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North Downtown includes the Downtown Mall and the areas north of the Mall, including the Park Street area and the McIntire Road area. The neighborhood is situated between the CSX railroad and the 250 bypass. Ridge-McIntire Road and the Norfolk Southern railroad form the western edge of North Downtown. In addition to the Downtown Mall mixed commercial/ residential area, the city and county courts and government buildings are located in North Downtown.

This neighborhood also contains a regional library, a post office, many churches, parks and public open spaces and McGuffy Art Center. North Downtown offers a variety of housing opportunities, including single family homes, condominiums, and apartments. Single family homes characterize the streets north of High Street, while condominiums and apartment buildings are scattered throughout the southern portion of the neighborhood and surround the Downtown Mall. Many historic homes have been lovingly restored for residences throughout the neighborhood and upper stories of commercial buildings have been renovated for apartments.

At the center of the North Downtown neigh-borhood is historic Court Square, the oldest portion of the City of Charlottesville. Settled around the Albemarle County Courthouse, some of the buildings date to the 1800's. Court Square was the first commercial center.

The contemporary heart of the community is the Downtown Mall, a nine block portion of Main Street which is closed to automobiles. The Downtown Mall, designed by Lawrence Halprin, was constructed in the early 1970's. The Downtown Mall today is home to financial institutions, a variety of restaurants, and an eclectic array of specialty shops and entertainment opportunities. Community festivals and concerts are conducted in the amphitheater at the east end of the Downtown Mall.