Housing project coming to City of Bluefield

BLUEFIELD, W.Va . (WVVA) - The City of Bluefield announced its plan to construct a series of houses near city hall, hopefully bringing more residents and business to the area.

This multi-phase housing project is coming to the City of Bluefield with funds from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh to entice people to move closer to the downtown area.

“We want to bring new value to the neighborhood. We want to increase property value so that it makes sense for more homes to get built, because historically the city has seen a historic lack of investment in new housing and we really need new housing,” said Trenton Burnette, GIS Analyst for the City of Bluefield.

Phase 1 consists of ten houses built by contract, with the plan being seven 2-bedroom homes and three 3-bedroom homes, five of which are designated for veterans or special needs individuals.

“Overall, I think for the people who’ve served our country and for people who really have those needs, we can do better to meet those needs,” continued Burnette.

The location is the block between Ramsey Street and Durhing Street in downtown Bluefield. However, the catch with this construction is the possible demolition of a historic church on that same land.

“It wouldn’t have to be. It’s just in the preliminary designs it is removed from the area. There have been a fair number of people or residents within the community that would love to see it saved. Currently we just do not have the funding to save it,” said Curtis French, Assistant Deputy Director and City Engineer for the City of Bluefield.

When it comes to the actual structure of the houses, French assured that the new constructions will fit right in.

“They’re going to look like the buildings that were there, you know, fifty years ago, sixty years ago. We’re not intending to do anything modern, we want it to look like a neighborhood that Bluefield has always had. We want it to be built in to exemplify the area in which they stand,” said French.

And as the city prepares for this sizeable project, spirits are high.

“We’re excited about this project and we hope that it brings more like into this community,” added Burnette.

French said that these homes are to own, not rent, and that the other five homes not designated for special needs individuals or veterans will be for those who meet income levels and with a requirement to take classes in home ownership.

The city will also be implementing a management structure, said Burnette, to ensure the upkeep of the homes’ aesthetic, which will include grass being cut by the city.

WVVA will continue to follow this story as it develops.

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