Photo: Mike Kropf/Charlottesville Tomorrow

Westhaven

Resident-led planning for the new Westhaven Community began in 2022, when 18 residents participated in a seven-week educational curriculum covering community history, zoning, and the planning process. Through hands-on activities and workshops, residents gained the knowledge and tools needed to make informed decisions, including selecting an architect to help develop the community’s Master Plan.

On March 13, 2026, after nearly three years of collaborative work, residents reached consensus on a Master Plan design. The plan will double the number of affordable homes, offering a mix of townhomes and apartments, while creating four times more usable outdoor community space. The engineering team is now advancing the site plan in preparation for the 2026 Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) application.

Residents have also remained actively engaged in development issues affecting the surrounding neighborhood. They have voiced concerns about a proposed large-scale development on West Main Street that they believe conflicts with community priorities around neighborhood scale, safety, and connectivity. Their advocacy before the Board of Architectural Review has helped prompt calls for significant revisions to the proposed project.

This fall and winter, residents will turn their attention to the more detailed design elements of Phase 1, selecting interior and exterior materials, colors, finishes, and other features. This will be an extensive process encompassing the many spaces within the two buildings, including apartments, community centers, lounges, and shared areas. Residents will also help shape Phase 1 outdoor amenities, including the new Sport Court.

Looking ahead to Phase 2, residents will begin a visioning process for the Multi-Purpose Building along 10th Street, envisioned as a recreational and community space with apartments above. Residents will also continue exploring concepts around Public Art and Memory, with the goal of identifying initial ideas that can be incorporated into Phase 1 by the end of winter.

Together, these efforts ensure that Westhaven residents remain at the center of decisions shaping the future of their community—from the overall Master Plan to the details of individual spaces, amenities, and public art.