CHARLOTTESVILLE (WINA) – In her Wednesday night Facebook Live feed, Mayor Nikuyah Walker said the collapse of the West2nd development shows Charlottesville is open for equitable business. She took exception to the assertion by developer Keith Woodard “blaming” — as Walker put it — City Council and the BAR for his decision to withdraw the proposal. She said her understanding is the developer did not have the financial resources to take on a project of such magnitude. She also takes exception to those who assert the collapse of the proposal indicates the city is not business-friendly.

Walker says she’s working to change the dynamic of business entering the city to “take advantage” of the residents. She says she will only work with businesses that come to town looking to be equitable. The West2nd development of high-end condos and residences did not meet that criteria, and would adversely affect the affordable housing crisis in the city. She rejects arguments that people moving out of current less-expensive housing into higher-priced housing makes any affordable housing impact. She says low-income individuals still cannot afford the housing from which the more rich are moving. Also, higher-priced housing units drive housing prices up further in the city overall.

City Council meets tonight (Thursday) with the city’s Housing Advisory Committee to discuss how affordable housing works into master plan updates.