04-03-2025
Downtown rebuild plans unveiled
bluefield
A vision was unveiled Monday for the future of a space created by demolishing seven buildings in downtown Bluefield.
Around 100 residents came to the Bluefield Arts Center for a look at what downtown Bluefield's 400 block could look like in the future. This space was created when the seven buildings which once stood there were demolished for new downtown development opportunities.
The demolition project started back in 2019 with a Brownfield Assessment grant that let the city evaluate downtown structures. In October 2020, the city of Bluefield deeded the properties over to the Bluefield Economic Development Authority.
Work on demolishing the 400 block's buildings began in late February 2024 when the contractor Reclaim started tearing down the old JC Penney building.
It was the first of seven structures slated to be brought down and hauled away. By September that same year, the old Montgomery Ward building which stood over Chicory Square, the setting of many outdoor concerts and festivals, was also gone.
Now the space is open for change.
Landscape architect Samuel Rich with the Thrasher Group in Beckley described the downtown concept.
'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. '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, said Jim Spencer, director of the Bluefield Economic Development Authority.
'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.
There had been a lot of discussions about what people want to see downtown, said Mayor Ron Martin. Some want to see stores such as Dollar General or another grocery store.
'I would encourage everybody to approach this with an open mind and think about the buildings we have left,' Martin said. 'Our city grew vertically and because we're limited in space. Most business transactions now are horizontal, so everybody wants to be on the ground floor.'
In order for other downtown buildings to be vibrant and usable, one idea is having residential space, he said.
'That's the one thing that we don't have in downtown Bluefield other than the (West Virginian) Manor is residential space,' Martin said. 'And in order to have residential space, you have to have green space and you have to have parking so that people feel like they have a home here rather than just being transient and parking on the street and moving here and there and not having space to take their dogs out and that kind of stuff. The plan here focuses on that spot being that green space, being that recreation area where people living downtown can go and enjoy themselves and feel like it's a place they can call home.'
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 on funding. The project's total cost could be over $4 million.
Funding could come from federal, state and other sources, Martin said.
'We've got to get knocking on doors for money,' he said about the search for financing.
Contact Greg Jordan at
gjordan@
