HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Calling the acquisition of the ACF Industries site the most significant real estate transaction to occur in Huntington in the last 50 years, Mayor Steve Williams was thrilled for the city to receive federal Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) brownfields funding to move the site redevelopment forward.
On Thursday, the EPA announced 155 grants for communities and tribes totaling over $65.6 million including eight in West Virginia equaling $3.2 million through the agency’s Assessment, Revolving Loan Fund, and Cleanup Grant Programs.
The City of Huntington was awarded $350,000 that will be used for an environmental site assessment and reuse/clean up of the 42-acre ACF Industries site close to 3rd Avenue near Marshall along the Ohio River.
ACF Industries was founded in 1871 and was used to manufacture, repair, and service rail cars, but has been idle for the past 20 years. It was purchased by the Huntington Municipal Development Authority in 2019.
Cornerstone Community Development Corporation received $462,590 grant to clean up the 13-story national historic Pritchard Building in the designed opportunity zone in downtown Huntington.
“What’s fascinating about this is we have two distinctly historically unique properties that are having an opportunity to be repurposed,” Williams said during a virtual announcement with EPA leaders.
“The opportunity that we have with the ACF property is to create Huntington as the economic gateway to the Appalachian region. This is going to be highly successful because of its proximity to Marshall University, right next to Highlawn neighborhood and right on the Ohio River valley.”
Williams was also pleased about the funding for the Pritchard Building, calling it a “cornerstone” to the $36 million development in that federal opportunity zone. The building was constructed in 1926 and operated as a hotel until the 1970s. Later uses include office space, storefronts, and apartments, but it currently is vacant.
Cosmo Servidio, the Regional Administrator for the EPA’s Region 3 office said the funds for the Pritchard Building will go towards removal asbestos, mold, lead-based paint, and outdating lighting fixtures containing PCBs.
“The new redevelopment will include commercial businesses, healthcare and community center space on the ground level, lower floor, and senior citizen housing on upper floors,” Servidio said.
“Reuse plans will create premium retail space for new businesses and new jobs.”
Other state entities receiving EPA brownfield grants included WVDEP’s Division of Land Restoration ($300,000), Braxton County Development Authority ($300,000), The West Virginia Land Stewardship Corporation ($500,000), New River Gorge Regional Development Authority ($442,320), Brooke-Hancock Region XI Regional Planning and Development Council ($600,000), and West Virginia University Research Corporation ($300,000).
In a release, the WVDEP said the focus of their grant application was the central Kanawha River Valley, extending from Nitro to Belle, but the grant funding can be used anywhere in the state.
WVDEP is engaged with local partners to identify potential brownfield sites for assessment and redevelopment. Those partners include Advantage Valley, the Northern West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center, the Charleston Area Alliance, Charleston Main Streets, the City of South Charleston, the Nitro Development Authority, the Town of Belle, and the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University.
“Revitalizing hazardous work sites and repurposing them for new businesses is exactly the type of innovation that will help to create new jobs and grow our state’s economy,” said Congresswoman Carol Miller (WV-03) said in a release.
“I am pleased to see Administrator Wheeler and the entire EPA continue to prioritize our communities. Together we will make West Virginia a safer, healthier, and economically stronger place to live, work, and raise a family.”
U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito said in a release, “It’s great to see this funding coming to West Virginia to help support clean-up projects and assessments of our state’s Brownfield sites. West Virginia is known for the natural beauty of our landscape, making it even more important that we preserve our land for future generations.
In a release on Thursday, U.S. Senator Joe Manchin said, “Every West Virginian deserves fresh air to breathe and clean water to drink. This funding will be used on projects across the Mountain State that are vital to rebuilding our communities and growing the state economy. I am pleased the EPA is investing in our state and I look forward to seeing the progress made across West Virginia.”