Initially, HRDE submitted a request for Section 202 funding to construct a senior citizen housing project in Mullens, West Virginia. HUD funded this project; however, funding was cancelled due to a HUD requirement that housing development must be located at least 3,000 feet from a railroad track. The site location is only about 500 feet from a railroad track.
HRDE protested this requirement with our Congressional Delegates; however, at this date, no resolution has been acknowledged. This requirement will, in essence, eliminate the development of HUD-financed housing in Southern WV.
HRDE, in cooperation with the City of Mullens, Wyoming County Commission, and the WV Housing Development Fund, have been exploring other funding possibilities, i.e., WV Housing Development Fund Tax Credit, Union Pension Direct funding, and the National AFL-CIO Investment Trust.
HRDE entered into a lease/purchase agreement for two parcels of land located at First Street and Moran Avenue in downtown Mullens. The City of Mullens deeded a parcel of land to HRDE adjacent to the property for a parking area. When HUD cancelled HRDE’s Section 202 funding, HRDE was forced to exercise their option to purchase said property in view of interest monies invested with the landowners. There are four buildings located on these two sites which had to be razed. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was to pay for destruction of one building and the WV Housing Development Fund provided $100,000 to assist in demolition and removal of asbestos in the other three buildings. The cost of demolition and removal of asbestos was $157,695. HRDE, the City of Mullens, and the Wyoming County Commission worked jointly to negotiate a reasonable (lower) price to purchase the property; therefore, providing monies to demolish the three remaining buildings.
HRDE contracted to have the vacant basement backfill material compacted to 98 percent. The cost of this work was $88,000. The Governor committed $17,095 to the Wyoming County Commission to assist with the cost of preparing this site for construction.
HRDE, the City of Mullens, and the Wyoming County Commission are committed to develop a senior citizen housing project in Mullens. To this end, the Wyoming County Commission approved a request for $100,000 to be allocated to the project by the Legislative Budget Digest. Personally, I want to thank Harold Hayden, Wyoming County Commissioner and UMWA District 17 Treasurer, for his dedication and commitment to this worthy project.
