Renovation at the Albemarle-Charlottesville Regional Jail is underway, following the demolition of the 1974 portion of the facility earlier this month. After years of debate, the $49 million project was narrowly approved by City Council last June. While critics and supporters of the project largely agreed that the facilities needed an update, the price tag and priorities of the reduced-scope renovation remain divisive.
Opened in 1974, ACRJ serves the City of Charlottesville and Albemarle and Nelson counties. The facility has a rated-capacity of 329 beds, and largely holds people awaiting trial or sentencing, or serving shorter sentences.
Renovation of the ACRJ was originally planned to be more extensive, covering both the replacement of the east wing and a more involved update of the west wing. The project was scaled back after bids came in several million dollars above expectations because of rising construction costs and tariffs. The ACRJ Authority Board opted to go with the lowest bidder, English Construction in Lynchburg, and then pare down the scope of work to fit within the allocated $49 million…