Charlottesville, VA (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) – The Charlottesville City Council began the week with a work session dedicated to examining the city’s allocation of affordable housing funds from fiscal years 2022 through 2025. Though not an official audit, the session provided a comprehensive look at Charlottesville’s ongoing financial commitment to affordable housing, stemming from a 2021 moral pledge to invest $100 million over a decade. “The total is about $58.7 million over the last three years, which is in excess of that $10 million,” said Sean Tubbs of Info Cville during a conversation on Cville Right Now Live.

Tubbs pointed out that Charlottesville’s funding strategy includes indirect support such as tax relief programs, which help offset the rising cost of living for residents. He emphasized that increasing property assessments are a key factor in the city’s changing financial landscape. “The assessed value in Charlottesville has gone up by about $4 billion in the last six years… a lot of it is coming from the higher property assessments,” he said, highlighting how growing property values are shaping the city’s approach to affordability.

The discussion also drew attention to differences in affordable housing approaches between Charlottesville and Albemarle County. Tubbs noted that while Charlottesville has maintained its Affordable Housing Fund since 2008, Albemarle has been slower to implement similar measures. However, recent policy changes indicate the county is beginning to prioritize housing more seriously. He referenced a proposed development near the Woolen Mills neighborhood, which crosses both city and county lines—prompting questions about collaborative governance. “Could we do a better job at these areas where something’s happening in one area?” Tubbs asked.

Listen to the full conversation here: