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?