It’s exciting when projects finally move from the ephemeral world of planning to the tangible world of doing. And the Richwood Avenue development is finally ready to make that transition.
By the end of the year, the 55 structures spread across 9.5 acres along Richwood Avenue should either be down or in the process of coming down, clearing the way for a new development. We hope construction on the new structures follows soon after.
The most exciting thing about the Richwood development is that it’s likely to be the first one that reflects the priorities laid out in the Morgantown 2033 update to the city’s comprehensive plan (whether intentionally or unintentionally).
Morgantown 2033 was crafted over the course of two years by the city’s development services office, the Morgantown Planning Commission and consultant Rhodeside Harwell, based on the ideas and feedback of city residents and stakeholders. In terms of housing and neighborhoods, people said they wanted additional neighborhood retail and healthy food options, affordable housing, a variety of housing options (e.g., one-bedroom, multifamily, accessible units for older adults, etc.) and more programs to support housing affordability options.
During a presentation last week, Jay Rogers of Omni Associates explained the vision for this area adjacent to downtown Morgantown: mixed-use buildings highlighting livability, walkability and sense of place — the kinds of things Morgantown residents have been asking for.
The general idea behind a mixed-use neighborhood is that the area would contain a variety of housing types and, more importantly, would offer some shopping, eating and grocery stores so everything is within walking distance.
In many ways, downtown Morgantown already has this: stores on the bottom floor with apartments on top and a mix of eateries and retail. However, downtown’s businesses are largely dominated by bars and clubs and a thriving night-life, and the upper-floor housing is more suited to college students than year-round residents.
An ideal version would offer a mix of cafes, restaurants, retail shops, small grocery stores and even business offices, with living spaces geared toward young professionals or small families — the kind of places that are bustling during the day and settle down as the evening wears on. This dream neighborhood would allow residents to work, shop, eat and live (or some combination of the above) within a walkable space.
About 30% of Morgantown’s land belongs to WVU, which means there’s limited space to grow. Another 20% is vacant — some of which could be useable and some which isn’t useable at all. Yet another 22% is residential only (mostly single-family houses), which has left Morgantown with some wonderful family-oriented neighborhoods but has also contributed to making this a car-dependent city. And residents have made it clear that they’d appreciate a more walkable town.
We have high hopes that the Richwood development can be the idealized version of the mixed-use neighborhood, where denizens can find that balance between a quiet home and a social epicenter. And if this development succeeds, perhaps it can act as a model for reinventing some of Morgantown’s other neighborhoods in the future.
