Emmet / Ivy Corridor

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The Emmet / Ivy Corridor is at 14.5 acre section of land in Charlottesville that is becoming part of the University of Virginia. The future is informed by the work of the Emmet/Ivy Task Force. The property spans along Ivy Road from Emmett Street to Copeley Road. The intent is to become a bike-pedestrian friendly area developed under "Open Grounds" principles. [1]

Birdseye view of the entire Emmet Ivy Corridor facing the west

Future tenants include the School of Data Science, UVA's Democracy Initiative, the UVA Hotel and Conference Center, and other facilities. [2] [3] [4]

Introduction

2018 Image above the soon to be demolished Cavalier Inn

The Emmet/Ivy Corridor is known as a “strategic” plot of land that the University owns. It is said to be about an 8-10 minute walk to major buildings and spaces at UVA. It’s also the key connection that brings UVA’s athletic facilities together with central and arts grounds. The corridor development has been a large part of the Good and Great Plan Jim Ryan has set forward for UVA since he was elected president in 2018. The project has a revolutionary goal for the university to be carbon emission neutral by 2030. Much of the expansion has been due to large donations of money by UVA alumni.

History

Cavalier Inn

The Cavalier Inn stood where the School of Data Science stands today. It served UVA families and the Charlottesville community as a reliable place to stay close to grounds from 1965 all the way until the summer of 2018 when it was demolished. After being purchased in 1998 by the UVA Foundation, it was in much need of renovation by 2018 when UVA decided to demolish it in the summer. [5]

Villa Diner

The Villa Diner used to occupy a lot neighboring the old Cavalier Inn. When UVA sought to reconstruct the area, the building along with UVA’s Outdoor Recreation Center, built in 2010 [6], were both demolished. The Villa Diner moved to 1250 North Emmet St and still are there today serving the community and restaurant-goers.

Emmet Ivy Parking Garage

The Emmet Ivy Parking Garage was constructed south of the railroad tracks and west of Emmet St in 2003. Most people who have passes to park here are UVA Students and Faculty. In 2018 as construction began in the area and surrounded the parking garage, causing congestion in multiple instances.



Ambox notice.png This article documents a current event. Information may change rapidly as the event progresses.

Timeline

  • January 2018 - Emmet/Ivy Task Force looks at plans for what to do with the spaces. Proposals include a performing arts center, a new UVA Hotel and conference center, expansions to the Darden and Batten schools, University Museum building, and even an option for the Hereford Residential College

[7]

  • Summer 2018 - UVA president-elect Jim Ryan appointed Beth Meyer, landscape architecture professor, to lead the task force to examine possible uses of the Emmet/Ivy space [8]
  • March 6, – UVA Buildings and Grounds committee endorses schematic design for Hotel and Conference Center [9]
  • June 4 – UVA President Jim Ryan announces $50 million gift from Martha and Bruce Karsh to establish the Karsh Institute of Democracy and that UVA would match that amount. This project was approved by the Board of Visitors also in June [10]
[11]
  • July 2021 – A natural gas pipeline is in the process of being relocated from the eastern side of Emmet Street to the western side. The roadway was closed overnight several times throughout the month for this purpose. [12]
  • Summer 2022 - A traditional topping out ceremony is held as the UVA School of Data Science building’s exterior steel is constructed [13]
  • October 2022 - Groundbreaking ceremony is held to commemorate the construction of UVA’s new Hotel and Conference Center. Jim Ryan and other board of visitors' members have shovel in hand while commemorating the new building.
  • December 8, 2022 – The Buildings and Grounds Committee of the UVA Board of Visitors debate aesthetics of the Karsh Institute for Democracy [14]


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Phases of the UVA Project

Phase 1

Phase 1 was the first part of the project which was planned to finish in the 3rd quarter of 2023. The first phase provided utility improvements, pedestrian, bicycle and public transit accommodations in the area. Also this phase included landscaping the area around the previous creek and redirecting it to promote a healthier landscape, with a goal of enhancing engaged learning.

Phase 2

Phase 2 is in charge of developing the western half of the corridor, which will eventually be home to the Karsh Institute of Democracy. This phase will promptly be started after the completion of Phase 1 and is stated to be finished by Spring 2025.

A rendering of the completed data science building

School of Data Science

The School of Data Science building on the eastern half of the lot. It is scheduled to be the first completed building in the Universities’ plan. It is a 60,000 foot building to support the newly created school at UVA. On the interior, there will be 2 75-person classrooms, 2 45-person classrooms, study areas, along with research space. Additionally, there is an accessible terrace on top with a green roof. The School of Data Science currently plans to hold classes in the building starting in the fall of 2024, as the interior will be completely finished by the summer of 2024.

Virginia Guesthouse

This $130.5 million project is scheduled to be completed in the 2nd quarter of 2025. This new UVA hotel will serve as a hospitality anchor to the new academic area of grounds. The 217 guest rooms, with views of the Rotunda, and 25,000 sq ft of Conference Center space are included in the layout of the building. Restaurant, cafe, outside terraces, and rooftop bar are also new amenities that will attract overnight guests. UVA will be outsourcing the operation of the hotel to Pyramid Global Hospitality. This company also operates hotels in Atlanta and the Cayman Islands. Pyramid Global has made clear that they are looking to hire people in the local Charlottesville area to work in their hospitality industry. [15]

Karsh Institute of Democracy

The Karsh Institute of Democracy was created out of donations from Bruce and Martha Karsh, both UVA law graduates. Them and others founded the institute in order to defend democracy and teach, research, and help with political activism at UVA and the surrounding community. Currently Bond House on Brandon Avenue serves as the institute’s base. Bond House is a new, on-grounds, upperclassmen dormitory constructed in 2019, which has small office space for the institute on its bottom floor. In June 2021, the board of visitors approved the construction of a new 65,000 sq ft building for the Karsh Institute of Democracy. This 2nd academic building being welcomed to the corridor will include 4 stories of a 425 seat auditorium, which will host in-person events broadcasted around the globe. The Batten School of Leadership and Public Policy will occupy about ¼ of the overall building used for classrooms and meeting spaces. By sharing a building, UVA hopes sharing a building will encourage collaboration between the Karsh Institute and the Batten school. This will be the last approved project completed in the area, slated to be finished by the Summer of 2026. [16]

Other Expansion Along Ivy

UVA Expansion

In the past decade UVA has been slowly assembling properties along Ivy Road, heading west. As UVA continues to grow its student and professor populations, Ivy Road is the most notable route of expansion, due to the heavy construction existing in the area for the last 5-6 years.

Ivy Square Shopping Center

In December, 2021 the UVA Foundation made a purchase of the Ivy Square Shopping Center for $20 million. Many different businesses exist in this smaller sized shopping center, which is located on the northside of Ivy Road between Old Ivy and Copeley roads. [17]

2025 Ivy Road

UVA had recently bought out the 7-11 convenience store on Ivy Road, which had been the closest of these convenience stores to the University for a long while. UVA demolished the store in the late summer of 2023 to make way for expansion in the area.

2119 Ivy Road

The site of a Moe’s BBQ, which has been at this location in Charlottesville for over 30 years. The UVA Foundation bought the Moe’s restaurant for $2.575 million on October 19, 2022. No UVA-funded renovation or demolition is currently in the works though.

2117 Ivy Road

2117 Ivy Road hasn’t been controlled by the UVA Foundation and is instead owned by RMD Properties. Currently the site of Truist Bank, on the corner of Ivy and Copeley, the city has unanimously approved a large 10-story apartment building. The December 2023 proposal for the 242 unit building has taken on harsh scrutiny from UVA because of its proximity to the corridor and UVA’s planned development. UVA wrote to the City Council alleging the building goes against the city’s goals for the space.[18] The purpose for the apartment building is to give students more options for off-grounds housing. Livable Cville, a pro-affordable housing group, took the opposite stance of UVA on the issue, heavily supporting the now approved building. [19]


Early Design

Emmet-ivy-picture.JPG

September 2020 design

20200911-Emmet-Ivy-Map.JPG 20200911-Emmet-Ivy-Map2.JPG

References

  1. Web. The Future of Grounds in Eight Projects, Caroline Newman, News Article, UVA Today, November 22, 2019, retrieved November 23, 2019.
  2. Web. [http://www.officearchitect.virginia.edu/pdfs/EmmetIvyTaskForceReport.pdf University of Virginia Emmet Ivy Task Force Report], February 27, 2019, retrieved November 23, 2019.
  3. Web. UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA BOARD OF VISITORS, Meeting of the Buildings and Grounds Committee, September 11, 2020, Agenda and Packet, University of Virginia, September 11, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2020.
  4. Web. Board of Visitors Buildings & Grounds Committee September 11, 2020, Presentation, University of Virginia, September 11, 2020, retrieved September 14, 2020.
  5. Web. After 53 years, Cavalier Inn to host its last guests on finals weekend, Nick Matthews, News Article, May 15,2018, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  6. Web. The Great Indoors, News Article, 2012, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  7. Web. Charlottesville Planning Commission get look at UVA's plans for Ivy Road Corner, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Charlottesville Tomorrow, April 28, 2018, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  8. Web. A New Corner for UVA, Sarah Lindenfeld Hall, News Article, Virginia Magazine, 2019, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  9. Web. UVA PANEL ENDORSES HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER DESIGN, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Town Crier Productions, Charlottesville, Virginia, March 6, 2021, retrieved July 15, 2021.
  10. Web. Ivy Corridor Projects, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  11. Web. Led by Karsh Family Gift, UVA Plans $100 Million for Institute of Democracy, Caroline Newman, News Article, July 4, 2021, retrieved July 15, 2021.
  12. Web. July 7, 2021: Council approves $1 million for statue removal, storage or covering; Another lot on Cherry Avenue changes hands, Sean Tubbs, Charlottesville Community Engagement, Town Crier Productions, July 7, 2021, retrieved July 18, 2021.
  13. Web. A new entryway to grounds, Annual Report, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  14. Web. Buildings and Grounds Committee debate lack of brick in proposed Karsh Institute of Democracy, News Article, Town Crier Productions, December 13, 2022, retrieved May 18, 2023.
  15. Web. UVA breaks ground for new hotel on grounds, Sydney Schuler, News Article, The Daily Progress, October 14, 2022, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  16. Web. Our Story, UVA website, Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  17. Web. UVA Foundation acquires another Ivy Road property and 45 other October 2022 transactions, Sean Tubbs, News Article, Information Charlottesville, November 28, 2022, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  18. Web. UVA Slams proposed 10-story Ivy Road apartment building, Spencer Hawes, News Article, The Daily Progress, November 13, 2023, retrieved March 12, 2024.
  19. Web. City votes to approve two large scale apartment building near grounds, rezones to support affordable housing, Merrill Hart, News Article, The Cavalier Daily, December 23, 2023, retrieved March 12, 2024.

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