PROGRESS 2025: Bluefield moving closer toward 400 block rebuild effort

Yahoo

29-03-2025

bluefield — Work is expected to begin this summer on Bluefield's long-planned rebuild project for the city's 400 block.
Thrasher Engineering in Beckley was selected last December to complete the final design work for the 400 block rebuild plan, which was unveiled to the public on March 3.
The goal is to see work underway on the 400 block rebuild phase this summer, according to Bluefield Economic Development Authority Executive (BEDA) Director Jim Spencer.
'Summer is still the timeline,' Spencer, who is retiring in April as the BEDA director, said. 'That's our goal.'
The design plans were presented to city residents during an open house forum earlier this month.
Landscape architect Samuel Rich with the Thrasher Group in Beckley described the downtown concept to about 100 residents who attended that meeting on March 3.
'We have been tasked by the Bluefield Economic Development Authority to develop a concept plan for the redevelopment of the 400 block plaza here in downtown Bluefield,' Rich said. 'And a lot of this is focused on creating an events space or a mixed use green space for the downtown area that would be an aesthetic destination for visitors or residents of the area to utilize. It's kind of reactivating this whole downtown area by programing it with events which would take place on a weekly basis and special events on the weekends and also giving a place for downtown workers and residents to utilize a green space.'
'It will have a performance stage and restrooms as well as just a lot of unprogrammed green space that will be utilized as the seating during events or just a space to pass a Frisbee or hang out with your dog,' Rich said in describing the plans. 'We're wanting to program it so it can have events like a Christmas festival or other types of events like farmers markets or food festivals.'
The downtown square concept includes having food trucks or tour buses parked on Raleigh Street, which could be closed during events, Rich said.
The project's goals include downtown revitalization, encouraging private investment and creating a community and destination space, Spencer said.
'We're trying to create a new Bluefield, a new economy based off of our assets and things like that,' Spencer said.
Under the current plan, Scott Street, which is along the 400 block would be closed to make more space for the new square.
The project will take time to develop and will require additional funding, according to Bluefield Mayor Ron Martin.
The project's first phase, creating the green space landscaping, could begin within 12 months, Rich said. How long the project will take to complete will depend upon available funding. The project's total cost would be over $4 million.
Funding could come from federal, state and other sources, Martin told the crowd gathered at the March 3 public forum.
'We've got to get knocking on doors for money,' Martin said about the search for financing.
A number of abandoned structures along the 400 block, including the former JcPenney and Montgomery Ward buildings, were demolished last summer. The third and final phase of the project calls for a rebuild of the 400 block, which is now a largely flat and grassy area.
Spencer said the grass was planted last fall.
'It looks great,' Spencer said of the flat new section of the downtown. 'The grass is coming in real well. It has changed the whole look of the downtown.'
BEDA's goal is to use the new 400 block as an anchor and an attraction for other developments in the city's downtown.
For example, Spencer said several existing structures located near the 400 block, which are currently vacant, could be utilized by prospective businesses, including the former Elk and Landmark buildings, both of which are owned by the city of Bluefield.
The overall goal for the project is downtown revitalization, encouraging private investment and the creation of community and destination space.
'That's the three goals of this project,' Spencer said. 'Because with the concept we are doing here now other developers may be interested in other businesses around the 400 block. So this could be an anchor.'
The downtown abatement/demolition/rebuild project began in late 2023 with the removal of asbestos and other hazardous materials from seven vacant structures along the 400 block.
The demolition phase of the project began on February 26, 2024, as demolition crews tore into the brick walls of the old JcPenney building.
Contractors started at the top of each building and worked their way down. The last building to come down was the eight-story Montgomery Ward building.
Planning for the 400 block project actually dates back to 2019. That is when a Brownfield Assessment grant was awarded that allowed the city to review several structures, including those that were later demolished along the 400 block.
On October 6, 2020, the Bluefield Board of Directors voted to deed the 400 Block to the Bluefield Economic Development Authority.
As the demolitions got underway, Bluefield residents spoke with the Daily Telegraph and recalled what life was once like at the 400 block.
Doris Sue Kantor of Bluefield remembered when the demolitions got underway that a Trailways Bus station operated years ago at the 400 block.
She said at the time that she recalled that her father, the late Judge Jerome Katz, practiced law there. Businesses long-time Bluefield residents can remember such as Steckler's Men's Shop and the Kresge's store — known for its lunch counter and fresh doughnuts — once stood there as well.
Spencer later said longtime residents have told him how buses used to drive under the 400 block's buildings in order to reach streets on the opposite side, adding he would like to see photographs that were taken when this was possible.
Although not a part of the 400 block project, two additional buildings located in very close proximity to the 400 block will be coming down this summer.
The city of Bluefield and the Bluefield Economic Development Authority announced in February that they were seeking bids for asbestos abatement and the demolition of structures located at 200 and 210 Bland Street. The structures are the former Communications Workers of America building and the former Bland Ferri building.
'This project has been on the plate for several years, and so I made an application on behalf of the city for a Community Development Block Grant for the abatement and demo, and that is a West Virginia grant,' Spencer said. 'So it was funded and we had to go through the typical regular review.'
Spencer said the two structures to be torn down are owned by the city, but BEDA is assisting with the effort.
Both the old Communications Workers of America building and the Bland Ferri building have been vacant for years.
'Especially the Bland Ferri building, it's been vacant for as long as I can remember,' Spencer said. 'That building is in pretty bad shape.'
The hope is to begin the new demolitions by this summer. The tentative plan is to create additional parking in the area for future growth that is planned at the 400 block rebuild site and the former Landmark Antique building, which is located adjacent to the former Communications Workers of America building.
Spencer said the city would like to see a new business move into the former Landmark Antiques building.
'The plan is to use the Landmark and other vacant businesses downtown,' Spencer said. 'We are trying to attract businesses.'
Once demolition work begins on the 200 and 210 Bland Street structures, Spencer said all necessary traffic control efforts will be implemented at that time.
Contact Charles Owens at [e-mail]