First, the Daily Progress talking about the coming coffee shops in Crozet:
And most of the activity is happening in Crozet.
Crozet resident Marcia McGee has been running a coffee cart in the clubhouse of the Old Trail golf course since August. McGee’s company, Trailside Coffee, will open up a coffee shop in the Old Trail village center, most likely in June.
“Living in Crozet, I definitely realized that there was a need for a coffee shop,†McGee said. “After months and months of complaining that we didn’t have a coffee shop in Crozet, my friends told me that if I thought it was such a great idea that I should do it. So I did.â€
McGee envisions her shop as a “comfortable, nonjudgmental place†where the emphasis will be on the coffee. “It will all be individually brewed, fresh-ground coffee,†she said. McGee’s shop, she said, also will host coffee cupping events.
In nearby downtown Crozet, meanwhile, two other coffee shops are in the works.
Mudhouse, which has operated its Downtown Mall coffee shop since 1995, is busy converting the former Uncle Charlie’s restaurant in Crozet into its second true coffee shop. The company also has espresso bars in several Charlottesville-area Tiger Fuel stores.
Hmmm … they didn’t mention the Starbucks that’s coming to the Harris Teeter in Crozet ….
Second, Discovering Urbanism looks at Parking from Space:
Pictured above is the downtown of Crozet, Virginia with all off-street parking and other non-public vehicle access areas depicted in red (the area within the blue line is industrial). To me, this is a striking image. I’m using Crozet as an example because it’s small enough to draw easily, and the 2004 Crozet Master Plan specifically calls for the downtown to function as a compact urban hub. I don’t mean to suggest that Crozet, in particular, is “overparked.” At least according to the standard measuring rod planners use, Crozet is probably right on target. I just wonder who is measuring the measuring rod according to a wider standard of common sense and wise use of limited resources.
That Crozet image is striking, it lead me to immediately think of the mall at Short Pump, it’s faux-walkable. Crozet will continue to be suburban until it has some critical mass of housing units. People drive there, they must park somewhere. Sure, there are 35 housing units within walking distance, of which maybe 10 of those residents regularly walk to Downtown Crozet. So should we continue to encourage “urban” growth in Crozet? Is there a market for urban living in Crozet?
It makes me rethink urbanism in general, but commercial areas that are considered urban specifically. Sure, there is the Downtown Mall, but that is fairly concentrated. How often do people who live in Belmont walk to the Downtown Mall to buy something? Or do they just walk to avoid DUI’s? I had someone refer to the area on Main Street where Rosey Brown Blvd crosses as “Midtown” the other day. Funny, yet accurate? Who walks between The Corner and Downtown? Only drinkers, if you actually plan on buying something, you drive. Say you need some paper for your office at the UVa Hospital, do you walk to Staples? Nope. The Corner, Midtown, Downtown, Belmont….all independent neighborhoods?
Is urbanity a fallacy in this market? Why are we planning for it? Are there ways suburbanism can be made better that would be a better use of our planning energies?
I’m hoping that with the Mudhouse and the Library will serve to become the hubs of Downtown Crozet … but unless we do something to connect 250 with Downtown, they are going to remain independent – and thus driving only- of each other.
I’m stealing this and putting it on RealCentralVA …