When it comes to subjects like development and employment, UVA is undisputedly a major presence. But, according to Charlottesville Area Association of Realtors (CAAR) (www.caar.com) CEO Dave Phillips, the University isn’t even showing up to the affordable housing party, much less swapping ideas in the debate.
 Realtor and CAAR CEO Dave Phillips wants UVA to join in the discussion on local affordable housing. UVA says it’s too busy being a university. |
“I’m not sure that UVA’s doing anything for affordable housing,” Phillips says, echoing remarks he made in October at a work session with local developers. At that time, he said, “I think overall the University is the player here that’s not at the table, ever, on this discussion. If we can’t get them on board, we can never solve the affordable housing thing.”
UVA President John T. Casteen III had the opportunity to respond to this criticism at a legislative forum in December when an audience member brought up Phillips’ remarks.
The University is tackling affordable housing in its own way, Casteen said, mentioning projects like the architecture school’s ecoMOD modular housing project. Architecture faculty and plenty of alumni also pitched in on the Habitat for Humanity Builders Blitz last June.
“We house a lot of people at rates lower than in town,” Casteen said, adding, “What I doubt is that we will financially benefit people for whom Dave speaks.”
Indeed, UVA houses half of its undergraduate student body, and besides, Phillips isn’t complaining about the student housing problem—he represents developers and realtors who make a profit selling to parents of young ‘Hoos.
But Phillips is claiming UVA could do more to house its own large workforce.
“Other universities who face the same challenge have adopted things such as land grants and land trusts that are ways that the university employees can essentially live on land owned by the university at a more reasonable rate,” Phillips suggests.
UVA spokesperson Carol Wood responds via e-mail: “We are addressing the issue of affordable housing in the classroom and in the laboratory where faculty and students work together to create solutions that will become models that can be re-created not just in Charlottesville, but around the globe. …As a public institution of higher education, the University focuses on educating students.”