CHARLESTON, W.Va. — Leaders of the Charleston Area Alliance have plans to meet soon with the new owners of Charleston’s Laidley Tower.
Seattle-based Bridge33 Capital recently purchased the 18-story premier office space.
“They’re going to be in town the next couple of weeks and they’ve asked to meet with us,” Charleston Area Alliance Executive Director Matt Ballard said. “We want to work together and understand their plans to fill up that Class A space.”
The office tower, one of Charleston’s most prominent downtown high rise office buildings, is carrying a vacancy rate around 25 to 30 percent. Filling those vacancies is the goal of both Ballard and the new owners.
“We want the jobs and they want the revenue,” said Ballard. “It’s still a beautiful building with great views and I think it’s attractive to a lot of great companies.”
However, since the downturn in the coal industry, Laidley and other office real estate in downtown Charleston has suffered. The building in the past has been the home for a lot of the behind the scenes work within a coal company and as those have downsized and moved out of West Virginia the need for the office space has gone with them.
Ballard hopes new industry now starting to slowly move into the region will be interested. The high tech companies are among those he thinks would utilize the space. Ballard said those tied to the N3 operation at the West Virginia Regional Technology Park in South Charleston may be looking for the space.
“It’s Class A space so it’s a little more pricey. Small businesses probably can’t afford that type of space,” he said. “You really need a little more mature-type business.”