Tag: Crozet

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Rail service from Crozet? It’s not impossible

This is a slightly different post in that I am asking for something from you, the reader. Please email this post to your neighbors, homeowners’ associations and friends.

First, a tip about possible bus service from Crozet courtesy of Jaunt –

We’d love to provide more (and faster) service to Crozet. Currently JAUNT leaves Crozet about every two hours on weekdays. The 8 AM morning bus to Charlottesville is well-utilized, so it takes a while to reach town (we go door-to-door). But the 10, 12 and 2 buses are quicker. We provide return trips at 9:15, 11:15, 1:30, 3 and 5, too. Fare is $3.00 each way. We did try an express commuter route from Crozet a few years ago, but we had very few takers.

If we want this service, we need to ask – 434-296-3184

On to rail –

Getting train service from Crozet to Charlottesville is not impossible; read today’s story at the HooK. Like anything, we need to ask – we just need to use our collective voices to make it known.

A lot of people have been meeting with a lot of different people discussing the possbility of bringing rail service back to Crozet. This post is an attempt to get some of those people on the same track so to speak about Crozetians’ desires for rail. What do you think? Nearly everyone to whom I have spoken has expressed interest, but turning that interest into cohesive action is a challenge in and of itself.

Think of this as part of a the community’s effort to help Crozet.

 

 

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Update on the Crozet Library

CROZET LIBRARY SCHEMATIC DESIGN UNDERWAY

Steering Committee Begins Meeting This Week to Guide Design Process

Schematic design for the new Crozet Library gets underway this week as the project consultant meets with county staff and the Board of Supervisors-appointed Library Steering Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The new 20,000 square foot facility is expected to open in 2011, providing space for state of the art library services for the western Albemarle County area as well as community space to support public needs in downtown Crozet. Construction of the library supports a host of infrastructure projects that have multiple benefits for the public including the sidewalk project, shared public parking for downtown, construction of Main Street, and the Crozet Avenue streetscape project.

The Crozet Master Plan adopted in December, 2004, established an expanded downtown library as a critical community priority because the current Crozet Library, which is 1,900 square feet in size, was determined to be inadequate for the community’s current and future library needs. The master plan envisioned a new downtown library that could provide improved library services and also could serve as an anchor for a revitalized downtown Crozet – a major public sector investment and visible presence that would help support critical infrastructure improvements like parking, sidewalks, and the new Main Street.

The new library will be constructed on two parcels of property owned by Albemarle County along Crozet Avenue next to B&B Cleaners. These properties together provide approximately two acres to house the new library facility and associated parking.

Crozet Library

Last year the Board of Supervisors expressed unanimous support for pursuing LEED Certification for all newly-constructed County buildings including the Crozet Library— LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and is a nationally accepted rating system for designing and building green buildings. The new Crozet Library will be the County’s first planned LEED Certified building project.

In April, 2008, the Board of Supervisors approved the formation of the Crozet Library Steering Committee. The committee’s charge is to oversee the schematic design phase of the project. Formal design will take place from January through December 2009, and bidding for construction will be held December 2009/January 2010. Construction is expected to begin in the spring of 2010, with completion scheduled for spring/summer of 2011.

Summary of Major Library Project Milestones to Date:

– Downtown library endorsed by adopted Crozet Master Plan – December, 2004
– Purchase of Harris property for establishment of new Main Street – March, 2006
– Selection of project architect – September, 2006
– Contingent contract on Amato property – September, 2006
– Consultant meetings with stakeholders on library site – September, 2006
– Public meeting on library site selection – October, 2006
– Board work session on library site selection – November, 2006
– Purchase of Amato property – December, 2006
– Topographic surveys/alignment studies for Crozet Avenue and Main Street – initiated January, 2007 – completed June, 2007
– Board of Supervisors establishes library building at 20,000 sq ft with approximately 15,000 sq ft dedicated initially for library programming– March, 2007
– Downtown Zoning project begins – May, 2007
– Consultant selected for Crozet Avenue/Main Street Streetscape project – May, 2007
– The streetscape project that will create New Main Street and access to the Crozet Library gets underway – August, 2007
– Structures on the Harris property are removed as part of site preparation for the library project – March, 2008
– The Board of Supervisors appoints a Steering Committee work with County staff and the project consultant during the library’s conceptual design phase – May, 2008
– The Board of Supervisors adopts the downtown zoning ordinance for Crozet that establishes the conditions necessary to design and construct the library as envisioned in the Master Plan – June, 2008

* republished in entirety from the County’s press release

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Coffee Shop in Crozet!

It’s about time. From the press release:

“Beights Corporation proudly announces the addition of Trailside Coffee to the Village Center at Old Trail in Crozet, Virginia. Albemarle native and Crozet-area resident Marcia McGee, proprietor, will be serving fresh brewed coffee and espresso beverages to passersby and residents of Old Trail Village, beginning in January 2009 once construction is complete on the new Village Center.

“I am so excited about this opportunity,” stated McGee at the lease signing, “I have been working hard for months to ensure that I have what I need to do this right. Now we’re ready to go!” McGee began creating her new shop months ago, developing her logo, website, and planned list of offerings in anticipation of her lease-signing this past Friday. She also has secured custom roasting agreements with Williamsburg Coffee & Tea Co. and other, boutique roasters. Of these relationships, McGee said, “I want to provide beans and espresso roasts that are special to our area. As the palate of my customers develops, I can change our custom roasts to best suit their tastes.”

Even though construction on the Old Trail Village Center is a full four weeks ahead of schedule, McGee doesn’t want to keep Crozet-area residents waiting any longer for their espresso fix. Opening in early August, possibly sooner, Trailside Coffee will be operating an espresso and coffee cart in the Old Trail Golf Clubhouse.”

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Shenandoah National Park Neighbor Day!

Sent along by a kind reader:

On June 21, 2008, the Shenandoah National Park will waive entrance fees for those residents living in counties adjoining the park including Albemarle, Augusta, Greene, Madison, Page, Rappahannock,Rockingham and Warren. The park plans to celebrate Shenandoah Neighbors’ Day as an annual event on the third Saturday of each June. Visitors wishing to take advantage of this fee free day will be required to show proof of residency by showing their Virginia driver’s license.

Read this document on Scribd: neighborday
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Hazy Day in Crozet

And this is why –

Smoke from the North Carolina wildfire grew so thick in Hampton Roads on Tuesday night that 911 dispatchers were deluged with calls from residents reporting fires in their neighborhoods. Dispatch centers in Norfolk, Chesapeake, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach answered calls from residents who noticed the smoke and smelled its strong odor. In Norfolk, firefighters were so busy they reduced the number of trucks they sent to fire calls.

The North Carolina wildfire, which has burned for more than a week, spread even more Tuesday, growing to 40,195 acres, or nearly 63 square miles – larger than the city of Richmond.

(hat tip: cvillenews)

More at the Hook.

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Old Crozet School Reuse study

Get your planning and community involvement hats on!

Old Crozet School Reuse Study Community Workshop – Your Ideas are Needed! June 19, 20 & 21 Western Albemarle High School 5941 Rockfish Gap Turnpike

On June 19, 20 & 21 at Western Albemarle High School, Albemarle County will be holding a series of community workshop activities for the Crozet community to identify potential new uses for the Old Crozet School building and site, as identified in the Crozet Master Plan.

The workshop will offer some new and varied ways for you to participate, so we encourage to attend any or all of the activities listed below.

The community process for the Old School Reuse Study is being guided by a committee of Crozet citizens and County staff. Recommendations from the final report will be presented to the Board of Supervisors for consideration as a possible future project to be included in the County’s capital budget.

Schedule of Activities: June 19, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Opening Presentation and Goals Worksession: The kick-off participatory worksession with citizens to collect ideas for re-using the Old Crozet School building and site.

June 20, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Community Workshop Open House Day 1

June 21, 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Community Workshop Open House Day 2

June 21, 3:00 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Concluding Presentation of Concepts

For Open House Days, drop-in anytime during the day to work with the design team to develop concepts for the school building and site. Onsite interviews with the design team can be arranged by contacting 757-303-8922.

You can also send your ideas using their web comment form. For additional information, visit the Old Crozet School Webpage or contact Britton Miller at 434-972-4176