CHARLESTON, W.Va. — The West Virginia Parkways Authority has purchased the former Moose Lodge on Kanawha Boulevard in Charleston for its new headquarters.
Parkways Authority Executive Director Chuck Smith shared the news during a budget hearing Monday before some members of the House Finance Committee.
Smith said the current headquarters, located on Piedmont Road in Charleston, has a number of limitations.
“We are in a facility that is not ADA-accessible for the general public, people have a difficult time finding us, the customers can’t get into the building quite easily and none of our upper levels are accessible to ADA compliance,” Smith said.
The purchase price was $700,000 with estimated renovations of $8 million. It’s expected to take a few years to get he building ready.
Del. Daniel Linville, R-Cabell, wondered if Parkways couldn’t have found a cheaper option like leasing space or building on existing Parkways property somewhere along the West Virginia Turnpike.
“For what reason would we place the headquarters not along the areas that it’s being served or as part and parcel of the other construction operations are going on?”
Smith said Parkways Authority bylaws require the headquarters to be the Port Amherst area of Charleston. He also said the purchase of an existing building was the cheapest option. Smith told lawmakers Parkways would not overspend on the project.
“This facility, I can give you my word, will be fiscally conservative. It will be responsible and we will only renovate the areas inside the facility, as we need to, as we grow to keep costs down,” Smith said.
The Parkways Authority gave approval for the purchase back in December.
Smith said construction continues on the new Morton Travel Plaza. He was asked a few questions about the $127 million total cost for the new plazas up and operating at Tamarack and Bluestone.
“Do I think the travel plazas were a good investment for West Virginia? Absolutely. Do I think the price tag was high? Yes, like anything that was built during that post-covid area. I won’t deny that,” Smith said.
Smith took over the Parkways Authority last summer after the toll plaza projects were completed.
Shifting of workers
Smith also told committee members he anticipates of shift of toll plaza workers to customer service positions as the Parkways Authority continues to improve technology when it comes to tolling. He even mentioned one day the possibility of eliminating the toll plazas and going fully to electronic tolling.