Black Elks site being advertised

By Mallory Panuska
Times West Virginian

FAIRMONT November 21, 2008 11:59 pm

— The former site of an historic downtown building is officially back on the market.
Fairmont officials began advertising bids for the former location of what was once known as the black Elks building and Skinner’s Tavern on the corner of Everest Drive and Cleveland Avenue this week.
In August, the city was forced to have the abandoned, dilapidated structure razed because a section of the parapet wall atop the roof of the building came crashing down into the public right-of-way below, creating a significant public safety hazard.
The city, which took over ownership of the building from the Fairmont Renaissance Corporation when it became an issue, fronted more than $72,000 for the demolition project.
Officials hope they will be able to recoup this cost after the site is purchased and re-developed.
“The idea is that in some form or fashion you will recoup your money,” City Planner Jay Rogers said of sending out the bid request.
Rogers said he directly sent seven proposals to regional developers who had expressed interest in the site and expects to receive a favorable number of bids back on the overall request by the Jan. 19 deadline.
City Manager Jim Snider also said the city hopes to receive responses to this request to have some economic development at the site and commended Rogers for his work in preparing the request and getting in contact with interested developers.
Rogers said pretty much any type of business, residential, community, or mixed-use property can be erected at the site as long as it is in accordance with the historic characteristics and city center zoning of the area.
“It would have to be something that would have to fit in with the historic access of the area, and whatever use it is would have to meet the zoning code,” he said. “It would be something that would add to the downtown area.”
E-mail Mallory Panuska at mpanuska@timeswv.com.