Downtown Mall Original Sin. Friday January 19, 2018. Comment.

March 18, 1974 the downtown pedestrian mall is passed by 40% of City Council. Public safety is the most common criticism of downtown Charlottesville today.

• Mayor Huja shuts down dialog on race. Jan. 7, 2013.
• Downtown Mall born out of Urban Renewal. 2010 Historical Society.
• This link has timeline, photo essay, Great Central Place Fire Aug. 9, 1973.

  The fire occurred Thursday evening Aug. 9, 1973 and consumed five businesses: a restaurant, Hallmark Card Shop, Carmichael Shoe Repair, Kirby’s Jewelers and McCrory’s variety store. The offices of WVIR-TV and WELK radio were temporarily evacuated.

  The 3-alarm blaze raged from 8:25 p.m. until 12:30 a.m. with 80 firemen from 8 engine companies and 2 [ladder] companies, some overcome by smoke and heat. Flames leapt 50 feet into the sky. It was the worst fire since 1968 when a furniture store burned, according to Fire Chief Julian Taliaferro. A crowd estimated in the thousands watched the action from behind rope barricades (“Five businesses in Charlottesville destroyed by fire” (AP) Friday Aug. 10, 1973, Page 11, The Free Lance-Star, Fredericksburg, Virginia).

  

Blair Hawkins.

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