At its Dec. 2 meeting, the West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors voted to sell the college’s Downtown Center properties located at 707 and 709 Market Street.
Parkersburg Brewing Company, a small locally owned micro brewing company, provided the sole proposal to purchase 707 Market Street for a brewery and wholesale and retail sales outlet. The purchase was approved for $251,000. The Mid-Ohio Valley Area Development Corporation provided the sole proposal to purchase 709 Market Street. The Board approved the purchase for $210,500, allowing the organization to relocate and expand services to the region.
After exploring various options to utilize the Downtown Center building, which was donated to the college by The Erickson Foundation in 2008, WVU Parkersburg determined that the most cost effective measure would be to sell the properties. The money from these sales will go into a capital improvement fund. The proceeds from the sale will be placed in a fund controlled by the West Virginia Community and Technical College System and will be dispersed upon the system’s approval for capital projects.
“This money will allow us to make necessary updates to college facilities to ensure that we are providing the best environment possible to provide an excellent education,” said Dr. Fletcher Lamkin, WVU Parkersburg president. “We feel strongly that this was the right decision, both for the college and for the community. The purchases of these properties should help revitalize downtown Parkersburg and hopefully encourage other entities to expand business in the area.”
