The Building Removal and Renovation (BR2) Initiative seeks to identify and rank abandoned, unused, and dilapidated non-residential structures in a 17-county target area and prepare selected structures and associated properties for rehabilitation or demolition. The target area extends across multiple regions of the mountain state and includes the following counties identified by ARC as distressed: Barbour, Boone, Braxton, Calhoun, Clay, Gilmer, Lincoln, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Roane, Summers, Webster, Wetzel, Wirt, and Wyoming.
Structures and associated property will be evaluated from multiple perspectives, including structural integrity, environmental site conditions, potentially including but not limited to Phase I and Phase II Environmental Site Assessments to determine environmental conditions, plus site-specific evaluations including asbestos, lead-based paint and/or mold inspections. Initial structure and/or site redevelopment planning activities and estimated remediation and/or rehabilitation costs will also be included in this initiative.
This initiative will occur over a two-year period and will prepare the highest-ranking structures and associated sites with relevant information and knowledge for educated decisions to be made on proceeding with obtaining future funding for renovation or demolition activities. For more information or to request an application, contact the West Virginia Brownfields Assistance Center at Marshall University at 304-696-6048 or by sending an email to Mark Buchanan, Project Coordinator at Buchanan7@marshall.edu.