Editor’s note: The state Council on Community and Technical Colleges will vote again on the BridgeValley master plan at its June meeting after it was learned that because of an oversight, Thursday’s meeting did not meet the state’s public meeting notice requirements. The council next meets on June 9 at WVU Parkersburg.
CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The state Council on Community and Technical Colleges gave its approval to Thursday to a BridgeValley Community and Technical College master plan that calls for the demolition of several buildings on the former WVU Tech campus in Montgomery over the next three years.
The demolition would take the current 298,000 square feet BridgeValley owns in Montgomery to 93,000 square feet.
BridgeValley’s Board of Governors previously approved the plan. CTC Council members heard a detailed report on the current conditions of the buildings and why BridgeValley believes demolition would be the best option for some.
Council President Bob Brown voted in favor of the resolution but said it was bitter sweet.
“As a former student at West Virginia Tech it saddens me to see what’s happening to the campus and Montgomery but time does not stand still,” Brown said.
Demolition plans are in place for Westmoreland Hall, GRID (engineering lab building), Pathfinder (engineering classroom building), Ratliff Hall, Printing Innovation Center, Morris Creek Watershed building, former Brown Chevrolet building and a single-family residence.
Most of the buildings were given to BridgeValley by WVU.
“The excessive space in Montgomery will eventually strain BridgeValley’s finances and is not prudent or sustainable,” the master plan said.
BridgeValley President Casey Sacks told MetroNews earlier this month that BridgeValley will continue to have a footprint in Montgomery including programs such as dental hygiene, civil engineering and diesel mechanic.
“We have a few things that are boutique in that area. We plan on staying, it’s just that we don’t need nearly 1,700 square feet per person,” she said.
Brown said he was impressed with the time and effort put into the master plan by BridgeValley officials.
“I know that the state council has been wrestling with several different proposed master plans over the last four or five years and I think this is the best I’ve seen,” Brown said.