In an effort to recruit and retain teachers as well as encourage economic development in McDowell County, W.Va., the Reconnecting McDowell partnership purchased a long-abandoned property May 12 in downtown Welch, W.Va., that will become apartment-style housing for teachers and other professionals.
Reconnecting McDowell purchased the former Best Furniture and Katzen buildings and attached parking lots for $92,000. "This is an enormous step forward in Reconnecting McDowell's goal to attract great teachers to McDowell, to encourage them to stay and become integral members of the community, and to reinvigorate the economy in McDowell County," says AFT President Randi Weingarten.
The partnership's board of directors will decide at its next meeting whether to demolish the Best Furniture and Katzen buildings for new construction or to totally renovate the existing buildings. Groundbreaking will follow shortly thereafter. Financing for the construction is being put together now.
"Welch hasn't had any substantial new housing construction in decades. Today's purchase of the Best Furniture property is the start of what I hope will be an economic revitalization of a historic and important West Virginia community. Reconnecting McDowell brings hope and tangible, sustainable programs that are truly changing lives," says Welch Mayor Reba Honaker.
Community Housing Partners Design Studio of Christiansburg, Va., will design the Teachers Village, which will include about 30 housing units, areas for residents to collaborate and relax, and community amenities such as a street-level coffee shop. Community Housing Partners specializes in constructing affordable, green, sustainable housing. McDowell public schools have struggled for years with teacher vacancies, due in large part to a lack of available housing in the county.