KINGWOOD — A $10,000 grant will help move plans for a proposed apartment complex in Rowlesburg to the next phase.
The Preston County Economic Development Authority (PCEDA) and the Woodlands Development Group were given $10,000 by the Downtown Appalachia Redevelopment Initiative through the Natural Capital Investment Fund.
The funds will be used for a floodplain elevation study in preparation for building apartments at the site where a 2017 fire destroyed a house and an apartment building.
The fire started in the house. Firefighters thought it was out, but the next day it rekindled and destroyed the Hollis Building, which held the apartments.
There were no injuries, but more than 20 fire departments and over 100 firefighters fought the blaze and prevented it from spreading throughout downtown Rowlesburg.
Firefighters estimated a half million gallons of water were dumped on the site.
The land was cleared and a group of local residents donated funds to the Tucker Community Foundation to buy the property. The foundation gave the funds to the PCEDA, which obtained the land.
According to a release from the authority, a floodplain elevation study is required, “to determine the elevation height needed to construct the new apartments out of the existing floodplain.”
In August, the authority partnered with the Woodlands Development Group in applying for a FHLBank Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Program Grant to build four, two-bedroom apartments on the site.
Recipients of those grants are announced in December, according to the release.
The Woodlands Group is based in Randolph County, PCEDA Director Robbie Baylor said earlier.
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