CHARLOTTESVILLE (CVILLE RIGHT NOW) UVA is closing their Earhart Street Child Development Center due to code violations, leaving nearly 40 children in need of alternative care options.

Although updates have been needed to accommodate the ages and number of children attending the Earhart Street Center, they were not made aware of the potential violations until the week of May 12 when the codes had been updated according to UVA’s Deputy Spokesperson Bethanie Glover.

While the Center was considering upgrades to better accommodate its enrollment, it wasn’t aware of the scope of the necessary work until May 12, when it was notified by the city of potential violations under newly-revised codes, Glover said.

The City of Charlottesville reached out to KinderCare, the Earhart Street Center’s management company to provide the original Certificate of Occupancy for the building, which they received in 1981, Glover said.

“They were unable to produce the document in a timely manner,” Glover told Cville Right Now. “Because of that delay, the City of Charlottesville issued a new Certificate of Occupancy under current building codes, which prompted the center’s partial closure while we explore solutions.”

The revised codes state that any rooms with children under 2 ½ years old must have a door that leads directly to the outside of the building and these rooms must have a maximum capacity of 24. Many of the Earhart Street classrooms do not meet these new standards, forcing them to close, Glover said.

“We are working to offer alternative solutions to families with children under 2 ½,” said Glover.

Parents are now swarming to alternative day care options after the sudden closure. There are only three other childcare centers affiliated with UVA, as well as a number of private alternatives around the city.

The Earhart Child Development Center will continue to provide care for 16 of its children, based on the active Certificate of Occupancy, but leaves 39 children displaced due to the new building codes.

“Backup locations with available space have already been identified for 19 of them,” said Glover.

The remaining 20, however, are being offered alternative solutions, such as reimbursed home childcare and care at other local centers as part of UVA’s backup care program.

“We do not anticipate any impacts to the cost of childcare for affected families,” said Glover.

While plans to accommodate existing customers are underway, Glover said the center won’t attempt to renovate its facility to meet the revised code, opting to shutter the operation instead. It has a new building scheduled to open later this month or early next month.

“We have decided to close the Earhart Child Development Center once the new Rivanna Child Development Center is licensed,” said Glover. “All Earhart families are invited to transition to the Rivanna Child Development Center when it opens.”

This new center is located at 325 Rivanna Plaza Drive and will accommodate up to 180 children, ages six weeks through five years to help families with children of multiple ages maintain care in a single location.

UVA is also taking other important steps to help address the ongoing childcare needs of the Charlottesville community. The University issued a Request for Proposal for a single childcare vendor in 2024 and recently secured a contract with Bright Horizons to fulfill the management of all UVA-affiliated childcare centers.

“All but one of the Earhart KinderCare staff members have accepted job offers and will transition to the Bright Horizons team on June 29th,” said Glover.

Bright Horizons is also offering one-on-one meetings for families who have questions or would like to know more.