EDITORIAL:Coming down: Finishing the 400 block in 270 days

Jan. 17—Buildings which were big parts of Bluefield's downtown, but have stood empty for years, could start coming down once the city of Bluefield finalizes a contract for large-scale demolition.

During a recent meeting of the Bluefield Board of Directors, City Attorney Anthony Heltzel said a demolition contract with the low bidder, Reclaim, should be finalized soon. Heltzel stated that Reclaim is the same company that finished the abatement of the 400 block during the first phase of the project last year.

Once a contract is finalized, it will go to the Bluefield Economic Development Authority (BEDA) board for final approval, Heltzel said. BEDA is overseeing the three-phase 400 block abatement/demolition/rebuild project.

After this contract is approved, the contractor will have 270 days to complete the downtown demolition project, Heltzel stated. Several structures will be torn down, including the former JcPenny building that more recently housed the Bluewell Wellness Center. Another one of the buildings to come down — the old Montgomery Ward building — is an eight-story structure.

Reclaim anticipates getting the structures down sooner than the stipulated 270 days. City Manager Cecil Marson has reminded the public that BEDA Executive Director Jim Spencer is still accepting ideas for rebuilding the 400 block space from citizens.

"Mr. Spencer is soliciting recommendations for what the 400 block should be once that demolition is done," Marson said at last week's city board meeting. "So we would like your feedback. What is the vision from you and you specifically for what that should be."

Spencer has asked citizens to submit their rebuild ideas to him via email to jspencer@bluewv.org.

Once the demolitions are completed, the resulting space will create a canvas for ideas that will transform downtown Bluefield and bring even more life into that district.

This space opened up for development will add to the impressive work which has been done already. The Granada Theater is bringing movies and live shows to downtown Bluefield and the new Raleigh Street Cinemas have given the public even more opportunities for entertainment. There are quality restaurants serving the theater goers and shoppers coming to the downtown. The space will also complement the arrival of Intuit and Alorcia in the downtown.

A lot has been done to bring new and updated parking to downtown Bluefield, and the opening of space on the 400 block could bring even more. This will make working and shopping in Bluefield even easier.

Another possible option is to bring more green space to the downtown. Removing the tall buildings will let more sunlight reach the streets and take away shadows. Imagine green spaces with trees and attractive landscaping. By incorporating the stage and seating which exist already in Chicory Square, downtown Bluefield could become a venue for large outdoor concerts and festivals.

The people living in and around the city of Bluefield can offer even more ideas for utilizing the space that will be opening up on the 400 block. A block of space is a blank canvas which offers all sorts of possibilities. It offers opportunities to create assets which will make downtown Bluefield more appealing to visitors such as the ATV tourists that come through almost every day hauling their four-by-fours to and from the nearby Hatfield-McCoy Trail.

It will be a big and positive change. Certainly the ideas an emptied 400 block can accommodate will be more appealing than aging buildings which have stood empty for years. The citizens of Bluefield can do their part for the downtown by exercising their creativity and sharing their ideas.

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com