BAD Buildings: A Community Based Approach to Abandoned & Dilapidated Structures

Population: 1.8 million Size: 24,230 square miles in a memorable shape 48 th in Median Household Income 96% white City populations: two largest – 50,000 Largest employer: Wal-Mart Where and What Is West Virginia

Bechtel Boy Scout Summit Two Coolest Small Towns in America Fast growing Eastern Panhandle Natural gas boom Strong tourism and outdoors economy Where and What Is West Virginia

i.Housing growth in WV increased by only 4% from 2000 – 2010 ii.13.4% of those are vacant iii.More than 70% were built before 1970 iv.Homeownership rate higher than national average v.Over 58,000 vacant residential buildings WV Housing Stats

Small, tightly knit communities Large numbers of BAD buildings Heavy infrastructure costs Limited traditional funding sources Lack of landfill availability Little local capacity - to mobilize the community to establish and enforce codes to manage a BAD Building program Communities without codes and ordinances (property owners have no incentive to be proactive) West Virginia’s Challenges

Small, tightly knit communities! Cleaning up a few BAD buildings can make a significant impact and build momentum Growing awareness on property value and community and economic development Huge local return on investment ($33 in return for every $1 invested in demolition in Huntington, WV) West Virginia’s Opportunities

Wheeling: Showing Success in WV Nancy Prager Economic and Community Development Department

Town Hall Discussion

Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center - serves northern 33 counties Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University - serves southern 22 counties

– Where are the connections? – How are they similar and different? – What works? Brownfields and BAD Buildings

Transplanting Wheeling Success Programmatic Components 1.Build awareness 2.Teach a comprehensive programmatic approach 3.Illustrate ability to see results without having everything in place 4.Build a community of communities

Solution?

BAD Building Model 1.Form BAD Building Team 2.Inventory community’s BAD Buildings 3.Prioritize inventory 4.Create list of recommended actions 5.Begin next steps implementation

Town Hall Discussion Patrick Kirby Director, NBAC Luke Elser Project Manager, NBAC Nancy Prager Director Economic and Community Development City of Wheeling