Posted by Doc on November 18th, 2009
The wonderful folks at the Cville Bubble Blog have returned to answer a few questions for us, and like Rosanne Barr singing the national anthem, a gaggle of sorority girls trying to hit the high note in “Living on a Prayer”, or Nickelback anywhere, things don’t sound very good. You may remember the last interview cVillain did with them over a year ago. A lot has happened in the real estate world since then, so I thought we could all stand for some updates.
Going through a roller coaster of answers, on topics such as BLOWmont, shrinkwrapping buildings, and getting out of town while you can, the Bubblers take us on a trip that doesn’t sound like too much fun. Like a road trip to Minnesota with that flatulent uncle… a few high points, but generally unpleasant with no end in sight. We asked:
1. Last time, you wrote, “The C’ville Bubble has burst.” Are we still bursting (in free fall) or are we anywhere close to being done (leveling off and stabilizing)? »Read More
Posted by Ian on October 27th, 2009
I’m sure anyone who has been driving around the downtown mall over the past few weeks has noted the periodic shutdowns occurring on Water Street, and all of the miscellaneous closed sidewalks and detours the city has been throwing at us. The assumption from day one that this is all blow back from the Standstill Hotel, was confirmed by the city today that this is indeed a result.
The original construction company had agreed to spend $800,000 of Charlottesville’s money in order to ‘beautify’ the sewer drains and sidewalks in the area, but as they packed bags and ran off to deal with actual projects, the city has taken the task back over.
The Box (if it ever opens) patrons will undoubtedly be excited about the consistent upgrades the area has been receiving, from the original slim covered alleyway, all the way up to the almost completely open street to stumble in. Our question has to be why the sidewalk at the southwest corner of the parking garage were ever closed down. This seems a good distance from the daily construction, and merely forced people to crisscross the area to safely walk towards the glass building. Any thoughts?
Posted by Ian on September 10th, 2009
Looks like the Landmark hotel battle rages on, and not just in the minds of all who are forced to live under it’s blatantly unneccesary shadow. It appears as though Merryl Lynch is requiring Halsey Minor to return the $24 mill he borrowed from them, along with a court order to stop being a shin kicker to all those who are calling him to ‘lemme get that money back I lent you back in the day’.
Posted by perma4 on June 5th, 2009
Silverton Bank, the Atlanta-based bank that owns Specialty Finance Group (the hotel focussed financing group that provided financing for the unfinished Landmark Hotel), has been shutdown by the FDIC.
The Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. has shut down Silverton Bank, the failed Atlanta “bank of banks,” instead of selling it to private-equity investors, according to a person familiar with the situation.
The FDIC had previously setup a “bridge bank” to operate it while trying to look for someone to purchase Silverton. However, this means no sale will take place. The consequence? I assume that means Silverton will go into liquidation, and someone will buy the Landmark at a firesale price.
Is that a good thing or a bad thing? Time will tell.
More on the closing from DailyFinance.com.
[pic from Silverton Bank website]
Posted by Vanillavy on May 29th, 2009
UNCUS did some quick and clean investigative journalism and found out that the Bovis construction sign that appeared out of nowhere on the now defunct Landmark Hotel is a hoax. My first guess is that it is from the same pranksters that plastered the construction site with flyers stroking Halsey Minor’s ego (no pun intended). It appears WCAV19 couldn’t get a Bovis rep on the phone to talk about this, but Hawes Spencer of UNCUS certainly did(very naice!):
“We’re not involved in the project in any way,” says Bovis spokesperson Mark Roy from the the company’s Bethesda, Maryland office. He notes that the sign shows a longer corporate name that was abandoned in 1998– though he says he’s amused by the stir
The Bovis website gives a little more insight into the Bovis/P&O connection:
The acquisition of Bovis by Lend Lease Corporation came about following the successful completion of Bluewater – Europe’s largest retail and leisure development – by Bovis for Lend Lease in 1999. Some six months later, Lend Lease expanded its global presence and position in the real estate business by acquiring Bovis from P&O. The Australian operations of Civil and Civic (then Lend Lease Projects) were merged with Bovis to form Bovis Lend Lease.
I went by to see the sign myself but it has been removed. FYI, if the anonymous pranksters want an interview, we will gladly host that venue. Just send us an email on the contact form here.
Posted by Scowly on May 21st, 2009
A sign reading “Halsey Minor’s Big Failed Erection” bravely sits underneath the inactive Landmark Hotel construction site. Some prankster(s) plastered these signs across the entire front facade of the Landmark Hotel site. With a bankrupt construction bank and lawsuits between Minor and his development partner, Danielson, it looks like we aren’t going to experience a Charlottesville luxury hotel anytime in the near future.
[big picture here]
Posted by Francesco on May 4th, 2009
I was invited to attend this year’s UVa Food Systems’s Planning Course community presentation held at the Central Brand Library on East Market Street. The students did a wonderful job this year and provided even more insight into our local agricultural community. This is my second year in a row and I was very excited to see what new thing are happening in the local food scene. Last year’s presentation focused on the “Challenges and Opportunities for our Community’s Local and Global Food Sources“. This year focuses on assessment and measurement. Specifically, what are the indicators or benchmarks for assessing a community’s food system. Is it doing well or poorly, and to what degree? This effort was compared to taking your body temperature to check for overall health.
The course focused on the following four issues:
1. Amount of farmland required to support a community. IE: If Charlottesville wanted to be complete self sufficient, how much farmland and what kinds would it take?
2. Factors that determine a community’s sustainable farm labor force. Farmers are ready to ramp up but there are no workers available for them to grow with.
3. Low income access to fresh food
4. The strength of the emergency food system network. Amidst a changing economy, can the local food banks keep up with rising demand and decreasing donations? »Read More
Posted by Francesco on April 20th, 2009
It was a glorious day for both vendors and shoppers this past Saturday. After a week of disgusting, extremely Seattle-like weather, Mother Nature changed her mind and gave us a beautiful and warm (not intolerably hot though) Saturday. The sun was shining and the market was packed, and by packed, I mean sardine can packed. I think the city market has finally outgrown itself. That parking lot area is way too small for the town. Between current parents and their huge strollers to people walking side by side with their dogs, plus the general popularity of the market itself, it is not a comfortable experience. What about shutting down more side streets? South Street? West Main?
Claustrophobic gripes aside, the Charlottesville farmers market kicks ass. I saw a lot of old faces (vendors I met last year). And a lot of new ones which definitely make this year’s market one to be reckoned with. A run down of the new “must-see vendors” and a photo slideshow after the break: »Read More
Posted by Thor on April 16th, 2009
The Virginia Arts of the Books Center and Charlottesville Office Machines are putting on a TYPE-A-THON. Its like a phone-a-thon, except you don’t need to call anyone and no charitable donations are involved. It sounds like you just show up, and type anything you want on a good old-fashioned typewriter (for those of you who have no idea what this antiquated machine is, click here). If the end result is as long as I imagine it can be (3 type writers going non-stop for 14 hours), I think the only place this can be displayed is at the “almost ready for summer 2009″ Landmark Hotel. It sure seems tall enough, and we all know we need something to cover that hideous eyesore, even if it is cheese-stained stream of consciousness poetic musings.
The idea is kind of cute; put together as much random drivel on one continuous sheet of paper and see if it makes sense. If that isn’t a good enough reason to go…the free mac n’cheese is. What isn’t addressed is if they are serving the amazing white-truffle infused cabot cheddar cheese mac n’cheese from the x-lounge. I don’t know if we will show up for that Kraft nonsense.
Just two questions: Are they using recycled paper? Does anyone know/remember how to use a typewriter?
