of the West Main Street corridor communities. Turn left on Dice St. and then left on Ridge St. for about half a block, then turn right on Monticello Ave.
Monticello Avenue is home to a large subsidized housing project, which begins after the Ivy Industries building on the left side of the road and extends further down Monticello Ave. on the right side of the road (the gray, tan, and brick townhouses). Consider the design and external appearance of the complex, including the landscaping. How does it compare to your image of low-income housing?
As you walk down Monticello Avenue, you will enter the area of the city known as Belmont. Belmont is a diverse area, with a mix of land uses -- residential, commercial, and industrial districts, as well as a mix of households. The City has designated North Belmont as its target neighborhood for community development. You will notice that some of the older homes have been fixed up. Parts of this neighborhood are undergoing a "revitalization" -- some say it is showing early signs of gentrification. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of more affluent households moving into poorer neighborhoods as you walk through North Belmont: turn left on Avon St., walk two blocks and turn right on Hinton Ave., walk one block and go right on Church St., turn left on Belmont Ave., left on Rialto, left back onto Hinton Ave., and right back onto Avon St. Continue on Avon St. to E. Market St.
This is the Eastern edge of the Downtown Mall and the city's historic district, the focus of the City's historic preservation efforts. City Hall and other City offices, including the Department of Community Development, are on your left. Make a left onto E. Market St., walk three blocks and turn right on 5th St., NE. You are entering Charlottesville's Historic District, established in 1959 and expanded in 1976. Many of the buildings in this area date back to the mid-1800s. 5th St. leads you to the Albemarle County Courthouse, originally built in 1762, replaced in 1803 and still used today. Turn right on Jefferson St., and take a quick left onto Park St. You are at the north-eastern tip of the original city, which was bounded to the north by Jefferson St. and the south by South St. Charlottesville was founded in 1762 as a planned community of 56 half-acre lots in a grid pattern. On the right are several historic buildings, including Levy Opera House, once a town hall, then an opera house, and as of 1983, offices; and the Red Land Club, site of the Old Swan Tavern (1780). Continue on Park St. and cross over High St. Park St. is lined with historic properties, used today, as you can see, as offices and residences. Take a left on Hedge St., then a left on 4th St. Cross back over High St. Immediately to your left is Jackson Park and statue. The statue, unveiled in 1921 as part of city beautification efforts, has been judged to be one of the world's greatest equestrian statues.
Continue walking down 4th St. The block of Victorian storefronts on 4th St. after crossing Market St. has undergone a renaissance since 1980. Enter the Downtown Mall from 4th St. Look across the Mall to the entrance from the other side. Do you think it would be safe to walk there at night? Public safety is another important issue for city planners to be aware of.
The area where you are now standing has always been the heart of downtown Charlottesville. It was only recently converted into a pedestrian district but it is still considered the center of the city's business, financial, and government activities. Construction of the Mall began in 1974; it was opened in 1976 and completed in 1985. Although today many agree that the pedestrian mall has successfully preserved the city's original business district, it was a very controversial project as many buildings were razed and business activity was severely disrupted. The initial cost of the project was several million dollars. The Downtown Mall is also a prime spot for tourists, housing several restaurants and shops. Activity varies depending on what time of day you are at the Mall. Who is around the Mall? Is it busy? If not, why not? Consider the importance of preserving historic buildings and the significance of history to Charlottesville's "ambiance." If you need a break, sit down and have a cup of coffee or a snack at one of the Mall's several coffee shops, and ponder the design of the Downtown Mall. How does it "feel" to you? Notice that above several of the shops and restaurants are apartments, maintaining the traditional downtown design features of "walkability" and mixed-use development.
Walk to the end of the Downtown Mall. Notice the construction. An ice arena, a six-screen movie theater, and a shopping/residential complex (York Place -- already completed) is planned for this site. Exit the Downtown Mall onto Old Preston Ave. and turn left back onto E. Market. You are now at the western edge of downtown, formerly known as Vinegar Hill. Until the mid- 20th century, Vinegar Hill was a vibrant, racially-mixed community of businesses and residences. However, many of the older buildings were not well-maintained, and in 1962, the neighborhood was demolished as part of "Urban Renewal" in Charlottesville. For twenty years, the neighborhood remained mostly vacant lots. In the early 1980s, investment found its way into the area, starting with a new federal courthouse, followed by the Omni Hotel (large red brick complex) and the General Electric Training Center.
From this point, you have several options. You can call it a day and return to the grounds via the Vinegar Hill/Starr Hill neighborhood and West Main St. by turning left onto McIntire then right onto West Main; if you have the energy, you may take one of the side trips; or you may choose to return now and take one of the side trips later. Side Trip 1: "Green" Charlottesville explores the city's riverfront neighborhood and greenbelt park, and Side Trip 2, "Charlottesville's Suburbs, New and Old," takes you to the city's first suburban area and shows you some of the new suburban development taking place within the city limits. Each trip takes about one hour; Side Trip 1 may be either walked or driven; Side Trip 2 requires a car.
Side Trip 1: "Green" Charlottesville
Find your way back to E. Market St. This street will take you down to the Rivanna River (about 1.5 miles). When you cross the intersection of E. Market and Carlton/Meade, you are entering the neighborhood known as "Woolen Mills." As the name suggests, it is the former site of several textile mills that were built along the Rivanna River. The last mill closed down in 1964. All the way at the end of E. Market you will see remains of one of the mills (a smokestack). Further down on your right is a large brick structure that formerly housed mill offices, but was converted into condominiums with a river view. Converting building from one use to another, or "recycling" them, is one way to reuse buildings after they have been vacated. Recycling abandoned factory buildings and land is an important issue for urban planners, especially in industrial cities.
Turn around and head back up E. Market St. for about 1/2 a block. Turn right on Riverside Ave.; this street will lead you to a parking lot and the entrance to Riverview Park. This is the gateway to the "Rivanna River Greenbelt." The two-mile stretch of land along the riverside has been set aside and developed as a recreation area. Think about the role parks and open space play in the attractiveness of a city. If it's not too cold, wander around the river area and think about the park's accessibility, safety, and "user friendliness." Who else is using the park?
As you exit the park's parking lot, turn right onto Chesapeake St. Take a peek to the right down Riverside Ave. and notice the brand new townhouses. As you walk up Chesapeake St., think about how this neighborhood is different from ones you saw earlier today. Consider the neighborhood's density, natural features, and housing. When you get tired of walking, you can catch a #1/Grady Ave. bus on Chesapeake St., which will take you back to "the Corner" at the Nation's Bank (see map and schedule below).
Side Trip 2: Charlottesville's Suburbs, New and Old
This trip requires a car. From the Rotunda, head down West Main St. and turn right on Ridge St. A few blocks down, you will notice large, old brick houses on both sides of the street. This is where successful merchants built their homes in the late 1800s. Today, many of the buildings have been subdivided into apartments or are used by businesses.
Ridge St. changes names and becomes 5th St. Notice how the road widens as you leave the downtown area. Take a right onto Harris Road. You are in Fry's Spring, one of Charlottesville's first suburbs. This area used to be a large farm. In the early part of the century, an enterprising individual decided to convert the farm into a resort with a hotel and cottages, an area that would be strictly residential, without factories or shops, where visitors could take advantage of the healing powers of the nearby natural springs and escape the "ills" of the city. The hotel burned down and the cottages became permanent homes, but what does remain is the neighborhood's strictly residential character. What else is different about this neighborhood compared to the others you have visited today? Is the neighborhood "walkable"? Think about some of the advantages and disadvantages of residential-only (single-use) versus commercial/residential (mixed-use) districts. Also think about the design of the streets and the appearance of the houses. As you drive down Harris St., you may wish to explore some of the side streets to get a better idea of how the neighborhood has taken shape.
Turn right onto Jefferson Park Ave. Continue about .25 miles and turn left onto Old Lynchburg. Drive carefully, this is a windy road. Take a right onto Country Green Rd. Notice the trailer park on the left, just after the gas station. This area is one of Albemarle County's "growth areas." In order to prohibit "sprawl" development - like you see on Rte. 29 North - the County has designated certain areas where it will concentrate new development; in fact, major new commercial and residential development is restricted to the growth areas. Continue on Country Green Rd. Until it ends. A horse farm is directly in front of you. How do you think this landowner feels about being in a "growth area"? Think about the process of gaining community input in the planning process. Take a right onto Sunset Ave. On your left is the Redfields subdivision. Turn left at the entrance. Look down from the entrance at the area. Record your observations. Drive down into the "neighborhood." How does this compare to the Fry Spring's area? Belmont? How is different? Where would you prefer to live: Belmont, Fry Spring's, or Redfields? Why? What makes this type of housing development attractive to some households? Consider safety and the environment for raising children. Exit the subdivision by taking a right back onto Sunset Ave. Turn left on Old Lynchburg. Old Lynchburg becomes 5th St. then Ridge St. Turn left onto W. Main and you're on the home stretch.
Overall Questions
Would you consider Charlottesville a large or a small city? Is it a dense city? Explain.
Describe your observations about the distribution of wealth in Charlottesville. In general, do you think of Charlottesville as a wealthy or a poor city; an integrated or segregated city?
How is the transportation in Charlottesville? Would you consider it a pedestrian-friendly city? Are the streets easy to follow?
Does the city's economy appear to be declining or improving? What did you observe from your tour that supports your opinion?
Department of Urban and Environmental Planning
University of Virginia
Spring 1996
CITY TOUR ASSIGNMENT
Due: Tuesday, February 13
This assignment is worth 15% of your grade for this course. Follow the attached tour and take some notes of your impressions and observations as you go along. It is not necessary to answer the questions posed in the Tour, just think about them as you walk through the city. Then, after taking the tour, prepare a two-part report/project as described below.
PART I: CITY DESCRIPTION (60 points)
This is a short (one to two pages) double-spaced, typed, written description of what you saw during the tour -- the spaces, traffic, construction, buildings, people -- who they were, what they were doing, and so forth. You may wish to use one of the questions listed at the end of the attached tour as a starting point. This part should be straight forward, objective description. It will be graded on the quality of your observations and communication.
PART II: PERSONAL INTERPRETATION (40 points)
This is a personal statement about some aspect of the city, or your experience of understanding it. Your personal statement can be expressed in any form you like, for example prose, poetry, music, sketches, or photographs. Unlike Part I, this is meant to convey your personal impressions. This is not a test of creativity, but an opportunity to share your reactions and feelings. It will be graded on your ability to convey your feelings so that others understand. If your personal statement needs to be performed, please let me know in advance so time can be scheduled for your presentation.
Prof. Ayse Pamuk
PLAN 303 -- Urban Theory
Assignment #1
City Planner's Tour of Charlottesville
Bundle up and put on your walking your shoes for your first PLAN 303 assignment -- a walking tour of the City of Charlottesville. (If you are unable to make the tour on foot, you may drive, but please walk if possible.) The tour is designed to show the variety of neighborhoods, the nature of change in the downtown area, and the issues that community groups and city planners are facing today. Most of the questions posed here have no easy answers -- they are presented merely as food for thought. Allow about two to three hours for the tour, and please, make the tour with at least one classmate or friend. You may wish to break the tour up into two parts, taking one of the Side Trips on another day.
* * *
Begin the tour on the steps of the Rotunda. As you should already know, Thomas Jefferson founded the University of Virginia in 1819. Consider the role the university plays in the city's economic and social life. For starters, in 1994, the city's labor force averaged 21,400, with UVa directly employing 14,700 persons, or about two-thirds of the city's workers.
Walk down University Avenue towards West Main Street. As you pass by the area of shops and businesses known as "the Corner," continue to think about the relationship between the University and the city. The residences in this area are occupied primarily by students.
As you walk down West Main St., keep track of the types of businesses you pass by. Notice that there are several vacant lots and several buildings being renovated. West Main Street has always been a manufacturing district as well as a residential neighborhood. Years ago, West Main was home to iron works and an apple cider factory. To the left (north) and right (south) of West Main St. lie the residential neighborhoods knows as Starr Hill (north) and Fifeville (south). These are both older neighborhoods with high poverty rates. These neighborhoods have always been predominantly African-American communities. Fifeville's population is almost 100% African- American, although it is slowly becoming more integrated as the area has become known as an "affordable" neighborhood for hospital employees.
What do you think will rise on West Main St.'s vacant lots? What kinds of businesses do you think would be good for the neighborhood? A new hotel will be constructed on the corner of 9th St. Considering the demographics of the neighborhood as described above, do you think a hotel is a good business for the neighborhood? Why or why not? If your answer is no, what would be better? What do you think about the existing businesses? Remember that West Main St. is an important connector road -- it links the university with "downtown." What else could be done to improve this neighborhood? Consider issues of design (for example, facades and landscaping) as well as economics.
Continue down West Main Street and cross over the train tracks (there is a pedestrian walkway on the right side of the road). To the right is the city's Amtrak station. What would you think of Charlottesville if you arrived here by train? A developer is currently negotiating the purchase of the Amtrak building and is planning major renovations; the City is also considering it as a site for a transit center.
Continue on West Main for another block and a half or so, and turn right on 5th Street. Take note of the condition of the houses you walk by and continue to think about the needs of the West Main Street corridor communities. Turn left on Dice St. and then left on Ridge St. for about half a block, then turn right on Monticello Ave.
Monticello Avenue is home to a large subsidized housing project, which begins after the Ivy Industries building on the left side of the road and extends further down Monticello Ave. on the right side of the road (the gray, tan, and brick townhouses). Consider the design and external appearance of the complex, including the landscaping. How does it compare to your image of low-income housing?
As you walk down Monticello Avenue, you will enter the area of the city known as Belmont. Belmont is a diverse area, with a mix of land uses -- residential, commercial, and industrial districts, as well as a mix of households. The City has designated North Belmont as its target neighborhood for community development. You will notice that some of the older homes have been fixed up. Parts of this neighborhood are undergoing a "revitalization" -- some say it is showing early signs of gentrification. Think about the advantages and disadvantages of more affluent households moving into poorer neighborhoods as you walk through North Belmont: turn left on Avon St., walk two blocks and turn right on Hinton Ave., walk one block and go right on Church St., turn left on Belmont Ave., left on Rialto, left back onto Hinton Ave., and right back onto Avon St. Continue on Avon St. to E. Market St.
This is the Eastern edge of the Downtown Mall and the city's historic district, the focus of the City's historic preservation efforts. City Hall and other City offices, including the Department of Community Development, are on your left. Make a left onto E. Market St., walk three blocks and turn right on 5th St., NE. You are entering Charlottesville's Historic District, established in 1959 and expanded in 1976. Many of the buildings in this area date back to the mid-1800s. 5th St. leads you to the Albemarle County Courthouse, originally built in 1762, replaced in 1803 and still used today. Turn right on Jefferson St., and take a quick left onto Park St. You are at the north-eastern tip of the original city, which was bounded to the north by Jefferson St. and the south by South St. Charlottesville was founded in 1762 as a planned community of 56 half-acre lots in a grid pattern. On the right are several historic buildings, including Levy Opera House, once a town hall, then an opera house, and as of 1983, offices; and the Red Land Club, site of the Old Swan Tavern (1780). Continue on Park St. and cross over High St. Park St. is lined with historic properties, used today, as you can see, as offices and residences. Take a left on Hedge St., then a left on 4th St. Cross back over High St. Immediately to your left is Jackson Park and statue. The statue, unveiled in 1921 as part of city beautification efforts, has been judged to be one of the world's greatest equestrian statues.
Continue walking down 4th St. The block of Victorian storefronts on 4th St. after crossing Market St. has undergone a renaissance since 1980. Enter the Downtown Mall from 4th St. Look across the Mall to the entrance from the other side. Do you think it would be safe to walk there at night? Public safety is another important issue for city planners to be aware of.
The area where you are now standing has always been the heart of downtown Charlottesville. It was only recently converted into a pedestrian district but it is still considered the center of the city's business, financial, and government activities. Construction of the Mall began in 1974; it was opened in 1976 and completed in 1985. Although today many agree that the pedestrian mall has successfully preserved the city's original business district, it was a very controversial project as many buildings were razed and business activity was severely disrupted. The initial cost of the project was several million dollars. The Downtown Mall is also a prime spot for tourists, housing several restaurants and shops. Activity varies depending on what time of day you are at the Mall. Who is around the Mall? Is it busy? If not, why not? Consider the importance of preserving historic buildings and the significance of history to Charlottesville's "ambiance." If you need a break, sit down and have a cup of coffee or a snack at one of the Mall's several coffee shops, and ponder the design of the Downtown Mall. How does it "feel" to you? Notice that above several of the shops and restaurants are apartments, maintaining the traditional downtown design features of "walkability" and mixed-use development.
Walk to the end of the Downtown Mall. Notice the construction. An ice arena, a six-screen movie theater, and a shopping/residential complex (York Place -- already completed) is planned for this site. Exit the Downtown Mall onto Old Preston Ave. and turn left back onto E. Market. You are now at the western edge of downtown, formerly known as Vinegar Hill. Until the mid- 20th century, Vinegar Hill was a vibrant, racially-mixed community of businesses and residences. However, many of the older buildings were not well-maintained, and in 1962, the neighborhood was demolished as part of "Urban Renewal" in Charlottesville. For twenty years, the neighborhood remained mostly vacant lots. In the early 1980s, investment found its way into the area, starting with a new federal courthouse, followed by the Omni Hotel (large red brick complex) and the General Electric Training Center.
From this point, you have several options. You can call it a day and return to the grounds via the Vinegar Hill/Starr Hill neighborhood and West Main St. by turning left onto McIntire then right onto West Main; if you have the energy, you may take one of the side trips; or you may choose to return now and take one of the side trips later. Side Trip 1: "Green" Charlottesville explores the city's riverfront neighborhood and greenbelt park, and Side Trip 2, "Charlottesville's Suburbs, New and Old," takes you to the city's first suburban area and shows you some of the new suburban development taking place within the city limits. Each trip takes about one hour; Side Trip 1 may be either walked or driven; Side Trip 2 requires a car.
Side Trip 1: "Green" Charlottesville
Find your way back to E. Market St. This street will take you down to the Rivanna River (about 1.5 miles). When you cross the intersection of E. Market and Carlton/Meade, you are entering the neighborhood known as "Woolen Mills." As the name suggests, it is the former site of several textile mills that were built along the Rivanna River. The last mill closed down in 1964. All the way at the end of E. Market you will see remains of one of the mills (a smokestack). Further down on your right is a large brick structure that formerly housed mill offices, but was converted into condominiums with a river view. Converting building from one use to another, or "recycling" them, is one way to reuse buildings after they have been vacated. Recycling abandoned factory buildings and land is an important issue for urban planners, especially in industrial cities.
Turn around and head back up E. Market St. for about 1/2 a block. Turn right on Riverside Ave.; this street will lead you to a parking lot and the entrance to Riverview Park. This is the gateway to the "Rivanna River Greenbelt." The two-mile stretch of land along the riverside has been set aside and developed as a recreation area. Think about the role parks and open space play in the attractiveness of a city. If it's not too cold, wander around the river area and think about the park's accessibility, safety, and "user friendliness." Who else is using the park?
As you exit the park's parking lot, turn right onto Chesapeake St. Take a peek to the right down Riverside Ave. and notice the brand new townhouses. As you walk up Chesapeake St., think about how this neighborhood is different from ones you saw earlier today. Consider the neighborhood's density, natural features, and housing. When you get tired of walking, you can catch a #1/Grady Ave. bus on Chesapeake St., which will take you back to "the Corner" at the Nation's Bank (see map and schedule below).
Side Trip 2: Charlottesville's Suburbs, New and Old
This trip requires a car. From the Rotunda, head down West Main St. and turn right on Ridge St. A few blocks down, you will notice large, old brick houses on both sides of the street. This is where successful merchants built their homes in the late 1800s. Today, many of the buildings have been subdivided into apartments or are used by businesses.
Ridge St. changes names and becomes 5th St. Notice how the road widens as you leave the downtown area. Take a right onto Harris Road. You are in Fry's Spring, one of Charlottesville's first suburbs. This area used to be a large farm. In the early part of the century, an enterprising individual decided to convert the farm into a resort with a hotel and cottages, an area that would be strictly residential, without factories or shops, where visitors could take advantage of the healing powers of the nearby natural springs and escape the "ills" of the city. The hotel burned down and the cottages became permanent homes, but what does remain is the neighborhood's strictly residential character. What else is different about this neighborhood compared to the others you have visited today? Is the neighborhood "walkable"? Think about some of the advantages and disadvantages of residential-only (single-use) versus commercial/residential (mixed-use) districts. Also think about the design of the streets and the appearance of the houses. As you drive down Harris St., you may wish to explore some of the side streets to get a better idea of how the neighborhood has taken shape.
Turn right onto Jefferson Park Ave. Continue about .25 miles and turn left onto Old Lynchburg. Drive carefully, this is a windy road. Take a right onto Country Green Rd. Notice the trailer park on the left, just after the gas station. This area is one of Albemarle County's "growth areas." In order to prohibit "sprawl" development - like you see on Rte. 29 North - the County has designated certain areas where it will concentrate new development; in fact, major new commercial and residential development is restricted to the growth areas. Continue on Country Green Rd. Until it ends. A horse farm is directly in front of you. How do you think this landowner feels about being in a "growth area"? Think about the process of gaining community input in the planning process. Take a right onto Sunset Ave. On your left is the Redfields subdivision. Turn left at the entrance. Look down from the entrance at the area. Record your observations. Drive down into the "neighborhood." How does this compare to the Fry Spring's area? Belmont? How is different? Where would you prefer to live: Belmont, Fry Spring's, or Redfields? Why? What makes this type of housing development attractive to some households? Consider safety and the environment for raising children. Exit the subdivision by taking a right back onto Sunset Ave. Turn left on Old Lynchburg. Old Lynchburg becomes 5th St. then Ridge St. Turn left onto W. Main and you're on the home stretch.
Overall Questions
Would you consider Charlottesville a large or a small city? Is it a dense city? Explain.
Describe your observations about the distribution of wealth in Charlottesville. In general, do you think of Charlottesville as a wealthy or a poor city; an integrated or segregated city?
How is the transportation in Charlottesville? Would you consider it a pedestrian-friendly city? Are the streets easy to follow?
Does the city's economy appear to be declining or improving? What did you observe from your tour that supports your opinion?