cVillain

November Is Seatbelt Optional Month (Police Only)

Ian — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 20:16:19 +0000

Office Kyle Boynton was charged today for an accident stemming from this past Tuesdays (11/17) Wachovia robbery. While responding to the call the officer & his passenger, Otis Collier, struck a Toyota Camry on route 29N near the Seminole Square area. Neither officer was wearing their seatbelt at the time of the accident. No one involved sustained any personal injury.

A spokesman for the CPD stated that officers are not always required to wear a seatbelt while on duty. [Photo Credits]

Weekend Preview: There’s Always Booze

Ian — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 19:24:17 +0000

Friday:

The Southern - Joe Purdy With Julie Peel. Joe is a rather popular folk singer among the Hollywood TV series group, having had his music featured on a number of Grey’s Anatomy & Lost episodes. Interestingly enough, he releases on his independent music label and has managed to achieve 800K downloads on iTunes. @ 8:00PM – $15 [Info]
Play On Theater - The Bent Theatre gives us Citizen Cane. Anyone else have further details on this? @ 8:00PM – $? [Info]
The Paramount - Stays quiet again.
Live Arts - Gone till December.

Saturday:

The Southern - Wrecks the place with Heavy Trash (Jon Spencer & Matt Verta-Ray). Hate fuck? Punk Trash? Bos Hog? Check here for a very interesting writeup. @ 8:00PM – $12 [Info]

Sunday:

Outdoor Adventure Social Club - Instructs on how to make beer, the outdoorsy way. @ 11:00AM – $Free [Info]

As always… Any corrections/substitutions/refunds?

Missed Connections – Wachovia Bank

Ian — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:27:15 +0000

Where: Wachovia Bank on the corner of 10th St. NE & East High.

You: White male, 20-30, six feet tall, thin, hat, brown hoodie, and sunglasses.

My friend wants to get in contact with you, call: (434) 977-4000. (Crime Stoppers).

UVa Brings Great Temptation With Measure For Measure

Ian — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:22:20 +0000

Politics and religion meet with sex and scandal in Shakespeare’s tragicomedy ‘Measure for Measure.’ Under the watchful eyes of the true Duke, his young substitute falls prey to desire for a clever nun; and with an ensemble of pimps, prostitutes, and priests making mischief, only the Duke’s meddling can undo the harm wrought by the substitute and his harsh laws. November 19-21st @ 8:00PM, 21st @ 2:ooPM $Free. [Info]

Holy Shhhh… Bubble Blog Is Back

Doc — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 18:08:24 +0000

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)?

2. Are realtors still saying that housing in Charlottesville is HOT right now? Have they awakened to reality?

3. Have any of the underlying Fannie/Freddie issues been solved/ignored/suppressed/shifted? Is the government taking any steps to help the situation?

4. What’s all this talk about a commercial real estate bubble? Your site recently linked to this piece in the Atlanta Journal Constitution. Sounds pretty scary. Any thoughts?

5. Any comments on The Landmark Hotel: The True-Life Story of a Boy With a Dream and a Blight on a Skyline, a Halsey Minor Joint?

6. Is BULLmont still the most ridiculously priced neighborhood/area in Charlottesville? Where are the best deals/values?

7. Anything else you want to say to our readers?

Take a deep breath (and maybe a shot), and read the answers below.

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)?

The blog just did a long long post, “To Buy or Not to Buy, That Is The Question,” which includes local info about pricing, appreciation, wages, foreclosures, and sales, and lots of charts and graphs and numbers from folks far more knowledgeable than us.

Prices, according to the Virginia Housing Development Authority, are still high in comparison to earned wages. Despite sales being at a 10 year low, prices have only adjusted 10-20%, depending upon area. That is, prices for things that have sold. There’s a lot of inventory sitting there, and prices are definitely coming down.

But the area is still out of whack in terms of affordability and earned wages. If you look around at people you know, in their 20’s or 30’s, can they afford to buy a “decent” house here? Without significant help from their parents or a trust fund? And will it break them? The Cville City’s median price for a single family home is still more than $100K above the national median of $177,900, and Albemarle County’s is nearly $200K more (using prices from 2009).

So…still bursting in terms of prices coming down. The VHDA thinks prices will continue falling through 2010. We think it will be longer…because the run-up was so extreme (135% on average; in some neighborhoods, much more).

And foreclosures: who can say how many there will be? For the first three quarters of this year, there were 676, according to RealtyTrac via the Virginia Assoc. of Realtors. Total sales for the same time period: 1559. So 43% of the properties sold will eventually be replaced by foreclosures going back on the market…at a lower price. This doesn’t do much for the glut of inventory in this area, does it.

And despite the fact that the word “recovery” has been tossed around a lot in the media, nationally, WTF does that mean? There are 2.4 million houses expected to be foreclosed upon in 2010. There’s an estimated 7 million houses already owned by banks that aren’t on the market—YET. The “Making Home Affordable” program of the Obama administration was supposed to help 3-4 Million homeowners with mortgage modifications. They’re not releasing hard numbers, but speculation is that only a few hundred thousand have been helped. Nobody’s in housing recovery yet. We’re still in the beginning stages of Armageddon, not recovery.

2. Are Realtors still saying that housing in Charlottesville is HOT right now? Have they awakened to reality?

You still see ads and signs that say NOW IS THE TIME TO BUY or exhort folks to take advantage of the up-to $8k tax credit. But there are a lot less Realtors than there used to be, so there’s a lot less noise. The Daily Progress seems be a cheerleading section for the local Realtor’s Association. But then again, who can blame them? Both industries are suffering massive cuts and changes. As for that up-to $8k tax cred (it’s $4k if you’re single), if the house is overpriced by $50k, who gives a s— about a few thou? Also, in terms of “bargains”? Condo prices have plummeted due to oversupply and foreclosures.

3. Have any of the underlying Fannie/Freddie issues been solved/ignored/suppressed/shifted? Is the Government taking any steps to help the situation?

FandF are worse. Government is taking steps to throw $$$$$ at them. Fannie and Freddie were put into “Conservatorship” in September 2008. They own or back a huge number of mortgages. They are literally eating billions of dollars of taxpayer money as “owners” default on their mortgages and go into foreclosure. There are links to articles explaining the problems, and the problems at the FHA (Federal Housing Administration) in the post we just did, link above. This is an unconscionable drain on our children’s’ future… and our unborn children’s children’s future.

4. What’s all this talk about a commercial real estate bubble. Your blog linked to this piece in the AJC. Sounds pretty scary. Any thoughts?

Anybody who walks or bikes or drives around town or the County knows we have our own problem here. Some of the vacant buildings and storefronts will have owners who rely upon tenants to make their mortgage payments. Without the tenants, they’ll eventually go into foreclosure. They’ll lose the building, the bank will lose money, and then the building will be resold for less…which will bring down the value of other buildings. Commercial RE here, and everywhere else, had its own special bubble going…and is due for its own debacle. Read this for more info.

And this: the blogger CalculatedRisk has some links on the coming wave of commercial RE issues, bad especially for local and regional banks.

5. Any comments on The Landmark Hotel: The True-Life Story of a Boy With a Dream and a Blight on a Skyline, A Halsey Minor Joint?

Yeah, speaking of commercial real estate, right? Great title. Two comments. First, the thing should be shrinkwrapped. Seriously: to protect the structure in case it can be put to good use as the hotel or as…whatever. There’s a company that actually does this: http://www.businessinsider.com/genius-company-will-shrinkwrap-vacant-condos-2009-7

Second, if there’s a grand opening fete that Halsey Minor throws for the Landmark, whether it is 2010, 2011, or 2015, we’re going to send him a bottle of Cristal Rose vintage 2000

In addition, we’re going to make a donation equivalent to the price of the bubbly in his honor at the First Street Church Project.

6. Is BULLmont still the most ridiculously priced neighborhood/area in Charlottesville?

Actually, BLOWmont :0) has significantly slowed in sales and come down in pricing, comparatively speaking. While the “penthouse” at the Belmont Lofts sold this summer for $850K, it’s something of an outlier.

In fact, if you look at property sales (realestate.charlottesville.org) the houses that are actually selling are doing so at 2002-3 prices. This is the 3 bedroom “farmhouse” type, selling in the low-to-mid 300’s (even when the asking price is much higher). The “charming Belmont cottage” at the $210K and under price point has done well. But as far as we know, the last time a house sold for over $400K was in May 2008. If something is listed at $400, $500, or even $600K, it either doesn’t sell, or goes for much less (of existing homes).

One of the cheapest listings in the City is 602 Hinton Avenue – $132K. Needs work. Foreclosure. But hey, with the up-to $8k tax credit….

The most “bubbly” area of the City right now is North Downtown. 400 West High Street for $1.8 Million, price reduced from $2.2M. With a view of the County Courthouse and one of the busiest intersections in the City. Then there’s 615 Kelly Avenue, which looks like a Quonset hut painted in primary colors for $1M. 512 N. 1st Street for $1.3M; when it sold just a few years ago for $700K, it wasn’t referred to as an “estate.” 517 2nd Street NE, a two bedroom “Modernist” house for $1M, has recently been delisted. Can’t wait to see who the buyers are for these babies!

7. Anything else to say to readers?

Yes, a few moments of preaching, thanks for the op:

1. How to save $: You can grow a lot of your own food on a tiny plot of lawn or, if you don’t have even a patch of dirt, in containers (google ‘container garden’). Plus, if you use organic seeds, it’s better than anything you can get at WFM.

2. It’s never too early to start saving for retirement.

3. Audit then Abolish the Federal Reserve. Write to Tom Perriello advocating for this. The Fed is an entity that is for the profit of a handful of incredibly wealthy families; it does not have the interests of America, or its taxpayers, foremost on its proverbial mind. Read about it here: http://www.petitiononline.com/fedres/petition.html

4. If you feel like you don’t know much about how f’ed up the economy is right now and want to learn about it from a blog that has as much ‘tude as cVillain, read The Market Ticker.

Frightening and entertaining all rolled into one.

5. Don’t stretch to buy the first (or any) house. Read www.patrick.net for housing info.

6. If you’re thinking of moving out of Charlottesville and don’t do it before you’re 30, there’s a good chance you might never do it.

7. Great band: Kings of Leon.

Thanks so much for talking to the bubble blog… and thanks so much to cVillain for coming back to life. C’ville needs you!

Aaaaand that’s how I feel after reading their responses. In their own inimitable style, they lay out the cold, hard facts. If their answers are too long for your liking, at least go read the post they’ve linked in the first question above. Here, I’ll link it down here too, so you don’t have to even scroll. Stunning.

[Photo credits: Mike Licht; Paul Keleher]

Race To The ‘Stache – Mustaches For Kids

Ian — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:57:36 +0000

‘Mustaches for Kids’ Growing Season Underway

Joining hundreds of men in more than 20 cities, members of Charlottesville’s Mustaches for Kids chapter will soon sprout sweet, sweet mustaches in a fund raising drive to benefit the city’s scholarship fund and pay for supplies for school classrooms.

Similar to a charity walk-a-thon, Mustaches For Kids challenges Growers to gather pledges for their mustaches during Growing Season from mid-November to mid-December. Growers compete against each other for coveted local prizes such as “Sweetest Stache,” as well as against growers in other chapters for money raised.

Proceeds this year will benefit local teacher-selected projects posted on Donorschoose.org, a nonprofit donation portal for supporting public school teachers, and the two regional chapters of Big Brothers Big Sisters.

“It’s not too late to man up to the challenge and be a grower this year,” said Burt Glass, who maintains the Facebook page for the local Mustaches for Kids chapter. “To have some fun and help the kids, I tell pals it’s got to be either a ‘stache or their cash.”

The first ‘Checkpoint’ meeting will be held this Sunday at Rapture restaurant @ 7:00PM. Walk-ons are welcome.

More about Mustaches for Kids:

Mustaches For Kids is a volunteer-run organization started in Los Angeles in 1999 to help children’s charities. Since then, Mustaches For Kids has spread across the continent, a steady expansion that is not unlike the measured, deliberate growth of a mustache. Mustaches For Kids currently has more than 20 chapters across the U.S. and
Canada, and through the collective efforts of hundreds of brave men, the organization has raised almost one million dollars for children’s charities. Charlottesville Young Professionals is a sponsor of the local Charlottesville Mustaches for Kids chapter.

For more information:

www.mustachesforkids.org
www.facebook.com/pages/Mustaches-for-Kids-Charlottesville-VA/160343701957

Fourteen Days To A Whiter Smile

Ian — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:29:55 +0000

With many in the bar scene grumbling over the smoking ban going into effect December 1st, and the inevitably approaching winter temps (although 70* today does provide some hope), we have to wonder if such a die-hard group of drinkers will shift to accommodate establishments which cater to the new requirements for indoor inhaling. As the new Virginia code rather clearly states:

Any portion of a restaurant that is constructed in such a manner that the area where smoking may be permitted is (i) structurally separated from the portion of the restaurant in which smoking is prohibited and to which ingress and egress is through a door and (ii) separately vented to prevent the recirculation of air from such area to the area of the restaurant where smoking is prohibited. At least one public entrance to the restaurant shall be into an area of the restaurant where smoking is prohibited.

We have been compiling a list of establishments which meet these criteria; however the ‘public entrance’ requirement knocks a few out of the running. Additionally, from having traveled to quite a few locations with indoor smoking bans, there are always proprietors willing to accept the risk of a $25 fine (businesses = per person smoking? / individuals = per cigarette you’ve been observed to smoke?). The code doesn’t clearly lay out the enforcement structure of these fines, although I’d imagine with 23 states having preceded us, there should have been ample code to plagiarize.

So, for those of us who continue to enjoy a little masochism with our mimosas, what locations are you betting will benefit from the new laws? [Photo Credits]

Smokers Exodus

Open Space Helps Get You Off The Streets

Ian — Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:34:20 +0000

Ah, the office life. Your little slice of cubicle heaven: coffee, pictures of children and ‘motivational’ posters adorn the walls, impromptu meetings, copy, fax, file, coffee, scan, e-mail, coffee, repeat.

Jeff Gunther has a slightly different idea for a slightly different workforce here in Charlottesville. For many local mobile warriors, turning wherever you find yourself into a workspace is the status-quo. However, without access to printers, actual desk space, big screen monitors, and conference rooms, Java Java can’t quite provide all we may require (love the mochas though). Jeff’s idea started with the build out of the new office space located near ACAC in the warehouse district, and extended to provide all that an employee without tethers could require.

The space is cleanly designed, with intricate details which make it visually fun to be in. The color scheme, while reminiscent of the Cupertino crew, doesn’t offend us Redmond individuals in the house. The conference/group rooms come in various sizes and goals, with everything from 16 individuals being comfortably seated at a standard oval table, to smaller more tightly knit rooms with multiple monitors and different desk designs.

Pricing is rather reasonable, with hourly rates starting at only $5-$8 depending upon your monthly plan. A concierge is available to assist you in your world conquering goals, book events, and generally clean up after you. Coffee is included. Mon-Fri 8-8, Sat-Sun 12-6. [Info]

Weekend Preview: Paraskevidekatriaphobia

Ian — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:26:42 +0000

Friday:

The Southern - Is one of the only venues kicking it out this weekend, and for only one cant miss show at that, as they bring 6 Day Bender & The New Familiars to Charlottesville. Just think, The Doors + Mississippi = 6 Day. @ 7:30PM – $6 [Info]
The Paramount - Quiet all weekend…
Live Arts - Recovering from Afterglow…

Saturday:

The Southern - Come and get your fill of Neil Hamburger with Daiquiri, billed as ‘The Worlds WORST stand up comedian’, which could actually be rather exciting. @ 9:00PM – $10 [Info]

Sunday:

Live Arts – Audtitions for Mother Hicks, a teen driven play. Come on out youngsters, to tell the story of outcast 1930’s America. @ 7:00PM – $Free [Info]

Yowza. We know this is the late to press edition, but is there ANYTHING else going on out there, or has Charlottesville finally taken a weekend off? [Photo Credits]

Club Villain – Blue Light Grill Wrap

Ian — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 20:58:24 +0000

Joshua & the rest of the Blue Light Grill crew put on a really amazing display last Thursday for our fifth Club Villain event. From the new paint scheme, to the big screen TV’s, BLG is certainly making moves in the right direction.

One commenter below will be returning on us!