This image provided by the City of Parkersburg shows updated renderings of the proposed recreation center to be built on the site of the pavilion in City Park. (File Photo)
PARKERSBURG — A public hearing on the city’s plan to use an up-to $15 million bond issue to fund construction of a recreation center and replacement fire station will be held during Tuesday’s Parkersburg City Council meeting.
Afterward, council will meet as the Urban Renewal Authority to consider half a dozen offers for a former hotel site on Seventh Street.
The council meeting is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building. The URA meeting follows in the same place.
The public hearing would come before the vote on the final reading of an ordinance authorizing the city to transfer properties for the recreation center and fire station to the Municipal Building Commission, which would issue up to $15 million in revenue bonds to fund the projects. The city would then lease the properties from the commission, with payments going toward the principal, premium and interest for the bonds.
Council has allocated more than $4.4 million for the recreation center. The rest of the money to pay for it and the fire station is planned to come from the city’s debt service fund.
The ordinance does not specify the location of either property, something bond counsel John Stump has said can be added in a supplemental resolution along with the amount of the revenue bonds once bids are received for the projects.
The recreation center was pitched last year as a replacement for the nearly 100-year-old pavilion in City Park. While some residents and council members have expressed opposition to placing the facility there, others have been supportive and Mayor Tom Joyce has said that remains his intent.
Council recently approved the purchase of property in the 700 block of Briant Street, behind Seventh Street United Methodist Church, for $50,000 to serve as the site of a replacement for fire station 3 at 13th and Liberty streets.
An ordinance on first reading would rezone two parcels at Andrew and Liberty streets from residential to business. The change was requested by the property owner, who also owns two adjacent parcels zoned for business, City Planner Connor LaVelle said.
The Urban Renewal Authority agenda includes six offers of $50,000 to $200,000 for 1954 Seventh St. The authority spent more than $800,000 last year to acquire the Economy Inn and demolish it as a means of addressing slum and blight.
It had once been discussed as a possible site for fire station 3. The authority received multiple offers for the property and asked the Development Department to provide a development and marketing proposal for it.
Members decided against placing it up for auction online at this point, Development Director Ryan Barber said.
“We’d like them to make a decision on one of the six (proposals) or none of those six,” he said.
The first offer on the property was made by Monsters Bent Barbell owner Clayton Workman, who proposed buying it for $75,000 and using it to expand his gym and have room for activities like cornhole tournaments.
Subsequent offers came from:
* Aaron Read, the owner of Strong Tower Contracting and Read Properties, who proposed buying it for $125,000 and spending a total of $1.35 million developing an expansion of his contracting business, as well as townhouses and warehousing and storage units.
* Don and Sherry West of West Development LLC, who offered $125,000 and planned to market the site as a commercial property with a focus on national restaurant chains.
* John Bosley Jr., who co-owns multiple area businesses including J.C. Bosley Construction Inc., offered $150,000 and said he would market the property for a restaurant, gas station or commercial establishment.
Two more offers have been received since the authority requested the marketing proposal.
* Paul Astorg, with the Astorg family of automotive dealerships, offered $200,000 to purchase the property and said they would spend $4.25 million constructing a new facility for Hyundai sales, service and parts.
* Joel Wells, of J&W Private Investment, offered $50,000 for the property and proposed a $3.9 million mixed-use development of residential dwellings and commercial space.
Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.