2022 Accomplishments

Friends of Charlottesville Downtown is very proud of all that we have been able to accomplish during our first year as a non-profit. Below is a list of what we’ve done so far. Please stay tuned for all that we are planning this Spring.

• Wrapped the landmark building Downtown.
• Assembled a Board of Directors, Advisory Board, & Cabinet.
• Hired an Executive Director and an Operations Manager.
• Created a one- and three-year strategic plans.
• Re-launched the Friends of Cville website with the help of a BRACE grant from the City of Charlottesville.
• Created robust marketing and social media campaigns.
• Installed overhead lighting on the mall.
• Added art to the CVS windows.
• Refreshed the oyster house façade.
• Installed new banners downtown.
• Had 14 wayfinding kiosks refreshed.
• Hosted free Saturday afternoon jazz concerts and other musical entertainment downtown.
• Expanded the downtown gift card program to include nearly 30 merchants.
• Hosted multiple public safety forums and meetings with city government.
• Partnered with the United Way on the ENVISION mural on Market Street.
• Lobbied successfully for public restrooms to open in York Place Downtown.
• Received a grant to begin work on a historic downtown walking tour.
• Supported Doggie Howloween.
• Supported Downtown Safe Halloween.
• Installed holiday flower boxes on the landmark building downtown.
• Installed up lighting and holiday lights at Central Place for the holidays.
• Created and promoted the Magic on the Mall holiday event series with the help of a grant from the Charlottesville Albemarle Convention and Visitors Bureau.
• Organized the Peppermint Trail with participating restaurants, coffee shops and bars from the Downtown Mall, Main Street and Dairy Market.
• Organized & ran the holiday Music on the Mall series.
• Organized & ran the Holly Trolley train on the Downtown Mall.
• Hosted Santa for Selfies with Santa on the Downtown mall.
• Organized the Elves in Cville campaign with 20 participating locations.
• Organized a holiday window competition with 8 participating locations.