The design team returned to Charlottesville again this May to meet with stakeholders, Piedmont Housing Alliance staff and residents of all ages at Friendship Court Apartments. A variety of meetings were held also with the City of Charlottesville and other SIA participants to further collaborate on the redevelopment plan for Friendship Court.
One of the highlights of the trip was the resident dinner held at the community center on Thursday, May 12. Moe’s Original BBQ was set up outside providing a 
tasty meal while Piedmont Housing Alliance’s CEO, Frank Grosch, made a presentation on the current status of the redevelopment with several illustrations and potential renderings of the new site. After dinner, as people trickled in and out of the center to grab dessert from the Sweet Tooth ice cream truck, the design team members made themselves available for kids and adults alike to respond to questions and to hear first-hand exactly what they are working on. Karen Reifenberger, Piedmont Housing Alliance’s COO added, “It was such a great opportunity for the residents to get out and be able to see real renderings of what’s to come and for them to be able to ask concrete questions about the redevelopment.”
Claudette Grant, Community Organizer at Friendship Court who was present for the teen workshop with Liz Ogbu said, “Teens were very excited to see the renderings of the potential apartments. They could not believe it!” One young teen in the workshop commented, “It looks like a place where rich people live.”
June 20, 21, 22 marks the final visit by the design team who plan to unveil the master plan which will really give everyone great insight into the final plans for a brighter future after 2018.
