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Redevelopment in Paden City Continues

Residents Asked to Give Input City Park Ideas

By Shelley Hanson - Staff Writer | Oct 3, 2024

(Photo by Shelley Hanson) The American Legion’s new home is shown on Main Street in Paden City. The Legion is waiting for its occupancy permit from the state fire marshal’s office before opening.

The Paden City Development Authority is continuing its bid to redevelop and improve the city.

A recently completed project is the American Legion Post 86’s work to renovate its new home, a building owned by the authority, said Cork Bowen, director of the Paden City Development Authority.

Bowen said the development authority was given the Main Street building by former Paden City resident Mike Alexander. The authority cleaned it out and put a new roof on it.

“The American Legion guys in town had been wandering without a building. They had a lot of members that would like to come back so they approached us,” Bowen said

The authority ended up renting the building to the Legion for free for a year while members, volunteers and others renovated the inside.

“They’ve turned it into a showpiece. They put in a new bar. It will be a real feature for the city. People can have steak fries there, they can stop in for sandwiches,” Bowen said. “When they open up it will be a nice uplifting thing for the city.”

Bowen said the work is done, but the Legion must wait for its occupancy permit to be approved by the state fire marshal.

Bowen said the most visible redevelopment site lately has been the razing of the old Dollar General store. A new Dollar General Market will be constructed on the same site. It is expected to be completed early winter 2025.

Bowen is happy that the market is coming to the city, which he described as a “food desert” because of the current lack of options for fresh food to buy in the city. He noted he called the company a couple years ago, asking for a DG Market.

“We have nothing here. They did bring in canned food and milk, but to have a market … people from Sistersville will even come up here,” he said.

Bowen said Dollar General leases the land from a company in Pittsburgh.

Meanwhile, seven privately-owned lots located near the Dollar General site are also being marketed for redevelopment. Bowen said the Wetzel County Health Department is considering moving there to build a new facility. However, if that does not come to fruition Bowen said residents would like it if a new restaurant was built there. Currently, Paden City has just two sit-down eateries – Tasty Freeze and a Chinese restaurant.

The former school building where the health department is located now is owned by the authority and has some other tenants. The authority recently had a new roof installed, good for 20 years.

“It replaces a 30-year-old foam roof that had begun to leak and cause issues for some of the tenants,” Bowen said. “Before a new roof installation could begin, an old air conditioner weighing 2 tons and a large communication dish had to be lifted off the approximately 6,000 square foot roof. Once that was done, the large hole created by the AC removal had to be permanently capped and the compressors for the functioning AC units placed upon it.”

Bowen noted the project was funded by the Wetzel and Tyler County Commissions and the authority. Tenants include Youth Services System, American Job Center and the Wetzel-Tyler Health Department.

Bowen said he is thankful for the commissioners’ help there and at the Paden City Industrial Park. New roofs have been installed on more than 70,000 square feet of space.

“Currently, the PCDA owns and manages over 160,000 square feet of rental space,” he said, adding there are seven tenants employing about 30 people.

“There really is a good bit going on down here,” Bowen said. “We continue to do things here at the development authority.”

For example, last weekend a group of vocational technology students installed the electrical wiring needed in a new building located at the authority’s Paden City Industrial Park site.

The authority is also making some money by renting space for people to park their RVs, boats and other vehicles during the winter there. About 120 vehicles use the space annually.

The authority also continues to remediate soil at the Paden City Park.

Meanwhile, remediation work has been completed at the Paden City Industrial Park. The authority is seeking a final certificate from the West Virginia DEP declaring that the site has been cleaned up and is ready for development. Having this certificate, Bowen added, will be like having the “Good Housekeeping seal of approval,” and signal to companies that the site is safe and ready to use.

“We’ve made a commitment to keep these properties maintained and viable for a major tenant to move in, light manufacturing or housing,” he said.

Also, Bowen said the authority is in the middle of collecting opinions for its Paden City Park Long Range Usage Plan to renovate and improve the park. People can contribute by doing the survey at: https://form.jotform.com/242246008392049. Hard copies are available at the Paden City Water Department/Recorder’s Office.

“The Paden City Development Authority received an EPA Brownfields Assessment Grant in July of 2022,” he said. “The grant was for $500,000 and could be used to assess properties in Paden City for future development. The PCDA selected two firms to assist in utilizing the grant. The Thrasher Group, Inc. and Environmental Standards, Inc.”

Bowen said Phases 1 and 2 for the environmental assessment were conducted on the upper portion of the park, including the south end of the walking trail to the north – about 25 acres in total.

“The Phase 2 assessment was more extensive and required several soil samples and water collection points. The data is now being analyzed and will be used by the consultant to design and mitigate any possible contaminants,” he said. “The Park & Pool Committee is now soliciting input from all citizens in Paden City and visitors of the park. They want to know what people would like to see in the park and what needs to be enhanced.”

Bowen noted the grant does not include funding for renovations.

“However, having a Phase I and II completed and a Long Range Usage Plan will allow Paden City a favorable place in line for government grants and donations,” he said.