MORGANTOWN — The city of Morgantown is set to tear down two structures located in the heart of its Wharf District previously identified as an “obstacle to development.”
Earlier this month, Morgantown City Council approved a $27,200 contract with Badger Construction for asbestos abatement, demolition and restoration of land at 59 Donley St. and 64 Hogue St.
Interim City Manager Damien Davis said the city is using grant funds provided through the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection’s Dilapidated Properties Program to raze the homes, which sit back-to-back a few feet from one another.
According to the Monongalia County Parcel viewer available through the county assessor’s website, both properties have multiple owners listed including Chia-Chi Wang and Mei-Ling Lucia.
The 59 Donley property is .06 acres upon which sits a 1,380 square-foot, two story home that was built in 1930. The total appraised value of the land and structure is $42,600.
The 64 Hogue property is .05 acres and a 1,344 square-foot, 100-year-old, two story house. The total appraised value is $35,500.
Both structures are condemned and have been vacant for years, according to Davis.
“I remember them as an obstacle to development in that area if not mistaken, way back when,” Councilor Bill Kawecki said. “We’re going to knock down the buildings but they’ll still be an obstacle to development because we don’t own the property.”
It was explained that the city will place a lien on the properties for the cost to raze the structures and restore the land.
The city could potentially acquire the properties by foreclosing on the lien once all other means of collecting payment have been exhausted.
“The building official has issued a demolition order under the building code, which directs the owners of the buildings to demolish the buildings because they’re structurally unsound. The owner hasn’t complied with that order and that’s what allows the city, pursuant to building code, to enter and demolish,” Attorney Ryan Simonton said. “The building code also does authorize the city to place a lien for costs incurred. Obviously, no guarantee as to any future use of the property. This is purely an issue with correcting deficiencies with those structures.”
