BECKLEY (WVVA) – Revitalizing Uptown Beckley was the focus of a public forum with Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, (R) West Virginia, on Wednesday.
The senator's visit comes just days before a special committee is expected to recommend sweeping changes to the city's economic development strategy.
Attorney David Kirkpatrick was among several in attendance on Wednesday. He spoke with Capito about the Neville Street addition, originally part of the Beckley Inter modal Gateway project, but was never completed. "I bought my building in part because of my knowledge of the Neville Street project when Senator Byrd was our senator. The development was supposed to take place in 2004 and 2005.
Years later, Kirkpatrick said Neville street business owners are still waiting on a return. "We're missing an opportunity to interface with the federal government on a lot of these issues where the federal government is the main source of funding. It would have been great if some of our leaders could have stuck their head in today to find out what our options are."
Although Capito said the era of earmarks is over, there is federal funding available. In the coming days, she said she would be working to streamline a list of resources. "We have some beautiful buildings that can be re-purposed and I think that is what these folks are trying to do. I think these folks want to keep a historic perspective on what Beckley brings to the downtown. And there are tax credits available at the federal level. We want to make sure those are preserved," said Capito.
For Jim Chambers, Chair of the Downtown Beckley Business Association, it is about preserving a piece of history and banking on it. Chambers said he is in the process of awaiting a federal assessment grant that could help not only his business but others. "We need to have monthly meetings where we discuss our differences and become one."
As WVVA first reported on Monday night, several sweeping recommendations are expected to be made Monday night, including a proposal to disband the Historic Landmark Commission. The meeting is open to the public and will be held in Beckley Common Council Chambers at 5:05 p.m.