BLUEFIELD, W.Va. — There remain several more days of debris removal but for all intents and purposes the 400 block of Federal Street in downtown Bluefield is gone following a major demolition project.
The Bluefield Economic Development Authority hired a contractor that began the work of tearing down and removing the debris from seven buildings. The last building is now on the ground, the 8-story Montgomery Ward building.
Bluefield Community and Economic Development Director Jim Spencer said the project has been in the works for years. He said first the city purchased the properties and then turned them over to his group. Spencer said he hopes a decision on what to do next in the 400 block will be come in about 60 days.
“I think the leading candidate is a super nice greenspace that would allow a place for an amphitheater, musical festival, things like that and also a food truck park in the downtown,” Spencer told MetroNews.
There 400 block is right across the street from the Intuit Prosperity Hub operated by Alorica that has more than 200 workers.
“This site is right beside them, so having a park there and the other folks working in the downtown to be able to go and enjoy things, music on Friday nights, something like that. We want to have something that is a draw for all ages as an anchor for the downtown,” Spencer said.
Demolishing a whole city block wasn’t a decision made lightly, Spencer said.
“We need to honor our history but we can’t live in the past,” he said. “You could walk close to these buildings and smell mold, to be quite honest with you, it’s a problem. We knew all along that although we love our history and it would be nice to save these they’re just too far gone.”
Future development
Spencer said efforts to improvement regional development are underway. He said the legislature’s passage this year of SB 354 allows for the creation of regional economic development authorities.
Spencer said the new law will bring about the creation of the Central Appalachian Highway Development Authority that will focus on development along the King Coal Highway from Bluefield to Huntington.
“These roads and things we’re doing we need to project for the future not just look where we are now,” he said.