May 29, 2024
PARKERSBOURG – The Urban Renewal Authority made no decision Tuesday on a bid to acquire a proposal for a new fire station in Parkersburg.
The authority, which includes all members of the Parkersburg City Council, voted 5-2 to postpone action on the offer to acquire the assets of the former Economy Inn at 1954 Seventh St. for $75,000 at Tuesday’s meeting, which followed the council’s normal consultation.
Clayton Workman, owner of the Monsters Bent Barbell gym at 3011 Seventh St. , made the offer for the property and stated in documents filed with the city that he is “looking to build and expand and have an area for cornhole tournaments. “
At Tuesday’s meeting, Workman said the company hosts competitions with more than 100 people and also supports amputees and recovering communities.
“We’re putting a lot on the table in terms of what we can do for these assets and the region,” he said.
Several members of the gym joined Workman’s candidacy.
Sherry West, a Parkersburg resident, said she lives on the domain and appreciates what Monsters Bent Barbell is doing, but considers $75,000 to be “a low offer” based on what the city spent to get it.
The URA began talks to obtain the assets in the fall of 2022, with officials citing dilapidated situations (only 16 rooms were thought to be safe to occupy) and calls from law enforcement and medics to the assets over the years. a possible site for a new chimney corridor to replace a Depression-era facility at 13th and Liberty streets.
An initial offer at a fair market price of $490,000, which took into account anticipated demolition costs, was higher than the $681,000 from negotiations with the owner, for whom the business was the main source of income. The authority approved the purchase, also by a vote of five to 2. , in August 2023.
The design has since been demolished. Precise figures were not available, but representatives of the city’s progress branch estimated after Tuesday’s assembly that more than $800,000 had been spent on obtaining and cleaning up the site.
“I’d like to see them (Monsters Bent Barbell) continue to thrive, but I don’t think this is the right position to do it,” West said, adding “at this price. “
West also said that if they settle for low offers, she is willing to buy the assets for $120,000.
Urban planner Connor LaVelle said the owner of the adjacent assets had contacted the progression branch to tell them he could not attend Tuesday’s meeting, but also asked for time to make an offer.
Ken Watts, a Parkersburg resident, voiced opposition to the proposed acquisition value and asked if the site is still considered a fire station.
“Mine is: what’s changed?” He said.
This was not discussed at the meeting. The president of the URA, J. R. Carpenter, who said he would promote a move to suspend action on the offer until the June 25 meeting, passed by a 5-2 margin, with Councilmembers Sharon Kuhl and Cathy Dailey against and Councilmembers opposed. Jesse Cottrille and Councilmember Zach Stanley are absent.
After the meeting, Kuhl and Councilmember Mike Reynolds said it was their understanding that assets were still under consideration for the replacement of the chimney corridor and that this bid had not been particularly solicited.
“If we get an offer on a property from URA, we have to communicate that,” Reynolds said.
Development director Ryan Barber said after the assembly that the site is not yet “aggressively marketed” in the authority’s public catalog and that positions have been taken with other stakeholders on the matter.
Workman said he wasn’t sure what to expect from Tuesday’s assembly and would wait to see what would happen next month. As for the objections about the amount of his candidacy, “anyone had the opportunity to make an offer, like me. “he said.
You can contact Evan Bevins at ebevins@newsandsentinel. com
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RIPLEY — The southbound Interstate 77 off-ramp, exit 138, will close in Jackson County at 10 p. m. to. . .
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