City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan

May 1, 2001

1168 North Main Street Bowling Green, Ohio 419.352.7537 fax 419.353.0187 Contents

Acknowledgements 1 Elderly Households Map 39 Female Heads of Households with Children Introduction 3 Map 41 Chapter 1 Vision 2020 5 Homeless Households 43 Chapter 2 Natural Environment 9 Parks, Recreation & Open Space 43 Topography 9 Schools 46 Geology 9 Libraries 47 Soils 9 Cultural and Entertainment Opportunities 40 Climate 9 Serious Crime Offenses Reported in Beckley, Watersheds 10 West Virginia 49 Drainage Areas 10 Law Enforcement Facilities 49 Floodplains 10 Traffic and Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics 50 Area Topography Map 11 Fire Protection Facilities 52 Chapter 3 Socioeconomic Conditions 13 Healthcare Facilities 53 Churches and Civic Organizations 53 Historic Roots of Beckley 13 Central Business District 15 Chapter 5 Trends 55 Population Characteristics 16 Population Projections 55 Select Demographic Information 17 Employment and Income Trends 56 Employment Traits of the Community 18 1990 - 2020 Population Growth Estimates Business Development 18 Unemployment Rates 1990 to 1999 57 Labor Force Employed by Service Industry 19 Urban Sprawl/Urban Revitalization 58 Income 20 Commuting in Larger Urban Areas 59 Travel To Work 21 Shifts in Preferences on Where to Live 59 Household Wealth 22 Shrinking Demand for Retail Space 60 Taxation 22 Telecommuting 60 Housing 23 Future Influences on Cities 61 Important Local Trends 61 Chapter 4 Quality of Life 25 Historic and Archaeologically-Significant Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design 63 Resources 25 Residential Land Use 63 Prehistoric History and Architecture 25 Commercial Land Use 63 Courthouse Square Historic District 25 Industrial Land Use 63 Other Historical Areas 26 Generalized Existing Land Use Map 65 Households Living in Poverty Map 27 Current Zoning 67 Social Health (Special Needs Populations) 29 Generalized Existing Zoning Map 67 Residents Living in Poverty 29 Open Space, Parks, and Recreation 69 Public Assistance 30 Adjacent Land Uses 70 LMI Persons 33 Infrastructure 70 Raleigh County Median Family Income Limits Gas and Electric Utility Availability 70 33 Water 70 Elderly Households 30 Sewer 71 Households Receiving Public Assistance Map Cable Television and Telecommunications 31 Providers 72 LMI Map 35 Significant Environmental Limitations for Elderly Households 35 Development 73 Female-headed Households 37 Key Gateway and Corridor Locations 73 Mentally Disabled/Physically Handicapped Projected Land Use Patterns 74 Persons 37 HIV/AIDS Infected Persons 37

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Page i Poggemeyer Design Group Contents

Chapter 7 Transportation 79 Public Housing Map 105 Summary of City Multi-Modal Transportation Plan 79 Chapter 9 Land Use- Neighborhoods Existing Transportation Modes 79 107 Interstate Linkages 79 Land Use Focus 107 U.S. Highways 80 Beckley Neighborhoods 107 State Routes 80 Neighborhood Organizations 113 Other Major Roads Utilized in Beckley 80 Map of Neighborhood Areas in the City Railroad 80 ofBeckley Airport 80 Functioning Neighborhood-Based Organiza- Future Transportation Network Map 81 tions in Thriving Neighborhoods 112 Significant Areas of Traffic Congestion and Potential Development Partners 113 Short-term Solutions 83 Neighborhood Strategic Planning 115 Proposed Major Transportation Improvement Participation in Public Decisions 116 Projects 86 Neighborhood Identity: 116 Coalfields Expressway 87 Ward Issues 117 Bike Transportation 89 Quality of Life Issues: 117 Transit Plan 89 Observations and Implications Concerning Quality of Life Issues: 120 Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing 91 Housing Issues: 119 Homeownership 91 Observations and Implications from the Hous- Inventory and General Analysis of Housing ing Issues: 120 Conditions 91 Economic Development Issues: 121 Age of Homes 92 Observations and Implications Concerning Percentage of Homes 92 Economic Development Issues: 121 Household Income and Housing Price Require- Transportation Issues: 122 ments/Opportunities 92 Observations & Implications Regarding Trans- Household Incomes by Income Range portation Issues: 123 93 Infrastructure Issues: 124 Analysis of General Ability to Afford Housing Observations and Implications Concerning 83 Infrastructure Issues: 125 Analysis of Housing Affordability by 1999 Public Services Issues: 125 Household Income Range 94 Observations and Implications Concerning Households-Category 94 Public Service Issues: 125 Analysis of Housing Demand and Supply 94 Zoning Issues: 126 Housing Demand and Supply Analysis 94 Observations and Implications from the Zoning Recent Housing Construction 96 Issues: 126 Single-Family House Construction 1993-1998 96 Chapter 10 Uptown Beckley 127 Housing Needs by Population Segment 97 History 127 Cost Burdened Households 97 Past Studies 128 Minority Housing Analysis 98 Key Issues in 1999/2000 131 Rental Housing Burden Map 99 Building/Owner Issues 131 Public Housing - Unit Availability and Subsidy Management Issues 131 Allocations 90 Incentive Issues 132 Minority Population Map 101 Traffic/Parking Issues 132 Subsidized Housing Providers 105 Marketing Issues 132 Summary of Prior Findings from the 1964 Plate 10-1 Boundaries 133 Comprehensive Plan 105 Existing Land Uses in Uptown Beckley 135 Plate 10-2 Land Use 137

Table of Contents Page ii City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Contents

Traffic and Transportation Corridors 136 Chapter 12 Goals & Strategies for Vehicular and Truck Traffic 136 Pedestrian Walkways 136 Implementation 177 Bikepaths 139 Goals and Strategies 177 Parking 139 GOAL: Develop the administrative capacity Market Studies 139 to implement this plan. 178 Current Parking Inventory 140 GOAL: Effectively guide future land use: 179 Management 141 GOAL: Maintain and enhance Uptown Beckley Recommendations 142 181 The University District 146 GOAL: Maintain and enhance the roadway and Plate 10-3 Proposed University District 147 transportation systems in and around Beckley Plate 10-4 Proposed Uptown Districts 149 183 Proposed Districts 149 GOAL: Maximize economic development The Government/Service/Retail District 151 opportunities for employment and workforce The Cultural/Entertainment District 151 development. 184 Plate 10-5 Proposed Arts/Cultural District 153 PLAN OF EAST BECKLEY BYPASS Plate 10-6 Proposed Gateways 155 TECHNOLOGY PARK 185 Proposed Gateways 155 GOAL: Housing - Provide an adequate range of Improve traffic circulation and parking in housing choices. 187 Uptown Beckley. 157 CONCEPT DRAWING FOR RESIDENTIAL Gateways 157 DEVELOPMENT 189 Traffic Circulation 158 GOAL: Empower neighborhood-based organiza Recommendations 158 tions to become leaders in the transformation of Pedestrian Walkways 159 their neighborhood. 191 Bikepaths 159 GOAL: Develop innovative and aggressive Parking 160 policies to increase revenues and contain costs. Encourage redevelopment of specific sites in 193 the Uptown. 161 GOAL: Develop land use controls that are an Sources of Support 166 effective tool for community improvement. 193

Chapter 11 Zoning 167 Appendix A. Pennsylvania Anti-blight Zoning Regulations Update 167 Legistation Zoning Use Variances 167 Zoning Code Design and Layout 167 General Zoning Update Elements 167 Parking Requirements 168 Future Update Recommendations 169 Sign regulations 169 Parking lot graphics 170 New Zoning Districts: 171 Add a New Planned Unit Development Zoning District: 172 Add a New Industrial Zoning District: 172 Add a New Commercial Corridor Overlay Zoning District: 173 Add an Institutional Zoning District: 173 Add A New Low-Density Residential District.174 Subdivision Regulations 174 Regulation of Sexually-Oriented Businesses 175

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Table of Contents Page iii Poggemeyer Design Group Acknowledgements

Mayor The Honorable Emmett S. Pugh III City Council Emmett Pugh, Mayor Ward Representatives Judy R. Radford, Executive At Large Director, 4C EDA Robert Rappold David Riggs, First Union Howard Mollohan Securities Margaret Sayre, Beckley Beautification Commission Ward I – A.K. Minter Roy Shrewsbury, Ward II – Bill File III Engineering Services Ward III – Joan O’Brien Jim Silosky, Mountain State Ward IV – Tim Berry University Ward V – Madrith Chambers Ellen Taylor, Executive Director, Chamber of Commerce Steering Committee A.K. Minter, Chairman, Ward 1 City Staff Councilperson Bill Cole, Chief of Police Robert L. Cannon, Chief, Code Paul Bragg, Retired Chief, Fire Enforcement/Zoning Department Manuel M. Cartelle, Director, Arnold Bolen, Chief, Fire Housing and Department Community Development Bob Robinson, Public Works Department Gary Sutphin, Recorder/ Madrith Chambers, Ward 5 Treasurer Councilperson Robert L. Cannon, Chief, James Cox, Pastor & Director, Code Enforcement/Zoning NAACP Mark Matkovich, City Attorney Mike Darby, Comfort Inn Renda Morris, Exhibition Mine Blair Frier, SEM Partners Jill C. Moorefield, Beckley Mike Jarrell, White Oak Land Mainstreet Company Manuel Cartelle, Director, Larry Jessup, Raleigh County Housing/Development Board of Education Ken Richmond, Manager, Bob McLean, Prudential - Sanitation Board Sigmund, McLean & Associates Beckley Plan Commission Jill C. Moorefield, Director, Beckley Mainstreet

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 1 Poggemeyer Design Group This page left intentionally blank

Page 2 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Introduction

Content of this Document The City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan is charts, and descriptive and explanatory a product of the problem-identifying and matter, shall show the planning problem-solving procedure undertaken by commission’s recommendations for the the City of Beckley in 1999 to provide a development of the territory covered by goal-directed way of thinking about the the plan. The comprehensive plan may future. It is also a key product of the include recommendations for the planning process and an official statement distribution of population and of the of the goals and policies that express a uses of land for urbanization, trade, vision about the future of the community. industry, habitation, transportation, It serves as a guide for the planning com- recreation, public utilities, municipal mission, the legislative body, other public sites, conservation areas, and other agencies, private individuals, and organiza- purposes that will create favorable tions. The tone of the Comprehensive Plan conditions, promote efficiency, and is policy oriented so that a consistent set of reduce the wastes of physical, financial, policies becomes available for evaluating or human resources. subsequent development proposals. How to Use This Document What is a Comprehensive Plan? The City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan The West Virginia Code § 8-24-3 (et al) tends to focus on the physical aspects of describes a “comprehensive plan” as a plan the community; but, underlying the of: “land use and zoning, of thoroughfares, physical aspects are the social and of sanitation, of recreation, and other economic dimensions of the commu- related matters, and including such ordi- nity. The Plan deals with present and nance or ordinances ... and provision for future land use, public facilities, trans- such rules and regulations as are deemed portation, housing, neighborhood necessary and their enforcement.” planning, recommendations for the central business district, and recommen- “The comprehensive plan shall be made dations for improvements to the zoning with the general purpose of guiding and and subdivision regulations. The Plan is accomplishing a coordinated, adjusted, and long-range in its focus, addressing harmonious development of the area current issues in terms of a fifteen to which will, in accordance with present and twenty year perspective. The final two future needs and resources, best promote chapters provide a summary of goals and the health, safety, morals, order, conve- implementation recommendations. nience, prosperity, or general welfare of the inhabitants, as well as efficiency and For More Information economy in the process of development.” More information on the City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan is available from: West Virginia Code § 8-24-16 provides direction as the subject matter of a compre- hensive plan for a city or a county. The Department of Housing and planning commission must prepare the Community Development comprehensive plan and recommend it for City of Beckley adoption to the city council or county Drawer AJ commission. The comprehensive plan, Beckley, WV 25802-2832 with accompanying surveys, studies of the PH: 304-256-1770 existing conditions, and probable future changes of such conditions, maps, plats, City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 3 Poggemeyer Design Group This page left intentionally blank This page left intentionally blank

Page 4 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Vision 2020 Chapter 1

Vision for 2020

The establishment of a long-term vision and goal is an expression of where the City of Beckley community “wants to go.”

A fundamental part of the development of this Comprehensive Plan was the identification of a long-term vision and goals for the City of Beckley. The long- term vision is an expression of what the City should strive to become in the next twenty years. This vision has grown out of the public participation and Steering Committee discussions held as part of the development of this Plan.

This vision is intended to capture and describe the desired future for the City of Beckley in a nontechnical manner and is written as the “State of the City” address of the Mayor of the City of Beckley in the year 2020. It is the hope that this vision, along with an ongoing commitment to keep policies and initiatives current and relevant, will enable the future mayor to say ...

“The City of Beckley is such a great place to live and work! Over the past twenty years, our City has become known as a progressive urban community, but has kept a small-town atmosphere. The growth that has occurred over the last twenty years has been well- planned and represents positive additions to the community. “The many high technology and other 21st The many high technology and other 21st century companies that century companies that have located within the various Beckley Industrial Parks and have located in Uptown in the last twenty years have brought excellent job Beckley....have brought opportunities in a range of employment sectors, providing excellent job residents with livable incomes and benefits. Transportation opportunities ..... providing residents with improvements and a new transit system, around and through the livable incomes and City, allows us to easily get to work, as well as to shopping and benefits.” entertainment facilities. Beckley’s expansion to the south to capture the intersection of I-77, I-64, and the Coal Fields Expressway Interchange has enhanced the City’s reputation as a national transportation, industry, and hospitality hub as well as an easy and enjoyable place to visit. Beckley continues to thrive as the tourism, retail, entertainment, and commercial service center for south-central West Virginia. The City has capitalized upon the Raleigh County Airport and assisted it in becoming a major freight and passenger carrier through aggressive annexation and enhancements of land along I-64 and Airport Road, and the development of land for business and tourist amenities. New commercial construction activity has focused on keeping existing commercial areas viable and reducing traffic congestion. The completion of the Federal Building in year 2000 sparked a major

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 5 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 1 Vision 2020

expansion and revitalization initiative in Beckley Uptown that has resulted in a thriving and vital center of community, government, tourism, and business activity with a variety of shops and businesses in the heart of the City that meet the needs of county residents and visitors. The completion of the Convention Center and the Cultural Arts Center have made Beckley a major destination for business, cultural attractions, and tourism. Our Uptown is an area we are proud to show to the many visitors that come to our area to enjoy the natural environment, culture, and history of our region.

Municipal services have expanded to accommodate growth. The strong tax base enables the City to provide its residents with excellent safety and fire protection services as well as comprehensive housing Our Uptown is an area we are proud to show to the and community services. The new City Offices are nearly complete many visitors that come to providing the City with a centralized, prominent place in the Uptown our area to enjoy the natural Government/Service/Retail District. City beautification and capital environment, culture, and improvement achievements have given City gateways, attractive history of our region.” commercial corridors, and the Uptown area a grandeur and appeal to the thousands of people who regularly work, shop, and attend cultural, convention, and entertainment activities. Many local efforts have resulted in an expanded system of trails, linear parks, and outdoor recreation opportunities that now provide more than ample recreation open space with connections to residential areas. Beautiful city parks and tree-lined streets are well maintained and serve as focal points for Beckley neighborhoods. Historic architecture in and near the central business district has been well-preserved and maintained and continues to draw residents and tourists. Beckley is now known as a “walkable City” with inexpensive public transportation available every day with regular routes to move people throughout the residential and commercial areas.

There are a variety of housing opportunities within the City for all income ranges and every age group, including seniors, families, young married couples, and youth. Several new housing developments offer residents a wider range of housing types including an assisted living facility, town homes and condominiums, upscale singe-family homes, and quality apartments. These new developments include bike/walk trail systems that connect with the newly completed rail-to- trail system and the trails created along one of the nation’s most beautiful greenspace treasures, the New River Drive Park.

The Raleigh County School System provides a state-of-the-art educational environment for residents of Beckley. Over the last

Page 6 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Vision 2020 Chapter 1

twenty years, the school system has successfully worked with Mountain State University (formerly known as the College of West Virginia) to provide our youth with the strong educational basics and technological skills needed to advance to higher education and to attract businesses which seek skilled work-force environments. As the public school system has replaced its out- dated facilities, the City has provided leadership and funding to ensure the older school buildings have been recycled into Community Centers, Recreation Centers, or provided to the ever- growing Mountain State University. Through linkages with the University of West Virgina, Mountain State University has doubled in size over the last twenty years with a learning-and-living campus that has expanded along South Kanawha Street and the central business district from the original campus to the new Cultural/ Entertainment Center District. The City’s Community Development Department has creatively partnered with the University, Tamarck, The City’s Community and others to attract high quality commercial and residential Development Department developments to the Beckley. The City’s construction of a safe, has creatively partnered well-lighted, and landscaped walking trail, linking the campus to with the University, Tamarck, and others to Main and Neville Streets, enabled students to become one of the attract high quality primary markets served by the Uptown area and lead the way to its commercial and economic prosperity. residential developments to the Beckley. Now boasting a population of 45,000 people, our City offers residents and visitors alike with a quality environment in which to live and visit. There is the widely-held belief that the City of Beckley is a better place today than it was in the year 2000. People in Raleigh County aspire to have a City of Beckley address and are proud of the image, excitement, and opportunities available in the City where they live.”

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 7 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 1 Vision 2020

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 8 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Natural Environment Chapter 2

City Profile - Natural Environment This element of the Comprehensive Plan lower Raleigh sandstone region. Large identifies physical constraints for develop- deposits of sandstone on the hilltops of ment drawing upon previous materials Nob and Reservoir Hills, both west of prepared for the City. The report discusses the downtown area, account for the the natural features of topography, geology, abundance of sandstone walls and soils, watersheds, drainage courses, and building foundations throughout the floodplains. City.

Soils Topography A majority (52%) of Fayette and Raleigh Topographic relief is the outstanding Counties are covered by the Dekalb- natural feature that has had the greatest Gilpin-Ernest Soil Association, based on impact upon development within the City the Fayette and Raleigh Counties Soil of Beckley and surrounding area. The City Survey issued March 1975 by the United of Beckley is situated on the broad Allegh- States Department of Agriculture eny Plateau of the Appalachian Mountain (USDA). Typically, these soils are Range, 2,500 feet above sea level. Erosion associated with well-drained moderate caused by centuries of running water in this to steeply sloping areas. Slopes within region has been one of the most significant this soil association range from a elements shaping the present topographic moderate 3% to a very steep 65%. The features of the Appalachian Mountain less sloping soils can be farmed and are Range. Over thousands of years, rivers and typically utilized for hay and pasture. streams have cut broad “V”-shaped valleys Steep slopes, stoniness, and bedrock near that are separated by very steep ridges. the surface are limitations for many land uses. The underlying rock formations The eastern half of Raleigh County consists include acid shales, siltstone, and largely of smooth, wooded ridges of white sandstone of Pennsylvanian age. Rayne and yellow pine, and broad, flat, rolling and Dekalb soils were formed from these pastureland from elevations of 2,500 to moderately fine textured to moderately 3,500 feet above sea level. Narrow gorges course textured materials. Predominant often separate these areas of level highland soil types in the Beckley area include into tablelands surrounded by lush valleys. DeKalb fine sandy loam; DeKalb and The following plate provides a 3-D map Gilpin very stony soils; and Wharton silt view of the topography of the City of loam. The vast majority of the area Beckley looking to the south from a point associated with this soil type is wooded north of the City. and is generally well suited to hard- woods. Geology Raleigh County is located within the New Climate River coal field of the state’s great bitumi- Temperatures average 52.4 degrees and nous coal seam. The coal mined here is rainfall averages 38.82 inches through- commonly called “smokeless” because of out the year in the City of Beckley. its low sulfur content and clean burning Summers are warm, with nearly tropical characteristics. It is the most important temperatures in the 80s during the day natural resource in the region. The City of and the 70s at night. Sweltering days in Beckley is located within the upper and the 90s are rare. In the autumn, thou-

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 9 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 2 Natural Environment

sands of tourists are attracted to this area until it meets Piney Creek east of the to drive back roads and view a beautiful WoodCrest Subdivision. array of autumn colors. Winters in the City are relatively mild due to the southerly latitude. Snow storms are Floodplains intermittent with an average seasonal Raleigh County participates in the national snowfall of 61.7 inches. Flood Insurance Program, which requires land use controls on building development in floodways and floodway fringe. Flood- Watersheds plains serve many valuable functions, such The County lies in the drainage basin of as ground water recharge, flood water the New, Guyandotte, and Coal Rivers. storage, and habitat for wildlife. Few The County descends from just more bodies of standing water exist in the than 3,500 feet above sea level on the County, and only two very small areas exist southeast edge to about 1,000 feet at the in the City of Beckley. According to a 1984 head of Coal River on the north and flood insurance study, most flooding northwest. The City of Beckley is located problems in the City occur during late in the Piney Creek watershed of the New winter or early spring and result from River. heavy rainfall on frozen or saturated soil. Man-made restrictions, primarily road bridges and culverts have intensified flood Drainage Areas problems. This has especially been true Piney, Big Whitestick, Little Whitestick, along New River Drive and in some areas and Cranberry are four significant creeks of the East Park neighborhood northeast of running through or adjacent to the City the central business district. of Beckley. The latter three creeks are tributaries of Piney Creek. Little Whitestick is a tributary of Cranberry Creek. Piney Creek drains the southern and eastern area of the City and was once a source of great waterpower. Big Whitestick Creek runs close to the southwest and south area of the City and drains to the east meeting Piney Creek in the Raleigh area. Little Whitestick Creek flows through the City from the Tama- rack area (just north of the I-77/Harper Road intersection) easterly along New River Drive, through Sprague, and to the north of Harry Lewin Park where it meets Cranberry Creek just to the northeast of the park. Cranberry Creek enters Beckley from the north near Raleigh Mall and runs southeasterly along US Route 19 until it meets the Little Whitestick Creek. At this fork, Cranberry Creek runs east and northeast

Page 10 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Natural Environment Chapter 2

Area Topography Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 11 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 2 Natural Environment

This Page left Intentionally Blank

Page 12 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3 Socioeconomic

enacted legislation forming Raleigh Conditions County from Fayette County and, thus, County government was organized. The An overview and statistical analysis of County was named for Sir Walter Raleigh population and socioeconomic characteris- at the suggestion of General Beckley, and tics of the City of Beckley has been devel- Beckley became the County Seat. As a oped as part of the basis for the Compre- Virginia County, Raleigh County tended hensive Planning process. to politically vote Republican. During the Virginia Secession Convention, at the Historic Roots of outset of the Civil War, Raleigh County was included in the new State of West Beckley Virginia. As the only instance in West The earliest recorded European exploration Virginia history for the territory of a of what is now West Virginia was in 1742 County to be enlarged after its forma- by John Peter Salley. The first explorations tion, the West Virginia Legislature of Raleigh County occurred in 1750 by Dr. approved a political deal to annex the Thomas Walker, and in 1751 by Christo- 168-square mile Slab Fork District and pher Gist of the Ohio Company (a land the rich coal fields of Winding Gulf from investment company). The first known Wyoming County into southwest Raleigh map of the Raleigh County area was County. At the time, this provided a published in London in 1755 based on Democrat majority in Raleigh County these explorations. Two years later, John and a Republican majority in Wyoming James Beckley was born in England, who County. would, in 1795, obtain a grant of 170,038 acres of land in the Raleigh County area, After the construction of the County and, in 1802, be appointed the first Clerk Court House in 1852, some records, of the U.S. House of Representatives by including the Census Bureau, began to President Thomas Jefferson. In 1836, his refer to the town as Raleigh Court House. son, General Alfred Beckley, a West Point It is interesting to note that in 1875, the graduate, moved to the area to develop the land book refers to the town as land left to him by his father. In 1838, the Beckleyville, but the first issue of the Virginia General Assembly officially Raleigh County Index in 1880, which later established the settlement of Beckley, became the Raleigh Register, refers to the named in honor of the General’s father, as town as Raleigh Court House. By 1897, the first settlement in the portion of Fayette the name of the town reverted to Beckley County, Virginia, which is now Raleigh in all records. County, West Virginia. In 1872, an act of the West Virginia Legislature incorporated As the nation pushed west in the 1800s, the Town of Beckley, and John Beckley, the Beckley became a noted stop, but grandson of the town’s namesake, was without industry, it remained a farm elected as its first Mayor. In 1908, the community. The population of Beckley Legislature passed a new charter for in 1860 was 160, and the town’s fifteen Beckley, changing it from a town to a city. buildings were clustered around the courthouse square on what is now Main General Beckley drafted a resolution in Street and North and South Kanawha 1850, and the General Assembly of Virginia Streets. Shops, stables, taverns, and

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 13 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile

churches were intermixed with private ity. As the mechanization of coal mining dwellings along these two roads. The displaced thousands of workers in the population swelled to close to 50 1980s, many migrated from outlying towns families and a population of more than to Beckley, making it the largest of the four 300. During the Civil War, the City was surrounding county seats and a central occupied by both Union and Confeder- location for many private, public, and ate troops (Rutherford B. Hayes and government activities. In 1962, the Beckley William McKinley were both stationed Exhibition Coal Mine, owned by the City in the town). By the 1890 Census, the and operated by the City’s Parks and population had dropped to 158, but the Recreation Department, officially opened town now had two stores, a 13-room to visitors and continues to provide a hotel, and 16 houses. By the turn of the historical and entertaining ride through an century, the corners of Heber, Neville, actual coal mine. and Main Streets became the core of the During much of the 20th In 1841, the second building built in commercial district. century, the coal industry Beckley was a small log school house. In supplied the City’s economic th 1869, the State Legislature incorporated the During much of the 20 century, the stability and growth. coal industry supplied the City’s eco- Raleigh High School. In 1900, the Beckley nomic stability and growth. After the Seminary (later the Beckley Institute) Chesapeake and Ohio Railway com- opened as a private school with classes for pleted its line from the Eastern seaboard both grade school and high school stu- to within eleven miles of Beckley in the dents. Beckley’s first black school opened late 1870s, forests were quickly timbered, in 1907, near the border of Beckley and the and coal mines began to open every- suburb of Mabscott. In 1912, Odd Elemen- where. In 1890, the Royal Coal and tary School was built, and as of 1980, was Coke Company opened a drift mine in the oldest school building still in use in Royal (a town on the New River, six Raleigh County. The Stratton School was miles northeast of Beckley), which was erected in 1913. Upon completion of the the first coal mine in Raleigh County. Virginian Railroad in 1909, Mark Twain spoke at the dedication ceremony from the The County boomed as workers moved As the mechanization of coal platform of a train carrying railroad into its wilderness. By 1900, the region’s mining displaced thousands officials. In honor of that event, the Mark coalfields were surpassing every other of workers in the 1980s, Twain High School opened in 1922 and state in coal production, with its highest many migrated from graduated classes until 1965. In 1933, production in 1924 when 17.5 million outlying towns to Beckley, Beckley College was established. In 1967, tons of coal were produced from Raleigh making it the largest of the Woodrow Wilson High School was built at County mines. In 1901, the C&O four surrounding county its location on Stanaford Road. The Railroad constructed a branch line along seats and a central location Beckley Junior High School moved to a the Piney River into Beckley, and the for many private, public, new site in 1998 at Gray Flats near down- Virginian Railroad completed construc- and government activities. tion of a railroad through Beckley to the town Beckley and was renamed Beckley- Winding Gulf Mine in 1908. Stratton Junior High School.

Though few mines were located in the Campbell Hospital was opened in 1906 as rolling farmland near Beckley, the town the first hospital in Beckley, followed by the became an important transportation, opening of the Beckley Hospital in 1913. banking, and trade center for the County In 1922, King’s Daughter’s Hospital (later due to its central location and accessibil- the Raleigh General Hospital) opened.

Page 14 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3

Rutherford Sanitarium was formally 1910, and in 1916, Raleigh County held opened in 1930, but the legislature its first levy election for road construc- The central business changed its name to Pinecrest Sanitarium tion. The first traffic signals were area employs in 1934. Major construction was com- installed in Beckley in 1928. In 1949, approximately 1,600 pleted on the Veterans Hospital in 1950. In the construction of Valley Drive began people. 1956, Miners Memorial Hospital (later (later becoming WV 16 - Robert C. Byrd Beckley Appalachian Regional Hospital) Drive). In 1952, the Raleigh County opened. The Raleigh General Hospital Memorial Airport was dedicated replac- opened its new facility on Harper Road in ing the much smaller Beckley-Mt. Hope 1973. Airport, which was built in 1937. The West Virginia Turnpike (I-77) was officially opened in 1954. The construc- tion of I-64 began in 1974 with the final section being completed in West Virginia in 1988. A new medium security federal penitentiary, located on Airport Road adjacent to I-64, opened in 1993. Central Business District The central business district of Beckley, now known as Uptown Beckley, encom- passes an area from the Robert C. Byrd Drive to the east side of Kanawha Street, and from the main Post Office and Library at Croft Street to Second and Church Streets (see adjacent map). Uptown Beckley includes approximately 126 businesses: restaurants, art galleries, personal services, retail stores, offices, financial institutions, two colleges (College of West Virginia and Concord College), and the Beckley-Raleigh Central Business Distrct Beckley constructed a water works in 1907 County YMCA. The central business area which piped water to all parts of town. employs approximately 1,600 people. Upon completion of the water system in 1908, the Beckley City Council formed a Many fraternal, government, and public Volunteer Fire Department which, in 1916, buildings were built in the central became a City Fire Department. The business district during the 1930s and commercial center of Beckley burned to the 1940s along the back streets of McCreery, ground in 1912 with over thirty shops and Earwood, Woodlawn, and Howe Streets. residences destroyed. A fire again threat- The City determined in 1956 to develop ened to destroy the entire Downtown in the overgrown brush and swamp land 1919. behind the Heber/Neville Street area, 40 feet lower in grade, into a municipal Beckley constructed its first paved street in parking lot with over 300 parking spaces City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 15 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile

for the workers and shoppers in Beckley. within approximately 13 square miles (as The Beckley City Hall officially opened of 1999). It had a 1996 estimated popula- in 1964, and in 1967, the Municipal tion of 18,353. Beckley is the largest city in Parking Building opened. The Uptown Raleigh County and the seventh largest city economy suffered from the closing of in West Virginia. coal mines in the 1980s, but the City began attempts to stimulate and The graph below displays the population strengthen the existing retail, cultural, change (1975-1995) for the City of Beckley, and tourist activities in the Uptown area. Raleigh County, West Virginia, and the The City, County, and State In 1989, construction was completed on United States. The population of the began a slow population the State Office Building on Neville nation has steadily increased over the decline in the early 1980s, Street. A new $30 million Federal Office period; however, the loss of mining jobs which was not reversed until complex now houses Federal courts and had a major impact on the population of after 1990. an Internal Revenue Service office. This West Virginia, the County, and the City in addition to Uptown Beckley is antici- the 1980s. pated to add an additional 300 employ- ees in the 160,000 square foot complex. The population for the City of Beckley was The original plat laid out by Alfred stable through the 1970s, but the County, Beckley is still fairly evident in the State, and nation experienced population central business district area to this day. increases through the period. The City, County, and State began a slow population Several shopping centers were built decline in the early 1980s, which was not along US 19/Eisenhower Drive including reversed until after 1990. Raleigh Mall, Bypass Plaza, Beckley Plaza, and Beckley Crossing. These commercial centers were originally located in unincorporated areas within the County, but became a part of the Total Population City of Beckley through annexation. The 1.25 Crossroads Mall officially opened 1.2 in1981 near Bradley, two miles north of the City on US 19 and SR 16. 1.15 1.1 Population 1.05 Characteristics 1 The physical development of a commu- 0.95 nity is directly related to a changing population. Typically, changes in the 0.9 local population influence the local 0.85 demand for types of housing, commer- cial space, employment opportunities, 1975 1980 1985 1990 1995 and recreational and cultural facilities. Year The changing population also influences the demand for public facilities and infrastructure. The City of Beckley is Source: Raleigh County Data Prof ile and U.S. Cens us comprised of many residential areas Beckley Raleigh County West Virginia United States Page 16 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3

1990 - 1996 Population Growth Comparisons 1990 1996 Change Average Population Population Percent Annual Percent Change Over Period

City of Beckley, WV 18,296 19,134 4.58% 0.75% City of Morgantown, WV 25,879 26,919 4.02% 0.67% City of Parkersburg, WV 33,862 32,776 -3.21% -0.54% City of Charleston, WV 57,287 56,098 -2.08% -0.35% Source: Places, Towns, & Townships, Second Edition, Bernan Press 1998; University of West Virginia, Center for Economic Research

The table above compares population three other proximate West Virginia growth in Beckley with several other West cities. Virginia cities for the period 1990 through 1996. The table reveals that the larger In 1990, the City of Beckley had a size of cities, except for Morgantown, lost popula- approximately nine square miles and a tion during the period. population of 18,296. It is interesting to note that the other cities selected for comparison, while having up to three The City of Beckley has a Select Demographic Information times larger populations, have city higher population density The following table provides Census boundaries encompassing up to eight per square mile, almost population characteristics for the City of times the size of the City of Beckley. double or triple the density, Beckley, Raleigh County, the State, and the Therefore, the City of Beckley has a of the comparison cities. United States as of 1990, which is the most higher population density per square recent detailed census information avail- mile, almost double or triple the density able at the time of this writing. Recently of the comparison cities. The City of released, general population by size and Beckley has a slightly lower household race information for the 2000 Census is density than the County, State, and the included. In addition, the table compares nation with 2.36 persons per household, Beckley population characteristics with but this is similar to that of Charleston

Table 3-1 1990 Census Population Characteristics Size Population Persons Persons Non-White Under 18 Over 65 (sq. mi.) Per Per (%) (%) (%) Sq. Mile Household

City of 9 18,296 2,034 2.36 23.6% 23.6% 22% Beckley City of Morgantown 20 25,879 1,288 2.7 8% 12.1% 11.5% City of Parkersburg 29 33,862 1,172 2.34 2.3% 21.8% 19.9% City of Charleston 76 57,287 751 2.26 15.9% 21.8% 18.4% Raleigh County 607 76,819 126 2.62 8.2% 26.3% 15.3% West Virginia 24,228 1,793,477 74 2.6 3.8% 24.8% 15% United States 9,159,127 248,718,301 27 2.71 19.7% 25.6% 12.5%

Source: US Census City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 17 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile

Positive economic indicators such as rising and Parkersburg. The 2000 population personal income levels, steady employment for Beckley is 17,254 which is a greater growth, low unemployment rates, good than 5% population loss from 1990 schools, and low taxes attract individuals Residents of the City of population levels. In 1990, the minor- seeking job opportunities. Residents of the Beckley also consider the ity population of Beckley was 23.6% City of Beckley also consider the region’s region’s natural beauty, which is higher than the comparative natural beauty, overall quality of life, and overall quality of life, and locations and provides Beckley with their location at an interstate junction as their location at an racial and cultural diversity. Similar to key community assets. interstate junction as key much of the nation, this diversity community assets. increased over the past decade to 26.8%. The City of Beckley has levels of depen- Business Development dent children under age 18 in ranges The types of job opportunities available to comparable within County, State, and the Beckley labor force are fairly representa- national norms. The percentage of tive of those for the State, as can be seen in senior citizens in the City of Beckley the following table. In 1990, the business (22%) exceeds that of other comparison classifications in which Beckley residents locations and is nearly double the were employed in greater numbers for its percentage of senior citizens across the population than the State included: nation. wholesale and retail trade; finance, insur- ance, and real estate; public administra- Employment Traits of the tion; and the service industry. Business Community classifications in which Beckley residents A stable, growing, economic environ- were employed in substantially fewer ment is an important element of a numbers than the County or State in- strong, healthy community since the cluded: mining; construction; and manu- economic well-being of a community is facturing. essential to its desirability as a place to live. When people search for business Beckley is commonly characterized as a locations and jobs in a new area, many regional trade center with an extremely factors are considered. These may large retail capacity, given the size of its Beckley is commonly include the types of businesses and job primary trade area. The Beckley Main characterized as a opportunities that are available, oppor- Street Market Analysis Report (1998) noted regional trade center tunities for job and income growth, that Raleigh County has witnessed a 62% with an extremely large schools, and the proximity of the increase in retail sales, more than other retail capacity, given the workplace in relation to their home. counties in the trade area (which also size of its primary trade area.

Labor Force Employed by Selected Industry Beckley Raleigh Co. West Virginia Agriculture, Forestry, and Fishing 0.1% 1.0% 1.9% Mining 4.8% 12.6% 5.4% Construction 3.8% 6.0% 7.0% Manufacturing 3.9% 4.5% 14.9% Transportation 3.4% 4.4% 4.4% Utilities 2.9% 2.5% 3.5% Wholesale and Retail Trade 24.2% 25.8% 21.7% Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 5.7% 4.8% 4.5% Public Administration 5.6% 4.3% 4.4% Services 45.6% 34.1% 32.3%

Source: US Census Page 18 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3

Labor Force Employed by Service Industry Beckley Raleigh Co. West Virginia Business & Repair Service 8% 11.0% 10.4% Personal Services 10.3% 10.0% 9.5% Entertainment 2.1% 1.6% 3.4% Health Services 37.9% 36.3% 30.8% Education Services 24.7% 27.7% 30.6% Other Professional Services 16.9% 13.3% 15.4% Source: US Census

Ten of those establishments have 20 or experienced retail sales increases). Retail more employees. trade centers in Beckley include: the central business district; the US 19 commercial The following table indicates that corridor which includes the By-Pass Plaza, within the category of services, Beckley Beckley Plaza, and the Raleigh Mall. The had a significantly larger percentage of Beckley Crossing on SR 16 and the Town residents working in the health industry and Country Shopping Center on New than the State, and also in the areas of River Drive also provide retail space. personal services and “other” profes- National retail chains located in Beckley sional services. The Beckley zip code include Wal-Mart, Lowes/Food Lion, Sears, area included $129.5 million in sales J.C. Penney, Belk, Montgomery Ward, K- with over 700 employees working in Mart, and Kroger. business services. Over half the service The tourist industry in job classifications for Beckley are related Retail sales per household and potential Beckley has experienced to health and professional services sales in Raleigh County indicate the substantial growth in the which tend to be a stable, non-cyclical County is witnessing a sales surplus and past fifteen years. employment force in a community. that shoppers are outspending the State of West Virginia averages in all categories Industrial activities in Beckley have been except apparel and accessories. Most likely, concentrated in industrial and techno- Raleigh County is capturing sales from logical parks. The Harper Industrial Summers, Fayette, and Wyoming Counties Park is located off I-77 at Exit 44 and is since those counties are experiencing convenient to the area’s hotel and leakages in most every category. The Report restaurant district. The New River points out that, on a regional level, Raleigh Industrial Park is located off US 19 and County leads the way in retail sales in the SR 16 along Ragland Road. The categories of grocery stores, general mer- Pinecrest Business and Technology Park chandise, furniture and appliances, and was designed to attract industry with building materials. new technology to the Beckley area and is located east of the junction of South The tourist industry in Beckley has experi- Eisenhower Drive (US 19) and WV enced substantial growth in the past fifteen Route 41 near Pinecrest Hospital. One years, supported by an increase in hotels tract of land considered suitable for and motels. As of 1995, there were over future industrial development is located 1,200 available rooms in Beckley. Accord- east of the Raleigh County Armory off ing to the latest Claritas, Inc. data, there are South Eisenhower Drive. a total of 18 hotels and motels in the Beckley zip code area employing 419 individuals with sales of over 17 million.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 19 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile

Income Income growth in an area is a significant Per capita personal income (PCPI) for indicator of the economic characteristics Raleigh County was $17,705 in 1995, of a community. Increasing income is making it the fourteenth wealthiest of 55 one good indication of an expanding counties in the State. The average annual economy. Comparison of income growth rate of PCPI in Raleigh County Recent statistics indicate growth against State and National trends from 1983 to 1993 was 5.4%, compared to that per capita income provides perspective and comparisons. 5.7% for the State, and 5.5% for the nation. growth in Raleigh Three statistics commonly used to The average annual growth rate of PCPI in County is increasing measure income growth are per capita Raleigh County between 1994 and 1995 faster than in other personal income (PCPI), total personal was 7.3%, compared to 4.8% for the State, areas. income (TPI), and median household and 5.2% for the nation. These more income (MHI). PCPI and TPI data is recent statistics indicate that per capita typically available at a county level and income growth in Raleigh County is is reflected in the following graph for the increasing faster than in other areas. years 1994 and 1995. According to the first two measures of income, Raleigh Total personal income (TPI) includes the County is enjoying increases that exceed earnings (wages and salaries, other labor State and National trends. A fourth income, and proprietors’ income); divi- indicator is the comparison of income dends, interests, and rent; and transfer ranges across the spectrum of income payments received by all of the residents of groups. an area. An increase in TPI typically results

Average Annual Income Growth Rate 1994 to 1995 8.0% 7.8%

7.0% 7.3%

6.0% 6.2%

5.0% 5.2% 5.0% 4.8%

4.0%

3.0%

2.0%

1.0%

0.0% PCPI TPI

Raleigh Co unty West Virginia United States Page 20 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3

in an increase in available spending dollars. experienced an increase of 13% com- The Raleigh County average annual growth pared with the State’s average at 21%. rate of TPI between 1983 and 1993 was 4.2%, compared to 5% for the State, and 6.5% for the nation. In 1995, Raleigh The following graph illustrates the For the income range County TPI was 5th among 55 counties in distribution of income in various ranges greater than $75,000, the State, representing 4.3% of the State’s as reported in the 1990 Census. The Beckley still trailed the total income. The Raleigh County average graph compares the percentage of the National average, but had annual growth rate of TPI between 1994 Beckley population within several ranges twice the State average. and 1995 was 7.8%, compared to 5% for of incomes against State and National the State, and 6.2% for the nation. These percentages. Beckley and West Virginia statistics indicate that recent trends in had higher percentages of their popula- personal income growth in Raleigh tion earning less than $25,000 per year County show increases greater than in than the country as a whole. Beckley other areas. had a lower percentage of the popula- tion earning $25,000 to $75,000 than the State or Nation; but for the income The third income statistic analyzed is the range greater than $75,000, Beckley still change in median household income for trailed the National average, but had the area. Median income is the midpoint between the highest and lowest incomes. twice the State average. Between 1979 and 1989, Raleigh County experienced a 29% increase in median household income, compared to a 42.8% Travel To Work increase for the State, and 78.5% for the The amount of time people spend nation. The Beckley Main Street Market commuting to and from work is an Analysis Report (1998) noted that recent indicator of a community’s economic estimates of median household disposable well-being. Long commute times may income suggest that Raleigh County

Distribution of Household Income 1989 40.0% 39 .6% 37 .3% 35.0%

30.0%

25.0% 24 .3% 20.0% 20 .3% 20 .5% 17 .5% 17 .9% 15.0% 15 .8% 15 .1% 14 .6% 15 .0% 13 .6% 10.0% 11 .8% 9.5% 8.3% 9.0% 5.0% 6.4% 3.5% 0.0% <$15K $15-25K $25-35K $35-50K $50-75K >$75K

Source: U.S. Census City of Beckley W es t V irgin ia United States City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 21 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile indicate a general lack of quality employ- the percentage of households with median ment opportunities, forcing residents to household wealth less than $25,000. seek employment outside their commu- Nearly 40 % of Beckley households have nity. At the same time, trends in com- less than $25,000 of wealth compared to muting have generally shown that longer 34 % for the County and 34 % for the State trips between home and work are as a whole. All other categories are fairly occurring across the nation. Between close comparisons. 1960 and 1990, the number of workers nationwide who commute to other counties has tripled from 9 million to 27 Taxation million. The National average commute The State of West Virginia levies both an time in 1990 was 22.5 minutes. The income tax and a sales tax. The income tax average travel time to work for residents is a progressive tax starting at 3 % of of Raleigh County is 20.9 minutes with taxable income less than $10,000 and 16.5% of the workforce employed in increasing to the point where incomes other counties within the State. The exceeding $60,000 would pay 4.6 % on the Nearly 40 % of Beckley following graph would seem to indicate first $60,000 of taxable income, and 6.5 % households have less than that Beckley residents are finding on income in excess of $60,000. Income $25,000 of wealth compared employment opportunities within an tax personal exemptions of $2,000 per to 34 % for the County and area of reasonable commuting time from person are provided. Businesses are pro- 34 % for the State as a their homes. vided five tax credit opportunities: 1) the whole. Super Tax Credit allows recovery of up to 90 % of capital investment; 2) the Corpo- rate Headquarters Credit is available to Household Wealth corporations that relocate headquarters Claritas, Inc. defines household wealth into the State of up to 50 % of the adjusted, as a measure of financial well-being by qualified investment; 3) the Freeport Tax net worth – that is, assets minus liabili- Exemption allows goods in transit out of ties, for the entire household. Assets State, exemption from local ad valorem include, but are not limited to, real estate, the value of a business, motor vehicles, savings account deposits, Average Tr avel Time to Work certificates of deposit, mutual fund 1990 shares, money market funds, and other 50% interest-earning assets. Liabilities include, but are not limited to; mort- 40% gages, credit card and retail store credit accounts, and bank loans. In 1999, the 30% City of Beckley was estimated to have a median household wealth of $56,917. 20% The County and State median household wealth measures were much higher, at 10% $66,277 and 64,894, respectively, in

1999. 0% 0-4 5 -9 10-19 20-29 30-39 40-59 60+ The reason Beckley has a lower median Minutes household wealth than the County and State becomes evident when you analyze Source: U.S. Census Beck ley Raleigh County Un i t ed St at es Page 22 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P City Profile Chapter 3

property tax when warehoused in West Virginia; 4) the West Virginia Capital Company Act encourages the formation of Housing venture capital by providing qualified The City of Beckley had 8,917 housing investors a State tax credit equal to 50 % of units reported in the 1990 Census. At their investment; and 5) a credit against that time, 12 % of the units were vacant, business franchise taxes is available to while 54 % of the total number of manufacturers and persons providing houses in Beckley were owner-occupied. manufacturing services for industrial Of the occupied units, 62 % were owner- expansion or revitalization. The State also occupied and 38 % were renter-occu- levies a sales tax of 6 % on purchases, pied. The median value of owner- including foods. However, prescription occupied housing was $49,800 and the drugs and food stamp purchases are not median contract rent for renter-occupied taxed. housing was $239 per month. The median year of housing construction for The City of Beckley levies a Business and the City was 1953. Almost two out of Occupation (B&O) tax and requires certain three housing units in Beckley were businesses to pay an annual license fee. constructed before 1960; about one- The B&O tax is assessed upon taxable fourth of the homes in Beckley were income at various rates, between 0.15 % built prior to 1940. Between 1992 and The median value of and 4 %, according to a schedule of 1998, approximately 276 new single- owner-occupied housing business classifications (e.g., a manufactur- family residential building permits were was $49,800 and the ing business, a service business, and an issued; however, no new multi-family median contract rent for electric power company would be assessed units were constructed during this renter-occupied housing at rates of 0.3 %, 1 %, and 3 % respec- period. A majority of the new housing was $239 per month. tively). The City provides a B&O Tax Credit units have been constructed in the for a period of five years for new or expand- Woodcrest and Maxwell Hill subdivi- ing commercial, wholesale, retail, manufac- sions. Manufactured housing was not turing, or service businesses (30 % credit); permitted within the City until 1997, new or expanding business located in the and, in 1998, four manufactured hous- downtown business district (50 % credit); ing units were constructed. This infor- or for new, newly remodeled, or renovated mation is expanded in greater detail in multi-unit housing construction, or newly Chapter 8 of the Plan. remodeled or renovated commercial building development (50 % credit).

1999 Households by Household Wealth Beckley Raleigh County West Virginia Number % Number % Number %

Less than $25,000 3,128 39.1% 10,820 34.0% 249,116 34.8% $25,000 to $49,999 688 8.6% 3,107 9.7% 69,002 9.6% $50,000 to $99,999 1,312 16.4% 6,165 19.3% 135,234 18.9% $1000,000 to $249,999 1,669 20.9% 7,437 23.3% 163,502 22.8% $250,000 to $499,999 827 10.3% 3,189 10.0% 72,542 10.1% $500,000 and over 371 4.6% 1,150 3.6% 27,407 3.8%

Source: Claritas, Inc., Arlington, VA

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 23 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 3 City Profile

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 24 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Quality of Life Chapter 4 Indicators of the City’s Courthouse Square Historic Quality of Life District As mentioned earlier, the history of Although quality of life indicators are Beckley began in 1836 when General subjective, various types of data were Alfred Beckley inherited a sparsely examined regarding the quality of life for settled wilderness and built a settlement. residents of the City of Beckley. These The original plat of Beckley was made in indicators include: historic and 1838 at the intersection of two wilder- archaeologically-significant resources; ness trails, the Bluestone Road (also social health; parks, recreation, and open known as the Giles, Fayette, & Kanawha space; education facilities and libraries; Turnpike and later becoming Kanawha cultural, recreation, and tourism opportuni- Street), which was a wagon trail gener- ties; law enforcement and fire protection ally following the old Shawnee warpath, facilities; healthcare facilities; and known as the Paint Creek Trail, (and churches and civic organizations. now roughly followed by I-77), and a wagon trail called the Guyandotte Turnpike - Logan Road (which later Historic and became Harper Road - Neville Street). Beckley held a strong belief that a town Archaeologically- would prosper at the intersection of Significant Resources what is now Main Street and North and South Kanawha Streets. Alfred Beckley The value of historic and prehistoric recorded a “paper town” layout in 1838 properties is intrinsic and, therefore, worthy for which he designated not only streets of protection. The identification, recogni- and alleys, but locations for a Court tion, preservation, and protection of House Square, a church, burial grounds, prehistoric and historic structures, objects, a school, a tavern, and stores. Beckley and sites can help stabilize neighborhoods, donated 2 acres for the square, and in stimulate private investment, provide 1852, the first county courthouse was affordable housing, revitalize Downtown built, and the town slowly grew around activities, attract tourists, and enhance the Courthouse Square. community pride. A fire in 1912 destroyed over 30 wood- Prehistoric History and frame shops and residences in the Architecture Neville Street section of Courthouse Beckley is not a noteworthy location for the Square, but when the town rebuilt, many existence of prehistoric civilizations. private commercial buildings in the Archeologists have uncovered evidence that Central Business District took on similar Paleo-Indian man existed throughout West architecture details in construction and Virginia over 11,000 years ago, including materials, having been constructed by cultures of the Adena and Hopewell Mound local builders and craftsmen using native builders along the Kanawha and Ohio sandstone and brick. Uptown Beckley is Valley areas. Several tribes of Native filled with historic buildings of World Americans were known to pass through the War I and II era. The public buildings area, but there is no evidence or knowledge and churches are highly decorative of settlements within the Beckley area, examples of 20th century public architec- although the old Shawnee warpath, known ture with the Soldiers and Sailors as the Paint Creek Trail, was located Memorial Building on South Kanawha roughly along the route of I-77.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 25 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

Street one of the most grand structures. The Raleigh County Courthouse is an example of WPA post-war American public architecture. The present Federal Courthouse was designed in the art- modern style by one of West Virginia’s foremost architects, Alex B. Mahood. Bank buildings throughout the area carry classical revival detailing and temple fronts; especially, the Beckley Federal Savings Bank which was designed by Richard M. Bates, also a prominent West Virginia architect. Other buildings considered pivotal to the historic and architectural fabric of the central busi- ness district include: the Law Building; the Old Raleigh Register Building; the Foster Hardware Building; the United Bank Building (Raleigh County National Bank); the Wooton, Wooton, & Fragile Beckley has many buildings with a rich architectural history as Building; and the First Christian Church. is seen in this house built in 1918 on North Kanawha Street. In 1994, 129 buildings clustered in the Courthouse Square Historic District museum and exhibition coal mine. (bounded by Prince Street, S. Kanawha, Wildwood and the Phillips-Sprague Church Street, Lebanon, Howe, and Exhibition Coal Mine were listed as McCreery Streets) were listed as architec- architectural resource treasures on the tural resource treasures on the National National Register of Historic Places. Register of Historic Places. Such designa- tion enables area property owners to Twelve years ago, the Beckley Historic apply for rehabilitation tax credits. A Landmark Commission and the Raleigh local design committee offers design County Historic Landmark Society assistance and a low-interest loan recommended that two areas be designated program for renovation projects. as districts for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places. These areas Wildwood and the Phillips- Other Historical Areas embody a residential area on North Kanawha between Wilson and Sprague Exhibition Coal Alfred Beckley built a double log cabin Quesenberry Streets and an area immedi- Mine were listed as (later covered with clapboards) as his ately south of the Courthouse Square architectural resource home in 1836. He named the home Historic District which contains single- treasures on the National “Wildwood” and it is currently operated family homes built of local brick and stone Register of Historic Places. as a historical museum. Many early in the 1910s and 1920s, many now owned Beckley residents prospered and built by the College of West Virginia. The beautiful and stately homes on North Commissions felt these districts should be and South Kanawha Streets. designated to add prestige, increase property value, and promote preservation In the late 1800s, the Phillips family of Beckley’s architectural heritage, but operated a coal mine in what is now a formal activity to gain designation has not part of New River Park in Beckley. The yet been made by the City. City continues to utilize the site as a

Page 26 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Households Living in Poverty Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 27 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This Page left intentionally blank.

Page 28 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Social Health (Special between 1994 and 2005 paid or will pay less than $16,000 a year; these jobs will Needs Populations) not lift families out of poverty (National Those outside the social and employment Priorities Project, 1998). The FY2000 mainstream are often unable to avail Health and Human Services Poverty themselves of the social services they need Guidelines are listed in the Table below. because they are too isolated to leave their homes or neighborhoods to go Downtown The percentage of residents with incomes or to other centralized locations to get help. below the poverty level in 1990 was The 1990 Census identifies areas of Beckley 19.9% in the City of Beckley and in where residents reported economic and Raleigh County, compared to 19.7% for social conditions which can be somewhat the State, and 13.1% for the United alleviated with government programs and States (U.S. Census County and City Data social services. Book, 1994). In West Virginia, the five largest cities had between 10.4% and 16.7% of their residents living in Residents Living in Poverty poverty. Beckley and Raleigh County Poverty thresholds are the Federal poverty had a larger number of households measure created by the U.S. Census Bureau living in poverty than normal. and used by the Social Security Administra- tion to determine the number of Americans The following map indicates the Census living in poverty each year. From these Block Group areas within the City of poverty thresholds, the U.S. Department of Beckley where there are the largest Health and Human Services creates poverty numbers of households living in poverty guidelines to calculate eligibility for many in 1990. Over 230 households living in Federal and state assistance programs such poverty lived in the New River Park as Head Start, the Food Stamp Program, the Neighborhood/Sprague area. The National School Lunch Program, and the second highest concentration with 194 Low-Income Home Energy Assistance impoverished households, was the Program. Redbrush Neighborhood. Other areas with high concentrations included: East On a national basis, about 13 % of the Park (165); the Maxwell Hill area (158); population lived in poverty in 1997 with the western area of Ward 2 adjacent to more than 41% of all poor persons having Mabscott (150); the Uptown area (146); incomes less than half the poverty level. the Bibb Avenue area (114); and East Nationally, the total number of poor Beckley (108). people living in extreme poverty increased by a half million people between 1997 and The percentage of female-headed 1998. Eroding employment opportunities households with incomes below the and the declining value and availability of poverty level in 1990 for Raleigh County public assistance are thought to account for was 44.5%. Again, this is higher than this increase. A 1998 study estimated that the five largest West Virginia cities which 46% of the jobs with the most growth

FY2000 Health and Human Services Poverty Guidelines Size of Family Unit 1234567 8 Poverty Income Limit $8,350 $11,250 $14,150 $17,050 $19,950 $22,850 $25,750 $28,650 Source: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 29 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

had between 22.4% and 42.2% of their ary education for teenage parents; and female-headed households below the Job Readiness/Job Search activities. poverty level. Other components of WV WORKS include: requirements for minor parents Public Assistance to live with their parents or in an adult- The State of West Virginia’s Temporary supervised setting; a 10% “marriage Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) incentive” benefit if both adult recipients program, called WV WORKS, is designed in a household are legally married to to provide assistance to needy families each other; a child support incentive of with children and provide parents with $50 for each month a child support job preparation, work, and support payment is redirected to the Bureau for services to enable them to leave the Child Support Enforcement; a 60-month program and become self-sufficient. To lifetime family limit on the receipt of For households that can achieve this goal, the WV WORKS benefits; no cash benefits to pregnant earn income, the WV program is a work oriented, performance women who have no other minor WORKS program has based, time limited system that empha- children; no benefits are given to an provided solutions to sizes employment and personal respon- individual who is convicted of posses- many employment sibility. Work is the focus of WV sion, use, or distribution of a controlled barriers. WORKS, although the following addi- substance; and redetermination of tional program objectives are desired: financial eligibility is conducted at periodic intervals at a minimum of once every 12 months. • Provision of assistance to needy families so that children may be cared for in their own homes or in the About 772 Beckley households received homes of relatives; public assistance support payments in • End the dependence of needy 1990. Many of these families were parents on government benefits by disabled or unable to earn income. promoting job preparation, work, and However, for households that can earn marriage; income, the WV WORKS program has • Prevent and reduce the inci- provided solutions to many employ- dence of out-of-wedlock pregnancies ment barriers, such as health insur- and establish annual numerical goals ance, education, day care, transporta- for preventing and reducing the tion, uniforms or appropriate clothing, incidence of these pregnancies; and and funds for professional licences. • Encourage the formation and Income allowance levels were recently maintenance of two-parent families. increased by the State by $100 per month to provide an incentive for lower paid working households to One of the major components for remain eligible for TANF services while eligibility for a WV WORKS applicant is they continue building their work to enter into a Personal Responsibility histories and seeking better paying Contract (PRC) with the State. The PRC jobs. outlines the activities which must take place for the family to achieve self- In addition, the State will be using sufficiency. Violations of the PRC result State funds to allow beneficiaries to in financial penalties. Work activities attend college, an activity not currently include: direct hire or on-the-job train- permitted with Federal funds. While ing; work experience and work study current beneficiary numbers are not programs; vocational education; second-

Page 30 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Households Receiving Public Assistance Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 31 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 32 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

available for the City of Beckley, the County, the current (March 2000) LMI Raleigh County Office of the Bureau for income limits by family sizes are as Children and Families reports that shown in the chart at the bottom of the countywide caseloads have decreased page. from 1,700 in 1996 to a current level of 589 cases. It is estimated that the typical Statistically, about four in ten families case is open for 18-24 months, with over will be low and moderate income in any The aging of the baby half of the caseload history successfully community since low- and moderate- boomers, plus increases securing full-time employment. The income families are at or below 80 % of in longevity, will result in following map indicates the number of the area median income. The following an increased elderly households in each Beckley Census Block map illustrates numbers of persons in population and smaller Group that received Public Assistance low- and moderate-income groups by households. payments in 1990. The areas with the census tracts. It should be noted that highest concentration of households this map is based on 1990 census data receiving public assistance were the and not the more current income limits Redbrush area (163 households), the East shown above. Some changes in this map Park Neighborhood (99), and the Bibb are expected once the year 2000 census Avenue area (88). data is released.

LMI Persons Elderly Households The category of low and moderate income The aging of the national population has persons is a broad and all-encompassing obvious ramifications for a community, measure of individuals in families with especially for housing, medical care, and incomes that are less than 80 percent of the recreation. At a national level, it is area median family income. Low and expected that the demand for specialized moderate income persons may be elderly apartment facilities that accommodate people, a female headed household with the needs of older people is growing dependant children, people considered the steadily. By 2025, the baby boom “working poor,” or any one of a variety of generation - people born from 1946 other circumstances. through 1964 - will be between 60 and 79 years old. The aging of the baby This specific category of income is impor- boomers, plus increases in longevity, will tant, however, because it is used by the result in an increased elderly population Department of Housing and Urban Devel- and smaller households. According to opment (HUD) as a determinant for Emerging Trends in Real Estate 1999, eligibility for programs such as the Com- there is already an under-supply of munity Development Block Grant. Spe- independent-living residences which cific income limits vary by county across cater to healthy seniors nationwide. the United States and vary by the number of people in each household. In Raleigh

Raleigh County Median Family Income Limits Family Size

Income 12345678 Low (80%) $18,100 $20,650 $23,250 $25,850 $27,900 $29,950 $32,050 $34,100 Very Low (50%) $11,300 $12,900 $14,550 $16,150 $17,450 $18,750 $20,050 $21,300 Extremely Low (30%) $7,000 $7,750 $8,700 $9,700 $10,450 $11,250 $12,000 $12,800 Source: www.huduser.org/datasets/il/fmr00/hud//wv.txt City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 33 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 34 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

LMI Map Here Elderly Households

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 35 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 36 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Beckley, three-quarters of the women The median age of all City of Beckley seeking assistance have housing needs residents in 1999 was 41.3 years which such as emergency shelter accommoda- exceeds that of the County and the state as a tions, relocation, or housing rehabilita- whole (38.9 years and 38.2 years, respec- tion, and job related needs such as child tively). By 2020, the median age of Beckley care and transportation. This aging population in residents is expected to be a minimum of Beckley and the 10 years older. surrounding County is The map titled Female-Headed HHs with Children by Block Group, indicates reflective of statistics for The following map titled Elderly (65+) numbers of female-headed households the rest of the nation. Population indicates the location of the with children in each of the residential elderly population within the City by Census Block Group areas within the Census Block Groups in 1997, an estimate City in 1990, the most recent data by the Caliper Corporation. The area available. The highest numbers were around Harry Levin Park in Ward 4 is where found in the Redbrush Neighborhood senior citizen density is greatest, followed (94 households), the New River Park/ by an area in Ward 1 roughly composed of Sprague/Harper Road(north side) area Sprague and Maxwell Hill. The median age (84 households), and the Pinecrest area of the population in Beckley increased from (71 households). 37.5 years of age to almost 40 years of age between 1980 and 1990. In the County, the increase in median age was more dramatic Mentally Disabled/Physically between 1980 and 1990, increasing from Handicapped Persons 30.1 to 37.5 years of age. This aging The Raleigh County Health Department population in Beckley and the surrounding provides assistance to physically disabled County is reflective of statistics for the rest individuals to assist them in finding of the nation. foster family housing or group home accommodations in order to prevent them from placement in an institution. Female-headed Households The FMRS Mental Health Center also ....approximately 22% of About 1,048 households headed by females provides services to Beckley residents the homeless are made up 14 % of the City of Beckley with mental disabilities. impoverished women with population in 1990. Of this group, about children who said they 599 (57%) were households with children, HIV/AIDS Infected Persons had left their last place of and the remainder were single females. It is estimated by the HIV Care Consor- residence because of Female-headed households with children tium that 125 persons in Raleigh County domestic violence. are often low income and may require are living with HIV or Acquired Immu- home improvement financing assistance as nodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Many well as other supportive social services. On other HIV infected persons may live in a national basis, approximately 22% of the the County, but may not have been homeless are impoverished women with tested for HIV because they are not yet children who said they had left their last symptomatic. The Federal Center for place of residence because of domestic Disease Control estimates that over half violence (U.S. Conference of Mayors, 1998; of all persons diagnosed with AIDS first Homes for the Homeless, 1998). According learned of their infection within one year to the Womens’ Resource Center, which of diagnosis, and that confidential provides outreach services for women in a testing available through hospitals, four county area including the City of physicians, and clinics has been effective

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 37 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 38 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Elderly Households Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 39 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 40 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Female Heads of Households with Children Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 41 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 42 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

for earlier prevention and treatment to combat the epidemic. Parks, Recreation & The HIV Care Consortium operates over a 10-county area of West Virginia, which has Open Space an aggressive treatment policy with over 23 Beckley lies at the center of the diverse HIV drugs approved for use. Much of the southern West Virginia outdoor recre- West Virginia HIV/AIDS population has ation resource area. Raleigh County is Beckley lies at the center migrated “home” to West Virginia from surrounded on three sides by national of the diverse southern larger cities. A fair percentage of the parkland. Five state parks and four West Virginia outdoor population acquired the disease through wildlife management areas provide recreation resource area. drug injections. Quite often as jobs are lost ample recreation opportunities. Two Raleigh County is due to the effects of the disease, this national forests are within an hour’s surrounded on three sides population becomes homeless and lives in drive of Beckley. The region’s moun- by national parkland. mere survival conditions. Reflecting tains, cliffs, forests, lakes, ponds, rivers, compassion, the HIV Care Consortium first and streams provide many outdoor assists the population by providing income recreational and eco-tourism opportuni- stability through employment, SSI, Medic- ties such as; sightseeing, hiking, biking, aid, or Medicare. Housing is a very impor- hunting, skiing, golfing, rock climbing, tant issue, and in Raleigh County, it is caving, fishing, kayaking, and white- estimated by the HIV Care Consortium water rafting. These recreational re- Case Manager that 25 emergency-shelter sources attract thousands of individuals beds and at least 20 Section-8 rental from across the nation and beyond assistance certificates or vouchers are representing a significant economic needed. development opportunity for the City of Beckley. Homeless Households The Pine Haven Homeless Shelter is the Open space resources within the City Beckley service provider for homeless include parks, parkways, streetscapes, households. The shelter cares for 1,400 undeveloped steep slopes, and vacant homeless individuals each year with a lots. Vacant lots resulting from demoli- potential maximum capacity of 2,000 per tion of abandoned structures are often year drawing from a 14-county catchment used for illegal dumping and become area. Pine Haven includes two facilities, eyesores with a significant negative one for families and the other for single impact on a neighborhood. Appropriate men. Services include GED training, adult development of these vacant lots, found literacy, a five-day employment readiness mainly in Wards 3, 4, and 5, represent a course, transportation assistance to work, a significant opportunity to impact 12-week drug and alcohol treatment existing development densities and program, an in-house counselor that increase open-space amenities and provides group meetings for drug and overall real estate values. See Chapter 9 Six West Virginia State for further discussion of this topic. Parks are also located alcohol rehabilitation and other counsel- ing. There are six case managers at the within or near the • The New River Gorge National River boundaries of the New facility. Current capacity is 150. In the coming year, the shelter plans to add a Park is located less than 10 miles east of River Gorge National Beckley between Hinton and Fayetteville. Park. facility for single mothers with children, providing special services for the children. The park was established in 1978 to Pine Have is located in the old nurses preserve and protect 62,000 acres of land quarters on the grounds of the former Pine along 53 miles of the New River gorge. Crest Hospital, approximately one mile The extensive trail system within the Park from Downtown. City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 43 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

takes visitors through old coal towns, Stephens. Fitzpatrick Park, operated by the waterfalls, geological formations, and Raleigh County Recreation Authority, is scenic views of the gorge. Several trails located two miles east of WV Route 16 at permit mountain biking and horseback Mabscott. Facilities include a softball riding. Commercial white-water outfit- complex, fishing, picnic area, and Open space resources ters also offer trips down the New River, children’s play area. Lake Stephens is within the City include which falls 750 feet in 50 miles from the located west of Beckley on WV Route 3, parks, parkways, Bluestone Dam to the Gauley Bridge. nine (9) miles west of I-77. The 2,700 acre streetscapes, undeveloped CSX Transportation owns and operates area offers many amenities including steep slopes, and vacant the 70 miles of active rail lines within campgrounds and marina, trailer and tent lots. the Park. Daily trains pass through the sites, shower facilities, and general store. area including the AMTRAK Cardinal train. Main areas of the park include Within the City, the Beckley Parks and Canyon Rim, Thurmond, Grandview, Recreation Department maintains several and Sandstone Falls, which offer spec- parks and facilities and is responsible for tacular views of the gorge. the implementation of beautification programs. The following descriptions of Canyon Rim, located at the north end of each City park includes a list of mainte- the park, is adjacent to the New River nance activities prescribed by the Parks Gorge Bridge which is the world’s Department: longest single-arch steel span bridge and the site of the annual Bridge Day celebra- • Located across from the Piney Oaks tion. Also in proximity to Beckley is the School, Barber Avenue Park (Ward 5) Gauley River National Recreation Area to primarily serves the children living in the the northeast and the Bluestone Na- housing projects surrounding the play- tional Scenic River to the southeast. ground. The park is .22 acres in size and includes a picnic table, grill, and play- Six West Virginia State Parks are also ground equipment. The playground located within or near the boundaries of equipment should be painted, under- the New River Gorge National Park growth from the fence line should be cut including: Carnifex, Ferry Battlefield, back, new sand in the sandbox, and new Hawks Nest, Babcock, Little Beaver, swings. Bluestone, and Pipestem. Little Beaver State Park is the closest State Park to • The Glenn Avenue Park (Ward 4) offers a Beckley; located southeast of the City basketball court, playground equipment, near Shady Springs, south of I-64. The and picnic table on .36 acres. Park im- Park is approximately 562 acres in size provements needed include painting the with an 18-acre lake which offers playground equipment, new trash recep- boating and fishing. Other facilities tacles, replacing missing or rotted picnic include a recreation building, picnic table wood, and new playground equip- area, and hiking trails. ment to meet playground safety require- ments dictated by the U.S. Consumer Other recreation areas in the County Products Safety Commission. include Fitzpatrick Park and Lake

Page 44 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

• Harry Levin Park (Ward 4) is 9.5 acres in several new signs, and the exercise areas size located near Pinecrest Hospital on US need to be cleaned; the playground 19 - Eisenhower Drive and features a equipment should be painted and fill covered shelter area, public restrooms, material added in and around the playground equipment, basketball court, equipment; old equipment should be picnic tables, and grills. Elk’s Stadium, removed; grills need to be replaced; and located on the east side of US 19 south of the New River Shelter restrooms need to Harry Levin Park, offers three baseball be updated and renovated to meet ADA fields. requirements.

• Maxwell Hill Park (Ward 1) is located in • The Ridge Avenue Park (Ward 2) is the northwestern portion of the City on located off City Avenue in the southwest Maxwell Hill Road. There is very little portion of the City and is .23 acres in equipment at this park, which includes one size. This park is mainly a neighbor- merry-go-round and two goals outside, and hood park with a basketball court and an indoor basketball court located in the playground equipment. This park’s Community Center. The park is in need of needs include painting the playground new playground equipment (swing set, equipment, repairing the fence, new slide) in addition to picnic equipment and trash receptacles, and fill material. shelters. Planned improvements include new playground equipment and surfacing, • Another neighborhood park is the landscaping, grills, and picnic tables. Scott Avenue Park (Ward 3), which is .26 acres in size. There is a basketball • Mool Avenue Land (Ward 5) was pur- court and an abandoned restroom chased in 1995 and remains undeveloped. facility located at the park. The needs The Community Improvement Association assessment reveals that the playground has recommended the development of a equipment should be painted, the recreation plan for this park. building demolished, new swings installed, and a new trash receptacle • The New River Park (Ward 3) is located provided. in the central area of the City next to the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine and is • The Stansbury Tennis Center and approximately 27.5 acres in size. Facilities Ewart Avenue Playground (Ward 3), are include a public pool (50 meters), conces- located on Ewart Avenue and jointly sions and restrooms, picnic shelter, picnic operated by the Beckley Tennis Club and areas, playing field, basketball courts, tennis the Parks Department. This park is courts (eight unlighted), horseshoe pits, situated on 2.05 acres and features four and a one mile VITA fitness trail. RV and lighted tennis courts, picnic table, and tent camping are also allowed. The park playground equipment. has several needs which the Needs Assess- ment identifies for improvement in the • Simpkins Street Park (Ward 5) is near future, including the C&O Caboose, located off Fayette Street. A leased which should be completely renovated on facility, the park includes a basketball the outside; the engine needs to be cleaned court and picnic tables. and painted; the VITA fitness trail needs • Temple Street Park (Ward 3) is a small

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 45 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

(.2 acres) neighborhood park that is also Central Elementary School and the Insti- used by the First Christian Early Child- tute Elementary School are slated for hood Preschool and the Children’s closure within two years with a new House students. The park includes a elementary school to be built beside the Key leaders surveyed in basketball court and playground equip- new Beckley-Stratton Junior High School. Beckley are unanimous in ment. The park needs a new basketball A school levy which passed in 1999 will their belief that goal, backboard, and nets, trash recep- allow the County to build three additional opportunities for higher tacles, fill material in and around the schools outside the City. education in area colleges equipment, and the playground equip- and universities have been ment needs to be painted. The Board of Education has engaged a greatly improved in recent consultant to assist in the development of years. • Other private recreation facilities in the Year 2000 - 10-year plan. It is felt by Beckley include the Black Knight Coun- many key leaders that the public schools try Club, which is a nine hole, private need to increase educational opportunities golf course in southeast Beckley, and the for the development of a technically-skilled YMCA Soccer Complex. labor pool needed to attract and maintain high-tech industries in the Beckley area. Over the last 10 years, the Board of Educa- Schools tion has provided many vocational and Public Education computer-related education resources The public primary and secondary including wind tunnels, hydraulics, education system in Beckley is operated robotics, and satellite broadcasting. School by the Raleigh County Board of Educa- safety continues to be one of the most tion. Public school facilities throughout important concerns of the Board, teachers, the County are available to residents of and parents. The School Board values the Beckley through open-enrollment with assistance of the Beckley Police Depart- the permission of the school principal. ment in this area of nationwide concern. The following school facilities are located within the City limits: the Private Education Woodrow Wilson High School; Beckley- Private primary and secondary schools Stratton Junior High School; Park Junior offering specialized education to area High School; Central Elementary; students include St. Francis De Sales Crescent Elementary School; Institute School (Roman Catholic), Greater Beckley Elementary; Maxwell Hill Elementary Christian Academy (north of Beckley in School; Stratton Elementary School; and Prosperity), Mabscott Christian Academy the Academy of Careers and Technology (southwest of Beckley in Mabscott), and (Vo-tech). Victory Baptist Academy (southeast of Beckley in Beaver). The Beckley-Stratton Junior High School on Grey Flats Road is a new facility Higher Education which consolidated and updated the Key leaders surveyed in Beckley are unani- Beckley Junior High School and the mous in their belief that opportunities for Stratton Junior High School. The former higher education in area colleges and Beckley Junior High facility was given to universities have been greatly improved in the College of West Virginia, and the recent years. The following Beckley area Stratton Junior High facility now serves institutions provide associate, baccalaure- as an elementary school. Both the

Page 46 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

ate, and graduate level education programs. Academy to train mine inspectors and personnel for the extractive industries. Appalachian Bible College: The Appala- The facility is located east of Beckley near chian Bible College is an accredited, the Airport Industrial Park and Research independent Bible College which prepares Center and provides housing for 350 about 220 students for Christian ministry students. and offers Associate and Bachelor of Arts degrees in Bible and Theology. Valley College of Technology: The Beckley campus of the Valley College of Bluefield State College: The Beckley Technology is a private institution of Campus of Bluefield State College offers 12 higher education specializing in office nationally accredited programs of study and management training including focusing upon regional career opportunities computer software training for area and customized business and industrial The Raleigh County businesses. Accredited training is workforce training. Public Library system provided for careers in accounting, legal complements all aspects office, medical office, secretarial, word of education and literary Mountain State Univeristy (formerly processing, and business management. interests. known as the College of West Virginia): Originally founded as Beckley College in West Virginia Graduate College: The 1933, Mountain State University is a private West Virginia Graduate College is college serving 2,100 students. The Univer- located on Stanaford Road in northeast sity offers Associate, Baccalaureate, and Beckley. Graduate programs including health sciences, aviation, business, and arts and science curriculum. Accredited by the Libraries North Central Association of Colleges and The Raleigh County Public Library Schools, the College recently completed system complements all aspects of construction of the new Robert C. Byrd education and literary interests with a Learning Resource Center and a new 192- convenient Beckley facility and the bed residence hall. availability of more than 100,000 volumes. The Concord College - Beckley Center: Originally founded as Concord College is a liberal arts college in Cultural and Beckley College in 1933, Athens, WV which opened an off-campus Mountain State University Center in Beckley in 1991. Over 600 Entertainment is a private college students attend more than 60 classes per serving 2,100 students. semester. The Center offers all of Concord’s Opportunities general studies classes, plus advanced The Beckley area is rich with cultural and courses in business, teacher education, entertainment opportunities for resi- social work, and travel industry manage- dents and visitors. Beckley Main Street ment. Concord also provides customized features Friday in the Park entertainment training to businesses on a contract basis. throughout the Summer. Annual events which celebrate the ethnic and cultural U.S. Mine Health and Safety Academy: history of the region include the Appala- The U.S. Department of the Interior chian Arts and Crafts Festival, the Irish operates the Mine Health and Safety Heritage Festival, the Kid’s Classic

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 47 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

Festival, the Rhododendron Festival, and Wildwood House Museum: The the Taste of Beckley. The Beckley Concert Wildwood house, the most historic Association presents a minimum of three building in Beckley, was built in 1835 as live professional musical performances the home of Beckley’s founder, General each year in the modern auditorium Alfred Beckley. The museum provides facilities of Woodrow Wilson High School. the story of this pioneer engineer’s The Beckley area is rich Other cultural facilities include: struggle to build a town in the wilder- with cultural and ness and is listed on the National entertainment Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine: The Register of Historic Places. opportunities for residents Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine is located in and visitors. New River Park and provides a look into Youth Museum of Southern West West Virginia’s coal mining heritage. This Virginia and Mountain Homestead: exhibition includes a 35-minute ride Located in New River Park, the Youth conducted by experienced coal miners in a Museum and Mountain Homestead “man-trip” car pulled by a battery-powered provides a pioneer village exhibit and locomotive through a once-operational demonstrates how settlers survived life coal mine. Participants relive coal mining’s in the rugged terrain of the Appalachian history from its beginning through modern Mountains. The museum is built of rail mechanization. The “Coal Camp” reveals cars and contains hands-on exhibits and life in the coal fields, but also through the a planetarium, while the homestead is Coal Camp House, the Coal Camp Church, made up of a log cabin, barn, school- the Miner’s Quarters, and the house, moonshine still, blacksmith Superintendent’s House. A museum and shop, and a country store. gift shop are also available on site.

Soldiers & Sailors Theater and Arts Center: Located in Uptown Beckley, the Soldiers & Sailors Theater and Arts Center is a community-based visual and performing arts center providing classes in various disciplines, art exhibits, and innovative theatrical and musical performances.

Tamarack: The Tamarack Center is a 59,000 square foot cultural arts center which features West Virginia products and offers a glimpse of West Virginia’s culture and history. The facility exhibits and celebrates the work of artisans, craftsmen, and special- ists throughout the State, providing a shopping arena as well as an art gallery, theater, and gourmet food court.

Theater West Virginia: The Theater West Virginia is located at the National Park Service’s Cliffside Amphitheater. On alternate nights, the outdoor dramas of the “Hatfields and McCoys,” the tale of the infamous Appalachian feud, and “Honey in the Rock,” the nation’s oldest Civil War The Coal Camp Church at the Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine drama, are staged. Page 48 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

Law Enforcement gency equipment.

Facilities In order to be selected for appointment The City of Beckley provides law enforce- by the Mayor, officers must be a certified ment services within the City limits West Virginia Police Officer and meet the through the Beckley Police Department. criteria established by the Code of West The Department employs 56 full-time Virginia Police Civil Service Statutes and officers and 21 civilian personnel. Opera- the Regulations promulgated by the City tions are conducted through the Patrol of Beckley Police Civil Service Commis- Division, an Investigative Division, and a sion. The Department is composed of Support Services Division. Specialized the following ranks and numbers of units include a Detective Bureau, a Police officers within each rank: Chief of Police The Beckley Police Canine Unit (consisting of four German (1); Captain (2); Lieutenant (7); Department has formed Shepherd canines, a Domestic Violence Sergeant (12); Corporal (15); and partnerships with Response Officer, the office of the Southern Patrolman (19). The Captain of Field resident-volunteers. West Virginia Regional Highway Safety Services is in charge of 42 uniformed Coordinator, and the Department partici- Patrol Officers and five Detectives; the pates in the Regional Unified Drug Enforce- Captain of Support Services commands ment Task Force serving with officers from three officers, and oversees the civilian five other Sheriff and City Police Depart- personnel; and five officers are assigned ments. The Department had a 1998-1999 to the Regional Unified Drug Enforce- annual budget of nearly $3.3 million. The ment Task Force. The Beckley Police main police facility is a three story, cen- Department has formed partnerships trally-located structure which houses the with resident-volunteers in the United Investigative Division and Support Services Neighborhood Crime Watch and the Division, including the support functions East Beckley Crime Watch. of police records, photography laboratory, computer systems, and evidence. The City In 1930, the FBI Uniform Crime Report- is divided into three police zones, with ing Program was initiated to compile community policing facilities recently crime statistics voluntarily submitted by opened in East Beckley, East Park, and law enforcement agencies across the Maxwell Hill. Each Patrol Officer is United States. Eight offenses, composed assigned a police vehicle equipped with a of violent offenses and property crimes, mobile video recorder, a prisoner contain- serve as an index for evaluating fluctua- ment screen, multi-channel two-way radios tions in the volume of crime because of capable of secure encryption, and emer- their seriousness, frequency of occur-

Serious Crime Offenses Reported in Beckley, West Virginia Violent Crimes Property Crimes Year Homicide Rape Robbery Assault Burglary Larceny- Motor Arson Theft Vehicle Theft

1998 3 6 22 531 160 867 54 10 1995 2 9 28 112 164 1003 68 18

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 49 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

rence, and likelihood of being reported to the fifteen largest cities in West Virginia, police. Violent crimes include murder and only Charleston (at a rate of 9.8 per 100 nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, residents) and Martinsburg (at a rate of robbery, and aggravated assault. Property 7.7 per 100 residents) experienced a crimes include burglary, larceny-theft, higher rate of serious crimes. motor vehicle theft, and arson. The follow- ing table provides statistics for Beckley. Overall in 1995, West Virginia reported serious crimes at a rate of 2.5 per 100 The City of Beckley reported 1,653 serious residents (one of the lowest crime rates crimes in 1998 of which 34% were violent in the United States) while the national crimes and 66% were crimes against average was at 5.4 crimes per 100 property. The central business district, East residents. However, violent crimes for Park, and East Beckley locations accounted West Virginia and the United States were .....the rate of teen violent for 66% of the murders, 89% of the rapes, reported as 8.6% and 13.1% of all deaths (ages 15-19) for 76% of the robberies, and 83% of the arson serious crimes, which indicates that Raleigh County has offenses. The 10 arson cases in 1998 Beckley experienced a lower rate of increased 45.1%, resulted in a total of $91,450 property crimes against people and a higher rate compared to the State damage. Of 702 arrests made for serious against property. The Police Chief which experienced a crimes in 1998, 194 persons (28%) were estimated the Beckley population nearly 30% decrease. under the age of 18 years with 15% of the increases from almost 19,000 residents violent crime arrests and 39% of the at night to nearly 200,000 residents property crime arrests attributed to youth during the day (due to jobs in the City, offenders. shopping, etc.,) and that Beckley police officers respond to about 70,000 calls for Data compiled by the West Virginia Kids service per year - with at least half from Count Fund and the West Virginia Univer- nonresident traffic incidents. sity Survey Research Center indicates that between 1980 and 1996, the rate of teen Traffic and accident statistic comparisons violent deaths (ages 15-19) for Raleigh between 1995 and 1998 (shown in the County has increased 45.1%, compared table below) reveal a 55% increase in the to the State which experienced a nearly incidence of accidents, yet there was a 30% decrease. Only one other WV county 51% decrease in the number of personal exceeded the Raleigh County teen violent injuries, and a decrease in the number of death rate between 1992 and 1996. fatalities from 3 to only 1 person. The Department may be directly responsible In 1995, the City of Beckley reported 1,404 for increased safety on the highways as it serious crimes of which 11% were violent increased DUI arrests by 70%, speeding crimes and 89% were crimes against arrests by 27%, and seatbelt citations by property - a rate of 7.487 serious crimes per 249%. 100 residents (as estimated by the FBI). Of

Traffic and Motor Vehicle Accident Statistics Year Accidents Leaving Private Personal Fatalities DUI Speeding Seatbelt the Scene Lot Injury Arrests Arrests Citations

1998 1,361 172 228 247 1 258 2,664 3,954 1995 879 129 250 508 3 152 2,090 1,134 Source: Beckley Police Department

Page 50 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

information; a West Virginia Division of In 1998, the K-9 Unit was applied 115 times Criminal Justice Services grant for and was responsible for 45 arrests and The Department may be staffing the Regional Unified Drug apprehensions and 17 drug and evidence directly responsible for Enforcement Task Force; a Raleigh seizures. Over 970 vice arrests were made increased safety on the County Domestic Violence Response in 1998, with 11% of the violations involv- highways as it increased Team personnel grant; and a Bureau of ing youth under the age of 18 years. DUI arrests by 70%, Justice Administration Local Law speeding arrests by 27%, Enforcement Block Grant. and seatbelt citations by Training opportunities utilized by the Department in 1998 included: Arson 249%. The Beckley Police Department has Detection (33 officers); law enforcement implemented community policing on a training; cap-stun courses; diversity man- citywide basis with each member of the agement training (41 officers); narcotic force charged with the responsibility of detection; domestic drug interdiction; child communicating with residents in their abuse and exploitation investigative patrol zone to identify problems and techniques; school violence training; concerns, and to work with the commu- community policing training; problem nity to solve problems. Officers success- solving for Line Officers; supervision of fully addressed resident concerns with Police personnel; Police traffic radar/laser loitering, driver education, and vandal- instructor training; response to hate crimes ism in various areas. training; crime scene and evidence classes; interview and interrogation techniques; One of the most important achieve- solving cases through interrogation; ments of the Community Policing polygraph examiner courses; advanced Program in 1998 was the challenge of traffic accident investigation; traffic accident juveniles congregating on neighborhood reconstruction; traffic occupant protection streets and causing problems for the strategies; proper use of child safety seats; neighbors. An investigation revealed the firefighter operations; advanced vehicle fire true problem was underage drinking due investigation; emergency medical techni- to the illegal sale of alcoholic beverages cian training; cyberCop training; MS to underage persons. Police training Windows NT training; and grants manage- efforts with retail convenience store ment and programmatic training. clerks has been well received and had a dramatic effect on under-age sales and, Grantsmanship by the Department has to a large part, eliminated the neighbor- resulted in additional law enforcement hood problems. The Beckley Commu- manpower, equipment, and programs, nity Policing program has also enabled including: awards from the Department of officers to present the National Drug Justice Office of Community Oriented Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) Policing Services (COPS) for supplemental curriculum to students from Kindergar- The Beckley Police hiring of 12 additional police officers; a ten through the sixth grade in the six Department has COPS Juvenile Disorder Problem Solving elementary schools located within the implemented community grant; a COPS More - Mobile Data grant to City of Beckley. policing on a citywide basis. place computers in every patrol vehicle; a Southern Regional Highway Safety Task Three recent laws have placed a greater Force grant, a Combined Local Agency burden on law enforcement due to an Warrant System grant to connect five increase in the manpower required to regional areas with computerized records investigate and comply with the new and software systems to provide and requirements. Where the facts of a case manage arrest reports, personnel, and court City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 51 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life meet a relatively broad definition of to carry the case load. The lack of adequate domestic violence, it is now required space for detaining offenders often hinders that a thorough investigation be per- the ability of the Beckley Police Depart- .....unincorporated areas formed regardless of the circumstances ment to fight crime. In the case of juvenile adjacent to and inside the surrounding the incident. The “Harmon offenders when there are no detention City of Beckley are protected Rule,” issued by the West Virginia State facilities available, judicial authorities are by the County Sheriff’s Supreme Court to eliminate unfounded required to release the juvenile back into Department. and frivolous complaints for warrants the custody of parents (who often were filed by citizens, now requires law unable to control the child prior to the enforcement officers to investigate nearly arrest). In the case of adult offenders, not all types of citizen complaints before wishing to further tax an already burdened they may be presented to a magistrate, correctional system, prosecutors and judges and if a warrant is issued, the officer is often opt for other sentencing methods then also required to present testimony such as probation or home confinement - at any subsequent court proceeding. In in many cases allowing the offenders to January 1999, West Virginia adopted a continue in their criminal activity. more stringent data reporting system than the Uniform Crime Report, and now law enforcement agencies are Fire Protection Facilities required to compile data under the The residents of Beckley are provided fire format guidelines of the National protection services by the City Fire Depart- Incident Based Reporting System and the ment which has 45 full-time firefighters. West Virginia Incident Based Reporting In 1998, the City dedicated two new fire System, which require much more time stations on Third Avenue and Pikeview in the preparation of data for submis- Drive (near I-77, Exit 44), and continues to sion. operate from the station located on North Eisenhower Drive. In 1998, construction The unincorporated areas adjacent to of the three story Training Tower at the and inside the City of Beckley are North Eisenhower Drive Fire Station was protected by the County Sheriff’s Depart- completed. The Department vehicles ment. The County typically has two cars include four pumpers, two rescue vehicles, available to serve these areas, but the and two ladder trucks. In 1998, the residents of the unincorporated Skelton, Beckley Fire Department responded to Sprague, and North Beckley areas receive 1,072 emergency calls, including 50 the appearance of City Police protection structural fires. For the seventh straight by the frequent passage of City Police year, no loss of life from fire occurred vehicles through the interior of the City, within the City. Fire loss for 1998 was For the seventh straight although the Department does not estimated at slightly more than one-half year, no loss of life from fire respond to their calls for assistance million dollars. occurred within the City. unless mutual aid authorization is provided by the County. The City’s Insurance Services Office (ISO) rating dropped last fall because of the It was reported at the Steering Commit- addition of a new station and equipment, tee that the Judicial System is not additional hydrants, and increases in the keeping pace with the arrests made by capacity of water lines to meet fire flow the Police Division, especially in the area requirements. Some areas of the City do of drug arrests, causing many cases to be not have the capacity to meet the fire flow plea bargained. The problem may be requirement for the lower ISO rating, due to a need for additional prosecutors which costs the City increased premiums.

Page 52 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Quality of Life Chapter 4

The three current fire stations are estimated to be able to meet community demand for Healthcare Facilities services over the next 20 years; however, One indicator of the quality of life in a Three current fire stations projected motel and restaurant growth in community is the caliber of its health care are estimated to be able to the area of the I-64 interchange on South system. The City of Beckley is the center of meet community demand Eisenhower Drive may require further the southern West Virginia healthcare for services over the next analysis of fire protection capabilities. system with four hospitals, two cancer 20 years. treatment centers, 15 extended care centers Additional economic development activi- and clinics, and over 170 physicians serving ties within the City have required planning the region. The four hospitals include for rescue incidents that need special Raleigh General Hospital (on Harper equipment and training, such as high angle Road), Beckley Appalachian Regional rescue, confined space rescue, trench rescue, (B.A.R.) Hospital (on SR 41 in the and mine rescue (at the Beckley Exhibition Woodcrest neighborhood), Pinecrest State Coal Mine). In addition, the list of Hospital (adjacent to Levin Park on US 19/ hazardous chemicals produced, stored, and SR 41), and the Veterans Administration transported in the City of Beckley has Medical Center (east of SR 16 on the increased, requiring planning for training southwest side of town). and equipment to meet potential hazard- ous material spill incidents. Many individuals interviewed in the Key Person Surveys expressed dissatisfaction Currently, the Fire Department has 20 with medical care in Beckley, citing the loss personnel certified as Emergency Medical of services from the old Beckley Hospital Technicians and two licenced paramedics (recently purchased by Raleigh General which stabilize accident victims at the scene Hospital and converted to residential use) of an injury and are equipped and trained and their opinion that medical services in in the use of defibrilators; however, the Charleston offer more alternative treat- Department does not supply emergency ments and were less expensive. Several medical transport. In 1999, the West leaders stated that the medical system is Virginia Department of Emergency Medical overloaded and that a study is underway to Services began to license agencies for improve the system. emergency medical response and the Department has applied for a license. Emergency medical transport services are provided by private ambulance service At the initial meeting for the Comprehen- providers. Air ambulance services are sive Plan, a concern was presented that available through Healthnet, stationed in growth in the Downtown and the develop- Charleston, and critically-injured, air-lifted ment of high-rise buildings will require patients are typically transported to review and upgrading of both the building Charleston Area Medical Center. code and the fire code. Another concern mentioned was that residents in the unincorporated City interior receive first Churches and Civic The City of Beckley is the response only through Volunteer Fire Organizations center of the southern Departments located outside the City, yet quick response services by the nearby, fully- Churches are an active part of life in the West Virginia healthcare City of Beckley. The diversity of faith in system. staffed City Fire Department could save lives by reducing response time. this area is expressed by the presence within Raleigh County of nearly all major

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 53 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 4 Quality of Life

religions and denominations. There are 60 Protestant denominations, two Roman Catholic churches, a Jewish synagogue, a Greek Orthodox church, and a Unitarian-Universalist fellowship. Formal Islamic and Hindu services are also held regularly. Youth programs, study groups, visitations, sports leagues, social events, and care for the needy are The diversity of faith in this some of the activities provided. area is expressed by the presence within Raleigh United Way agencies funded by the County of nearly all major United Way of Southern West Virginia in religions and denominations. Beckley include the food banks, Salva- tion Army, United Services Organization chapter, Pinehaven Homeless Shelter, Women’s Resource Center, crime watch, American Red Cross chapter, dental and medical clinics, a sheltered workshop, Raleigh County Commission on Aging, Hospice, Raleigh County Humane Society, Boy and Girl Scouts, and child development and day care centers. Other active civic organizations in Beckley include the American Heart Association, Beckley-Raleigh County Chamber of Commerce, the March of Dimes, Masonic Temple, and the United Mine Workers of America.

Page 54 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group Trends Chapter 5

Projections

such as through market analyses for and Trends shopping centers and housing. Knowing At the beginning of the new century, many the detailed characteristics of future national and State trends are apparent, and populations such as growth in preschool a variety of projections can be made to help or elderly populations, permits an define what the City will be like in the analyst to determine whether, for future. While trends can (and often do) example, there is a market for more change, it is useful to briefly mention nursery schools or more nursing homes. observed trends and available projections that represent a glimpse of future opportu- Several population projections and nities and challenges. estimates have been generated for Raleigh County. The Beckley Transit Feasibility Study Update (1995) for Population Projections example, contains an examination of A population projection is a prediction of a local population characteristics for future demographic condition that will transit service needs. This study con- occur if the assumptions inherent in the cluded that recent economic develop- projection technique prove true. Popula- ment efforts (new industrial parks, two tion projections have technical and political new prisons, and federal building dimensions depending on your perspective complex) represent sound reasons to -- a positive projection may represent expect modest countywide population economic progress or a corresponding increases in the future. This perception decline in quality of life. Population is also supported in the Beckley Main projections incorporate four components: Street Market Analysis Report (1998) births, deaths, migration, and special which states that among the counties populations (such as people associated surrounding it, Raleigh County experi- with military bases, tourists, prisons, and enced the most growth (5.1%) between colleges and universities). Comprehensive 1991 and 1997. The Beckley Transit Over the next twenty plans rely on population projections for Feasibility Study Update also referred to years, the Institute forecasting land use, housing, and transpor- population projections produced by the projects an initial decline tation. State and local governments use Regional Research Institute at West followed by a stable population projections for sizing and Virginia University, which provided a population period, and timing major public facilities, such as water range of projections for Raleigh County. then moderate increases and wastewater treatment plants, water and Over the next twenty years, the Institute at an overall rate of 2.5 % sewer lines, and designing new roads. projects an initial decline followed by a per year through the Population projections may be employed stable population period, and then period. in needs analyses for schools, park facilities, moderate increases at an overall rate of hospitals, social service agencies, and 2.5 % per year through the period. This libraries. Assumptions about future provides one estimate that the City of household size are incorporated into cost- Beckley will add approximately 12,463 revenue and other impact analyses of new residents during the next 20 years proposed developments. Finally, the (2000-2020). The following table private sector draws upon population depicts this estimated growth. projections in making business decisions,

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 55 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 5 Trends

The Population Projection by Age chart compared to 8.8% for the County, 8.4% for provides an estimate of long-term the State, and 6.7% for the nation. The migration trends by age group in Raleigh following graph indicates estimates of County. This data can be used to project unemployment for Raleigh County and the population age groups and provide a State of West Virginia maintained by the The chart indicates that for rough indication of what might be West Virginia Department of Employment the next twenty years, the expected in Beckley. The chart indicates Security. During the decade, the highest overall population of that for the next twenty years, the overall levels of unemployment occurred in 1992 residents over age 45 will population of residents over age 45 will for the State (11.4 ) and in 1993 for the increase, and the number of increase, and the number of younger County (13.2%). Since those times, younger individuals will individuals will decrease. The number unemployment dropped off to lows in decrease. of children under the age of 19 is 1998 of 6.6 for the State and 7.5 % for expected to decrease by 3,434 from County. As of 1999, the unemployment 22,296 in 1990. The number of young rate slightly climbed to 7.6 % for adults ages 20 to 44 is expected to theCounty and increased to 7.2 % for the decrease by 1,065 from 27,151 persons State, as a whole. in 1990. The number of individuals aged 45 to 64 will increase overall by 5,973 from a 1990 population of 15,615; Population Projections By Age however, this portion of the population Raleigh County, West Virginia will peak in 2010 with a population of 22,889 persons. The population of individuals over age 65 was 11,757 in Families 20-44 1990 and is expected to remain flat until 30,000 2010 when an increase in the age group 25,000 will begin eventually increasing the Dependents 0-19 population of seniors by 2,671 persons. 20,000 15,000 Empty Nester 45-64

Employment and 10,000

Income Trends 5,000 Seniors 65+ The rate of employment, typically 0 expressed in the opposite as unemploy- ment, is an indicator of economic 1990 1995 2000 2005 2010 2015 2020 opportunity for an area. Declining or Source: University of West Virginia; http://www.rri.wvu.edu/PopWeb/POP_AGE_SEX static unemployment is an indicator of a Families Dependents (0-19) stable and possibly growing economic Empty Nesters (45-64) Seniors (65+) base. In 1990, the City of Beckley unemployment rate was estimated at 9%

1990 - 2020 Population Growth Estimates 1990 1995 Average 2000 Average 2020 Average Population Population Annual Population Annual Population Annual Percent Percent Percent Change Change Change 1990-1995 1995-2000 2000-2020 City of Beckley, WV 18,296 19,039 0.80% 19,515 0.50% 31,978 2.5%

Source: Places, Towns, & Townships, Second Edition, Bernan Press 1998; University of West Virginia, Center for Economic Research

Page 56 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Trends Chapter 5

Data comparisons provided by Claritas, Inc. pace and potentially exceed both the of Arlington, VA indicate increases to the County and State median incomes over average Beckley household income of 44.6 the next decade. % since 1990 to an all-time high of $41,681 per year. Median household income has Overall, the trend of higher employment only increased 35.2 % over the same period (as shown by declining unemployment) to a 1999 figure of $25,771. This skewing and growth in median household of the average over the median tends to income for the decade is positive. The indicate that the growth in average house- comparison with County and State hold income is more due to increases in income data indicates that to continue to income for those with the highest incomes show improvement, the City must rather than for lower income households, continue its efforts to attract businesses although general improvement is apparent. that provide residents with a living wage.

The percentage increase in median house- The poverty threshold for a household of hold income over the period is slightly four is $17,050 per year, or an income of higher in Beckley than in the County and $8.20 per hour. Some cities that share the State (33 % and 32 % increases, respec- The trend of higher Beckley’s desire for higher incomes have tively), but the City trails both the County employment (as shown by created minimum payroll goals of 150% and State in the actual median household declining unemployment) of the poverty threshold for any business income ($26,052 and $27,643, respec- and growth in median providing services to the City or receiv- tively). household income for the ing public economic incentives (result- decade is positive. ing in a “minimum” wage of $12.30 per Overall, it appears the growth in Beckley hour or $25,575 per year. For Beckley, it incomes has been compatible with County is interesting to note that this type of and statewide growth; however, the rate of goal would be nearly equivalent to the increase of income growth would indicate 1999 median household income for that Beckley’s income growth trend (tied to Beckley. continued efforts to attract new industrial and commercial jobs) will continue to keep

Unemployment Rates 1990Unemployment to 1999 Rates 1990 to 1999 14.0% 13.2% 13.0% 12.6%

12.0%

Rate 11.4% 11.0% 11.0% 10.9% 10.6%

10.0% 9.9%

9.0%8.8% 8.9%

Unemployment Unemployment 8.4% 8.3% 8.2% 8.0% 7.9% 7.5% 7.6% 7.5% 7.6% 7.2% 7.0% 6.9% 6.6%

6.0% 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 Raleigh County Source: West Virginia Department of Employment SecuritySource: West Virginia Department of West Virginia Raleigh County West Virginia Employment Security City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 57 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 5 Trends

Urban Sprawl/Urban Revitalization Nationally, considerable population growth. A total of 240 state and local This sprawling development growth has occurred in more rural and ballot initiatives related to controlling pattern is being challenged suburban areas. This has been caused, in sprawls were placed on ballots in 1998 in from two main perspectives. part, by the Federal Government’s the U.S. Unlimited suburban development First, residents of suburban emphasis on highway construction and is leading to accelerated environmental areas are increasingly federal lending practices that favor new degradation; increased stormwater runoff, inclined to endorse efforts to construction over purchase and renova- which causes flooding and erosion, stop or limit additional tion of older homes. Often older, urban destruction of wildlife habitat, traffic growth. neighborhoods have seen a decrease in congestion, air pollution resulting in an population, with a subsequent increase overall diminished quality of life. Concur- in vacant and abandoned structures and rently, urban centers are experiencing lots. Since 1970, 86% of U.S. popula- increased levels of abandonment and tion growth has occurred in suburban higher levels of vacant and often unkempt areas and many larger central cities have vacant lots as suburban developments experienced years of disinvestment. absorb and overwhelm the demand for housing and retail space. In Raleigh County, the majority of housing and population growth has A trend toward “neo-traditional” develop- occurred outside municipalities. In ment in which new suburban communities Beckley, the number of housing units try to emulate the layout and design of and households has remained relatively small towns has become increasingly stable between 1990 and 1999. At the appealing to developers and their clients. same time, the number of housing units This recognition of the value of living in and households has increased by 6 to communities that follow traditional 8% in the County and 2 to 4% statewide patterns of development provides older during the decade. It should be noted communities such as Beckley with the that restrictions on effluent discharge opportunity to attract new investment and into Piney Creek may limit growth in the residents. The implications of these trends traditional growth area in the south may be that State and Federal public central area of the County (along the US policies may shift away from supporting an 19/I-77 corridor extending north/south urban sprawl and more toward urban through the center of the County,) all of revitalization. While not especially evident This recognition of the value which falls within the Piney Creek/New in West Virginia, at this point, this shift is River watershed. The western areas of of living in communities that becoming increasingly evident at the follow traditional patterns of Raleigh County fall within the Coal federal level. The 2000 presidential River watershed, which faces no such development provides older election and recent Federal budgets for communities such as restrictions, becoming the more likely example, have focused more attention to focus of future development. Beckley with the opportunity this issue. If this general shift in policy to attract new investment continues, urban revitalization efforts in and residents. This sprawling development pattern is Beckley could be aided with greater being challenged from two main per- Federal funding opportunities as well as spectives. First, residents of suburban private developers and individuals. areas are increasingly inclined to endorse efforts to stop or limit additional

Page 58 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Trends Chapter 5

Commuting in Larger tion titled, “Emerging Trends in Real Estate 1999,” published by Urban Areas PriceWaterhouseCoopers, et.al., included Related to the issue of a sprawl is how the following quotes: people travel between jobs and homes. A recent study indicated that the time people • “Both generation Xers and aging spend stuck in traffic in major cities has baby boomers are migrating back to grown by 350 % in the last sixteen years. urban cores - young people for the While Beckley is not a major metropolitan excitement, and empty nesters for the Nationally, growing area, it does serve as an employment center convenience and amenities.” congestion problems and for south central West Virginia, and conges- rising gas prices are tion problems become worse when popula- • “People want to live closer to causing people to more tion is disbursed over a larger area. Nation- where they work and play.” closely consider distances ally, growing congestion problems and between home and work rising gas prices are causing people to more The implication of this trend is that when making choices on closely consider distances between home Beckley may be able to attract both where to live. and work when making choices on where generation Xers and aging baby to live. Additionally, public sector efforts to boomers back to the City if a dynamic solve congestion problems are constrained and livable urban environment is by the fact that road building is generally provided. As these segments of the costly, time-consuming, and difficult. population grow, cities that offer a wide These issues result in greater consider- range of choices in housing types close ation of a wider range of transportation to employment, shopping, and enter- alternatives and strategies to make the tainment should become increasingly existing highway network more efficient successful. and to offer alternatives, such as pedes- trian, bicycle, and public transportation Changes in Household Size and facilities. Composition Nationally, households have changed Households have become Shifts in Preferences on Where to significantly in recent decades. How smaller because of Live these households have changed relates to various social conditions There is evidence to suggest a shifting in changing demand for housing types in a and lower birth rates. residential living preferences among some community. Households have become individuals and households. During the smaller because of various social condi- last forty to fifty years, suburban growth has tions and lower birth rates. National dominated the American landscape. Baby- historic and projected declines in boomers searching for a suburban life style household sizes are as shown below and and attracted by perceptions of greater are based on U.S. Census data and safety and higher quality schools, helped projections. fuel unprecedented demand for new homes outside central cities. However, more Household sizes in Beckley, Raleigh recently, there is some evidence of renewed County, and West Virginia mirror these interest in living in a more urban environ- national trends. In fact, estimated 1999 ment. household sizes for Beckley, Raleigh County, and West Virginia are already National studies of real estate trends lower than national projections for 2010 confirm this emerging trend. The publica- (2.2, 2.5, and 2.5, respectively).

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 59 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 5 Trends

in the retail sector has increased by more than 25% during the last twenty years. The In addition to changing household sizes, improved highway network has allowed the composition of households has the development of retail shopping centers Because of a declining changed and is projected to continue to in Beckley, which draw on a customer base average household size, new change in the new century. For example, from surrounding counties. However, a housing construction is in the 1970s, households made up of very current area of concern for a growing needed just to maintain a married couples with children accounted number of communities is that there is too given population. for 40% of all households. In the much retail space, since the demand for 1990s, this same household type ac- such space is shrinking because of new counts for only 25%. trends in consumer behavior, (e.g., the Demand for different Internet). Specifically, “Emerging Trends in These shifting trends in household housing types is changing. Real Estate 1999,” included the following composition have major implications quotes: for cities such as Beckley. First, because of a declining average house- • “There is little enthusiasm for retail real hold size, new housing construction is estate.” needed just to maintain a given • “The country has too many shopping population. This is one of the reasons centers.” the City of Beckley’s population is • “We will see more developers converting remaining steady despite some levels of If Beckley can accommodate dinosaur malls into multi-use projects with housing construction. a growing demand for a urban features.” wider variety of housing Second, it is important to note that the types, redevelopment will be Consider, also, the fact that growth in demand for different housing types is aided. internet shopping, catalog sales, and home changing. While some empty-nester shopping networks account for a larger and households may want to keep and larger segment of traditional retail sales. maintain a larger home, many prefer to The important implication of this find smaller, lower maintenance homes. potential for a shrinking demand for If Beckley can accommodate a growing retail space is that redevelopment of demand for a wider variety of housing certain commercial areas may become a types, redevelopment will be aided. If larger and more challenging issue as people cannot find the kinds of homes weaker businesses begin to close at a they want, they will obviously be forced more rapid rate. to look elsewhere.

Shrinking Demand for Retail Telecommuting The important implication of A growing segment of the work force no .... shrinking demand for Space longer travels to work. Connected to the retail space is that According to the Beckley/Raleigh County world by the existing technology such as redevelopment of certain Multi-Modal Transportation plan, it the internet and fax machines, more people commercial areas may appears that Beckley and Raleigh County, are opting to work out of their homes. become a larger and more as a whole, has benefited from a growing Common predictions are that this trend challenging issue... role as a regional retail and service center will continue, especially as new technology in southern West Virginia. Employment

Historic and Projected Changes in National Average Household Size Year 1970 1980 1990 1995 2010 Projected Avg. Household Size 3.14 2.76 2.63 2.62 2.53

Page 60 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Trends Chapter 5

makes electronic communication and Internet on the American City is hard to interaction even easier. The important predict. In the future, the exchange of implication of this trend for cities such as information is expected to be as impor- Beckley is to insure that appropriate land- tant as the exchange of goods, and the use controls over this type of activity in Internet can bring information to even homes are provided. Existing zoning the most remote locations. Some people regulations should be made more clear think the Internet may hurt cities given and definitive with regard to home the fact that face-to-face communication occupations. and human proximity may become less important. Others seem to think that urban centers can be aided by the The development industry Future Influences on Internet and become centers of creativity. is becoming increasingly focused on high-end Cities “trophy homes” and The Fannie Mae Foundation (a private, Important Local upscale commercial nonprofit corporation based in Washing- Trends areas. ton, D.C.) recently asked many national experts and urban specialists to define the The following table provides projections top ten influences on the American City in of population, households, families, and the past fifty years and the next fifty years. housing units to 2004. Over the next As the City of Beckley looks forward, two of five years, it is predicted that even the predicted important influences in the though households and housing units next fifty years are worth noting as they will slightly increase, the population and seem to relate strongly to Beckley. number of families in Beckley will slightly decline. One potential result • Growing Disparities of Wealth: Experts may be in increasing numbers of aban- predict that we will see more concentra- doned and vacant properties, especially tions of wealth at the top of income scales in the most densely developed areas of and worsening poverty. This may result in a the City. perpetual underclass in central cities and inner-ring suburbs. At the same time, the Over the next five years, it development industry is becoming increas- is predicted that even ingly focused on high-end “trophy homes” though households and and upscale commercial areas. This is true, housing units will slightly to some extent, in the Beckley area where increase, the population most new real estate development has and number of families in occurred in the northeast and northwest Beckley will slightly parts of Beckley. decline. • The Internet: The potential impact of the

CURRENT ESTIMATES AND PROJECTIONS 1999 Estimate 2004 Projection Change Population 17,777 17,541 -1.3% Households 7,995 8,060 0.8% Families 4,876 4,851 -0.5% Housing Units 8,884 8,956 0.8%

Source: Claritas, Inc. 1999

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 61 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 5 Trends

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 62 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

Current Land Use region. In Beckley, most of the commer- Patterns in the City cial land use is evident in the central The study of the land use patterns within business district, Harper Road/I-77 Exit the City and surrounding areas provides the 44 area, and shopping centers of the most basic information for the Compre- North Plaza Mall area. hensive Plan. The following map provides generalized existing land use patterns for Harper Road represents a controversial the City of Beckley. area of transitional land use from residential to commercial use. This transition to commercial is arguably the Residential Land Use highest and best use of the land, but In 1860, the 160 residents of Beckley and neighborhood concerns have arisen in the town’s 15 buildings were clustered regard to traffic congestion, access around the Courthouse Square on what is management, and safety issues. now Main Street and North and South Kanawha Streets. Beckley developed Industrial Land Use outward from its Central Business District Industrial land uses in Raleigh County with original development adjoining the also comprise less than 1% of the roads emanating from this core. The first County land area. In Beckley, most growth of the City, around 1900, was industry is light and the land area is eastward from the Central Business District considered commercial. Many of the along Kanawha Street and Johnstown Road, industrial areas have been used for and along Woodlawn Ave and Fayette concrete and asphalt batch plants or Street. Later, the interior areas branching mining and construction equipment off from the radiating streets were devel- service. While the mining industry has oped as residential areas. Residential land considerable land holdings in the uses now make up nearly 50% of the land Beckley area, the lands are either mined uses in the Beckley area. The City of out, were only suitable for deep mines, Beckley is composed of as many as 14 or do not have economically recoverable residential neighborhoods defined by their coal reserves. Historically, these compa- location, economic, social, and cultural ties. nies have been reluctant to sell land for These neighborhoods are described in more development purposes, but the deple- detail in Chapter 9. Some pockets of tion of most of the minable coal reserves residential development occur surrounded in the Beckley area has caused changes in by the City, but not are not incorporated. the land ownership pattern. Over the Wards 3, 4, and 5 have increasing numbers past 30 years, all tipples, prep plants, and of vacant and abandoned properties. Most other mining-related structures in the of the new residential development in the service area have been removed and the County is occurring outside of the City’s land converted to other uses. The Beaver boundaries, to the south and west of Coal lands in the Grey Flats area is the Beckley. most recent to convert a portion of its land for Soccer Fields. Most industry is Commercial Land Use now concentrated to the Ragland Road Commercial activities occupy less than 1% Industrial Park and the Pine Crest of the developed land in Raleigh County Business and Technology Park. Both and approximately 16% of the land use in industrial areas have the potential to the Beckley area, confirming the City’s role expand to former mining lands. Pine as the retail and service center for the

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 63 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 64 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

Generalized Existing Land Use Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 65 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 66 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

Generalized Existing Zoning Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 67 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 68 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

Beckley Planning Commission and the Crest is currently undergoing significant City of Beckley Board of Zoning Appeals expansion. as is prescribed in the West Virginia Code, Section 8-Article 24-Part 51 (Code 1971, App. A, § 2) and appointed a Open Space, Parks, and Recreation zoning officer to administer and enforce The City of Beckley maintains 11 parks the zoning ordinance. throughout the City. The largest park is the New River Park which is approximately The major types of zoning districts are 27.5 acres and includes the site of the residential, commercial, industrial, Beckley Exhibition Coal Mine. See Chapter public, and agricultural. The City of 4 for a more complete discussion of the Beckley has refined these broad catego- City’s parks. The proposed bike trails along ries into ten (10) use districts: the former railroad will provide a signifi- R-1 One-family district cant new recreation and open space re- R-2 General residential district source for the community. Another open R-3 Multiple-family district The proposed bike trails space resource is the growing inventory of R-4 Mobile home district along the former railroad vacant scattered lots found in some densely R-5 Multiple-family high rise will provide a significant developed city neighborhoods (in particu- R-6 Elderly high-rise new recreation and open lar Wards 3, 4, and 5). See Chapter 9 for B-1 Neighborhood business space resource for the more information. district community. B-2 Mall or general commercial- business district Current Zoning B-3 “Courthouse Square” Central Zoning provides the authority to regulate Business District multi-use private use of land by creating land-use district zones and applying development standards M Manufacturing district in the various zoning districts. Zoning requirements are laid out in two docu- The current Beckley Zoning Code has ments; a zoning ordinance and a zoning “cumulative” land use provisions within map. Zoning for the City of Beckley is its residential, commercial, and indus- codified as Section 15-1 through Section trial districts, respectively. For example, 15-336 of the Zoning Ordinance of the City residential uses have several subdistricts of Beckley, West Virginia - 1971. A zoning in which a single-family detached house map simply shows the boundaries and would be allowed in any residential labels of the zones into which the commu- subclass (except a mobile home subdivi- nity has been divided and is legally adopted sion), but a five-family unit building as a supplement to the local zoning ordi- would not be allowed in residential nance. The following map provides a districts zoned for one- to four-family digital, generalized version of the Beckley unit housing or single-family dwellings. Zone Map (1966 as amended), which is The City of Beckley Zoning Code bars hand sketched. The digital version has residences from industrial zones and been superimposed over a 1989 photo- some of the commercial zones. revised USGS topographic map and is now in a form that can be quickly and cheaply Variations in standards such as mini- reproduced. mum lot size, maximum lot coverage, setbacks, number of floors, bulk of The City of Beckley has assigned certain buildings, and the like, provide different zoning responsibilities to the City of

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 69 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design densities for the zoning districts in the Crest Farms area. Commercial and indus- City of Beckley. Commercial and trial development west of the City is In 1989, the Raleigh County industrial zones also have several concentrated in and around Harper Park at Comprehensive Plan subclasses. Standards relating to build- the WV Route 3/I-77 intersection. The identified the PineCrest ing height and bulk, off-street parking, north of town is mostly residential in Farm and the Beaver Coal loading and unloading, as well as types Cranberry and Prosperity; however, lands in the Grey Flats area of uses define what is permitted in each commercial development is evident along suitable for future industrial zone and the intensity of the use of the US Route 19/WV Route16, especially the development. land allowed. CrossRoads Mall near Corridor “L.” The area to the northeast of Beckley along WV Route 41 is primarily residential and Adjacent Land Uses includes the areas of Warden, Stanaford, The deep gorge formed by Piney Creek Lanark, and Piney View. has precluded development to the east of the City except on plateau “areas” where topographical constraints are much less Infrastructure severe. In 1989, the Raleigh County Gas and Electric Utility Comprehensive Plan identified the Availability PineCrest Farm and the Beaver Coal The City of Beckley is provided natural gas lands in the Grey Flats area suitable for service by West Virginia Power Gas Service/ future industrial development east of the EnergyOne. Electric power is provided by Raleigh County Civic Center off South American Electric Power. Eisenhower Drive; however, since then, several developments in this area have included the new Beckley-Stratton Junior Water High and other institutional/recreation The City of Beckley receives water from the uses. Industrial development has Beckley Water Company which is a private occurred in the Raleigh County Memo- utility with a territorial tariff regulated by rial Airport Industrial Park east of town; the Public Service Commission. The however, access to the plateau is by I-64. Beckley Water Company service area includes the entire City of Beckley, Shady Residential development has occurred Springs, Mt. Hood, and six other public water districts. The system has three southeast of the City in the Glen Mor- The City of Beckley receives gan, Beaver, and Raleigh areas. The reservoirs which have a combined storage capacity of two billion gallons and two water from the Beckley Beaver Shopping Center is located in Water Company which is a Beaver to the southeast. The Big treatment plants with a combined treat- ment capacity of 12.5 million gallons per private utility with a Whitestick Creek basin has prevented territorial tariff regulated by intense development to the south of the day. One of the reservoirs is an abandoned mine which has an estimated storage the Public Service City due to steep slopes; however, Commission. development has followed WV Route 16 capacity of one billion gallons. The second southwest of Beckley and south of treatment plant was constructed in 1993 Mabscott in the MacArthur and Sophia and has a design capacity of 5 million areas. For many years, the West Virginia gallons per day. Currently, water usage is Turnpike (now I-77/I-64) was the limit 8.7 million gallons per day with summer of most of the western expansion of the peaks up to 11.9 million gallons per day. Beckley urbanizing area, but residential In July 1999, a new 12-inch waterline from development is now quite evident in Sprague to the by-pass area will be Wickham, Victory Gardens, Cabell, Pine complete and relieve a water shortage Villa, Mt. Tabor, Harper Heights, Morgan which occurs in that area during peak Hills, Pine Hills, Dry Hill, and James summer use.

Page 70 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

graded facility is capable of treating an average flow of eight million gallons per The City administration has concerns that day (MGD) and peak flows of 18 MGD. certain portions of the City, such as the The plant provides secondary wastewater Maxwell Hill neighborhood, may not have treatment using a combination of 4.5 adequate water supplies to handle emergen- MGD sequencing batch reactor, and a cies. Previously, the City was only required 3.5 MGD conventional activated sludge to install 4" water lines, but a new State law system. now requires the installation of 8" water The City of Beckley is lines. The Public Service Commission The BSB has approximately 125 miles of served by two publicly- requires all areas annexed to the City to gravity collection system. Original owned wastewater have water line upgrades, which is a major portions of the system were constructed treatment systems. component of the cost-benefit analysis for around 1905, and the system has been annexation. expanded incrementally over the last 90 years. Pipe sizes range from 4 to 30 Sewer inches with the majority of the pipe The City of Beckley is served by two pub- being 6 or 8 inches vitrified clay or PVC. licly-owned wastewater treatment systems, The system suffers from excessive inflow the City-owned system operated by its and infiltration problems. These Sanitary Board, and a system owned and problems are currently being addressed. operated by the North Beckley Public Future system growth is anticipated in Service District. Adjacent systems outside the Airport Road, Gray Flats area, and the City Limits include the Crab Orchard adjacent areas north of the City limits. Public Service District to the west and south The new treatment facility is adequately of the Harper Road/I-77 Intersection, and sized to handle this growth. the Shady Spring Public Service District The North Beckley Public southeast of the City along Rt. 19 and The North Beckley Public Service District Service District (NBPSD) below I-64. Each system has its own (NBPSD) serves the northern third of the serves the northern third collection system and treatment plant. City and outlying areas north of Beckley, of the City and outlying including the area north of Stanaford up areas north of Beckley. The southern two-thirds of the City is to and including the Piney View area. served by the Beckley-owned facility. The The NBPSD, established in 1964, is City-owned system is managed by the governed by a three-member Board Beckley Sanitary Board, a City agency appointed by the County Commission. created in 1938 and authorized by Beckley The NBPSD serves approximately 2,500 City Code and West Virginia State Code. customers in portions of Beckley, The Sanitary Board consists of three Sprague, Skelton, Cranberry, Prosperity, members; two appointed by Council, and Stanaford, and the Dry Hill Road areas. the Mayor who serves as Chairman. The Beckley Sanitary Board’s (BSB) service area The NBPSD treatment plan was origi- covers approximately 17 square miles nally built in 1965 and is capable of including a large portion of the City of treating 0.56 MGD. The NBPSD is Beckley, the airport area, the outlying currently rebuilding its plant into a 2.5 communities of Mabscott, and Raleigh, and MGD sequencing batch reactor system a portion of Sprague. Beckley’s sewer utility capable of treating peak flows up to 5 serves approximately 7,600 customers. MGD. This system also suffers from inflow and infiltration problems. The BSB’s wastewater treatment plant has Through an agreement between the been recently expanded. The newly up- NBPSD and the City of Beckley, the

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 71 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

City’s wastewater treatment plant Beckley will become the cable center for currently treats approximately 50% of the communities of Princeton, Hinton, the flows from the NBPSD system, with Pipestem, Narrows VA, Oak Hill, this system classified as a bulk, whole- Lewisburg, White Sulphur Springs, Rupert, sale customer. This system, which has Rainelle, and Alderson. been added to incrementally since 1965, has pipe sizes ranging from 4 inches to The local telecommunication provider for 21 inches. The system was originally Beckley is Verizon which offers voice and constructed with vitrified clay pipe, data networks, access to the Internet, video- however, PVC pipe has been installed conferencing, data transfer, and ISDN since the late 1970s. services. Wireless telecommunication services are provided by Cellular One, Inc. In February 1998, the Beckley/Raleigh and Ntelos. Although no cellular towers All four sewer services in the County Multi-Modal TransportationPlan currently are located within the City of Beckley area deposit Draft indicated that expansions in the Beckley, wireless communication functions wastewater effluent into sewer system might occur south along currently include cellular, paging, and Piney Creek which is U.S. 19 to the Shady Spring area and to internet services. currently at or approaching the northeast of Beckley. A concern the limit of its capacity to noted in the plan is that, currently, all Advancements in telecommunications accept effluent. four sewer services in the Beckley area technology make wireless communications deposit wastewater effluent into Piney more common and desired by residents Creek, which is currently at or approach- and visitors. Continued expansion of ing the limit of its capacity to accept wireless communication facilities is a effluent during certain times of the year. national phenomenon, and industry The West Virginia Division of Environ- growth is expected. Serious drawbacks mental Protection may be forced to deny with telecommunications technology are expansion of the main Crab Orchard the associated structures and towers which and the Shady Spring wastewater can result in significant visual impacts on treatment plants. While development both property values and overall commu- can and does occur in areas without nity appearance. The City of Beckley sewers, this action could curtail large should adopt zoning regulations aimed quantity or high density continued toward minimizing the construction of development southward from Beckley. new towers while still providing townwide The capability to expand utility systems coverage. In general, new telecommunica- is thought to play a significant role in tion facilities should be sited in accordance determining where new development with the following general criteria: may occur in the future, in and around Beckley. • New telecommunication towers are most appropriate in areas that are zoned for The City of Beckley should Cable Television and industrial purposes; adopt zoning regulations Telecommunications Providers aimed toward minimizing the Cable television service is provided by • Outside of industrial areas, communica- construction of new Charter Communications. The cable tions towers and antenna are most accept- communication towers. company is expending $60 million able when located on existing towers, water between FY 2000 and FY 2001 to up- tanks, building facades, and tall buildings grade to 750 mghz and convert the when possible; system to fiber-optics for digital service, the Internet, and additional channels. • New towers can be less visually obtrusive if painted in subdued colors and when equipment and buildings located at the

Page 72 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

base of freestanding structures are land- utilization in both the City of Beckley scaped and visually screened; and and its urbanizing area is located on About 31% of Beckley the level (0-8% slope) land areas.” and its urbanizing area • New telecommunication facilities should was considered generally be co-located with other facilities where Another limitation upon growth is the unsuitable or difficult for possible, and the City should encourage impact of taxation. The State limitation development due to land this to occur. New telecommunication on a City’s tax authority requires depen- areas with 16 and over facilities should provide evidence that they dence upon the B&O tax for the bulk of percent of slope. are willing to allow co-location when City revenues and is not without conse- feasible. quence. Cities are financially motivated to focus on annexation of property for commercial and industrial uses that will Significant generate taxes rather than residential areas. The result in Beckley has been Environmental irregular City boundaries and pockets of Limitations for unincorporated land. The promotion of good land use planning would require Development the State legislature to reconsider current Topographic limitations caused by excessive taxation practices. slopes were presented in great detail in the 1963 Comprehensive Plan - Phase I As mentioned above, significant limita- analysis by Michael Baker, Jr., Inc. Baker tion to future development is the fact found that about 51% of the land area that Piney Creek has reached the maxi- Another limitation upon (16,032 acres) had a 0-8% of slope and mum effluent discharges permitted by growth is the impact of 18% of the land area (6 acres) had a 9-15% the State of West Virginia. This will force taxation. of slope. About 31% of Beckley and its development toward the western areas of urbanizing area was considered generally Raleigh County and may increase unsuitable or difficult for development due pressure to increase housing densities to land areas with 16 and over percent of and redevelop vacant/abandoned slope. The 1963 Plan stated: properties within existing sewer service areas. “Percent of slope is a major factor in reaching ultimate land use decisions, in Key Gateway and that tracts of land should be reserved for the type of development for which they Corridor Locations are best suited. As an example, vacant The City of Beckley has six major level land should be reserved for busi- gateways: 1) from the north, the entrance ness or industrial uses. Residential from Cranberry is located along US development, which usually precedes the Route 19 and WV Route 16; 2) from the introduction of business uses to a northeast, the entrance from Stanaford is neighborhood, should be concentrated located along WV Route 41; 3) from the on the 9-15% of slope land area as much southeast, the entrance from the I-64 The City of Beckley has as feasible, so that when the need arises, six major gateways. interchange is located at its intersection the 0-18% sloped areas will be available with US Route 19; 4) from the south- for more intense commercial or indus- east, the entrance from Glen Morgan is trial development. In the past, little or located along US Route 19/WV Route 3; no thought was given to these slope 5) from the southwest, the entrance from considerations, so that most of the land Mabscott is located along WV Route 16;

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 73 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

and 6) from the west, the entrance from • the Ragland Road area; and I-77/I-64 is located along WV Route 3. • the Cross Town Connector area, espe- Major corridors through the City cially between I-77 and Robert C. Byrd include Eisenhower Drive (US Route Drive. 19), Robert C. Byrd Drive (WV Route 16), and Harper Road (WV Route 3). The most appropriate land use for the Grey Other heavily traveled corridors would Flats Road and Ragland Road areas is high include Fayette Street (WV Route 3), technology/office/light industrial. These Kanawha Street (WV Route 210), and areas should be viewed as significant Gateways and major WV Route 41 as it is traveled along centers of employment for the Beckley area transportation corridors Stanaford Road to Eisenhower Drive in the future. Specifically, a combination represent significant and Johnstown Road. of light manufacturing, light warehousing, opportunities to improve and offices, and institutional uses are envi- enhance a community’s Gateways and major transportation sioned to compliment the technical and image. corridors represent significant opportu- office uses at Pine Crest Business &Technol- nities to improve and enhance a ogy Park. community’s image, improve vehicular access, and affect overall community It is anticipated that the construction of the aesthetics through coordinated signage East Beckley Bypass and Grey Flats Inter- improvements and streetscape enhance- change will be a major stimulus for ments. Minimum improvements often development in this area primarily because include implementation of a unified it will open up largely flat and developable signage system, enforcement of com- land for use with excellent access to the mercial signage regulations, and street Interstate system. As will be discussed later tree plantings as well as removal and in Chapter 12, these areas will achieve their prevention of any billboards within the greatest potential with the implementation City limits. of a number of specific initiatives, includ- ing mixed use master - planned develop- Projected Land Use ment. The area adjacent to the proposed Cross Patterns Town Connector between I-77 and the The City of Beckley is generally built Robert C. Byrd Drive represents a signifi- out to its current corporate limits. cant opportunity for residential develop- However, at the same time, there are ment. The land primarily lends itself to four key areas that represent areas of residential uses due to steeper slopes, the There are four key areas that significant land use change. These four potential presence of wetlands, and the represent areas of significant areas are shown on the following prevalence of attractive wooded areas. land use change. Future Land Use and Transportation Typically, residential land uses can more map and include: effectively accommodate these environ- mental limitations as compared with • Harper Road Corridor (from I-77 to commercial or industrial development. the Central Business District); The land is not only ideal for residential use, but should also be viewed as an • East Beckley Bypass - the remaining extraordinary opportunity for a premier vacant land in the Grey Flats Road and residential community. The location of the Pine Crest area; land along what will be a major Beckley corridor provides the opportunity to use

Page 74 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

the land as a showcase development. Significant open areas and park space can that the slopes apparent in the Harper Hill Harper Road is a be integrated into a residential design area (between Northwestern Avenue and transitional area in many through techniques which cluster the Sunrise Avenue) contribute to an attractive ways. houses on smaller lots and provide ample environment. common areas in order to meet overall density standards. There are two distinct land use areas along Harper Road. The areas west of Northwest- Harper Road is a transitional area in many ern Avenue contain primarily intensive ways. The transition is from intense commercial uses, such as restaurants, commercial uses near I-77 toward lighter hotels, gas stations, hospitals, and carry- commercial and ultimately stable residen- outs. In the Beckley Zoning Code, this tial areas. Nearer the central business land use would be classified in the general district, the transition continues back commercial zoning district. The City toward heavy commercial. The stable should regard the Northwestern Avenue residential area appears to be between intersection as the eastern limit for com- Northwestern Avenue to a point west of mercial uses refrain from granting special Sunrise Avenue. Close investigation of the use variances in the residential area Zoning Code reveals that the zoning is between Northwestern Avenue and a point The City should regard inconsistent with current land uses and just west of Sunrise Avenue. The City the Northwestern Avenue apparent development trends. The Board of should create an overlay zoning for the intersection as the Zoning Appeals has granted use variances general commercial area. This overlay zone eastern limit for in this area. Since Harper Road is the only should contain standards related to commercial uses refrain major east-west traffic corridor between I- additional landscaping, limitations on from granting special use 77 and the central business district, heavy signage, curb-cut limitations. (See Zoning variances in the traffic volumes are evident. The growth of Chapter.) residential area. commercial uses is a natural and not surprising result of increasing traffic Outside the City, long term key growth volumes which generally increases property areas include the East Beckley Bypass area values with commercial development which includes the Grey Flats/Sparks Drive potential. area and the area to the north of Ragland Road, as well as the Harper Road area west Ultimately, the construction of the Cross of I-77. The most appropriate uses for Town Connector and widening of Harper these areas is industrial; however, the Grey Road (as proposed in the Multi-Modal Flats/Sparks Drive area should be used for Plan) should relieve Harper Road of some a mix of high technology/light industrial, traffic volume and reduce congestion mixed-use commercial and high end somewhat. However, traffic volumes are residential. (See Chapter 12) expected to remain high due to the fact that Harper Road will continue to be the most direct link between the Downtown and I- 77. Additionally, it should be recognized that this corridor is often traveled by The City should create an tourists destined for the central business overlay zoning for the district. Other parts of this Plan seek to general commercial area enhance the central business district as a along Harper Road. tourist destination. Therefore, the route people take to central business district destinations becomes more important. Another consideration of Harper Road is

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 75 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

This page left intetnionally blank.

Page 76 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use & Urban Design Chapter 6

Future Land Use Plan

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 77 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 6 Land Use & Urban Design

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 78 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7

Transportation Element consisted of a Technical Coordinating How people and goods move into, through, Committee, Citizens Involvement and out of a community today and in the Advisory Task Force, representatives of future is very important in any comprehen- the Transportation Planning Division of sive master plan. Planning and implemen- the West Virginia Department of Trans- tation of transportation enhancements and portation, and a consultant. The Multi- diversifying modes of transportation will Modal Transportation Plan is intended become increasingly critical to the contin- to be used as a tool to aid in transporta- Planning and ued economic development, quality of life, tion decision-making regarding specific implementation of and vitality of Beckley. Transportation projects and to assist in guiding the transportation improvements have been significant over overall development of the City and enhancements and the course of the past several decades and County for the next 25 years. diversifying modes of will remain a significant need for Beckley in transportation will the next 20 years. The Beckley Comprehen- Existing Transportation Modes become increasingly sive Plan, prepared in 1962 by Michael critical to the continued Baker, indicated the greatest traffic volumes The City of Beckley is located within 500 economic development, in the City on Route 16, with a maximum miles of half of the U.S. population, 12 quality of life, and vitality volume of just over 14,000 vehicles per day. of the nation’s top retail markets, and of Beckley. Traffic volume for the same route is esti- 22% of the top industrial markets. For mated to reach between 40,000 and 60,000 these reasons, the transportation system vehicles daily by the year 2020. There are in and surrounding Beckley is very several transportation improvements which important, and is considered one of its will have a very significant impact on the greatest strengths. The existing transpor- way people move into, through, and out of tation network in Beckley consists of two the City. These include the Coalfields interstate highways, a federal route, Expressway, the Crosstown Connector, the numerous state routes, a CSX rail line, East Beckley Bypass, and the proposed bike and the Raleigh County Memorial trail. They will also create major new Airport. This network provides the City opportunities for new development areas direct linkage to State, national, and which the City should guide and capitalize world markets. on as a means of improving economic vitality and increasing the availability of a Interstate Linkages diverse housing stock. Enhancement of the Two major interstate highways in Enhancement of the City’s City’s existing major thoroughfares is also a proximity to the City of Beckley include: existing major critical issue discussed below. A new public thoroughfares is also a transportation system is also discussed as a • I-77 (West Virginia Turnpike), which critical issue. means of connecting the City’s residents to opened in 1958, is a north-south new employment opportunities. highway located along the western edge of the City. The interchange for Beckley, Summary of City Multi-Modal which is located at West Virginia (WV) Transportation Plan Route 3 (Harper Road), provides access to the City on the east and to Raleigh The Beckley/Raleigh County Multi-Modal County to the west. Two other inter- Transportation Plan, completed in 1998 and changes located nearby include the adopted in early 2000, was undertaken to following: address the critical transportation issues that have arisen since the prior Transporta- tion Plan for Raleigh County was originally • At WV Route 16 in Mabscott, located completed in 1978. The planning team along the southwest border of Beckley

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 79 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation

• At Corridor “L” (US 19), located north overlaps US 19 for a short distance, and of the City turns northeast along Stanaford Road into the County. • I-64, which opened in 1987, located south of Beckley is primarily an east-west • WV Route 210 (Kanawha Street) is a short route which turns south at US 19 and route through the City connecting WV ends at its interchange with I-77. An- Route 16 northeast of the Downtown area other interchange is located east of with US 19 via Eisenhower Drive. Beckley at Airport Road, providing access to the Raleigh County Memorial Airport. Other Major Roads Utilized in Beckley U.S. Highways Two other roads were identified by the US 19 is the next major route located in Multi-Modal Transportation Plan as major Beckley. The interchange of US 19 with routes through Beckley. The Maxwell Hill ... transportation I-64 provides primary access to the east Road/Rural Acres Drive connects northwest improvements which will side of the City (also known as N. Beckley with the US 19/WV Route 41 have a very significant Eisenhower Drive), ending at Corridor intersection. Ragland Road connects US impact... include the “L,” north of Beckley. Corridor “L” is 19/WV Route 16 to WV Route 41. Coalfields Expressway, the the northern route of US 19 and a major Crosstown Connector, the intrastate route that provides connection Railroad East Beckley Bypass, and to I-79 northeast of Charleston and on CSX owns and operates the active rail line the proposed bike trail. They to Virginia. South of Beckley, US 19 located along the southern portion of the will also create major new connects to the southern states. City following the Piney and Big opportunities for new Whitestick Creeks. development areas ... State Routes There are four state routes which travel Airport through Beckley: WV Route 16, WV The Raleigh County Memorial Airport Route 3, WV Route 41, and WV Route opened in 1952 and is considered one of 210. the nicest airports in the State and a major gateway into Beckley and southern West • WV Route 16 (Robert C. Byrd Drive) Virginia. This airport is located on 3,000 follows a north-south route through the acres approximately 1.5 miles from I-64 center of Beckley, joining with US 19 in and 3 miles from the I-64/I-77 interchange the northern portion of the City. This and 3.5 miles east of Beckley. The Airport route through the City is a 4/5 lane road has the third longest runway in West except for a short three-lane portion Virginia, with the primary runway 6,750 north of WV Route 3. feet in length and the crosswind runway 5,000 feet in length, both with pilot- • WV Route 3 (Harper Road) is one of activated lighting. One runway is 150 feet the few east-west routes through Beckley. wide and the other is 100 feet wide, with East of I-77, WV Route 3 is known as parallel taxiways. Since the Airport does Harper Road, changing to 2nd Street in not have a control tower, approaching Downtown, Fayette Street in the south- aircraft are handled via the Charleston east portion of the City, and Ritter Road approach control radar. in the County. The Airport’s main terminal and restaurant • WV Route 41 travels through the City, accommodates passenger (commercial and corporate) service. Commercial passenger

Page 80 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7

Future Transportation Network Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 81 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 82 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7

service is provided by US Air Express oped land is available for future indus- (operated by Colgan Air, Inc.), which trial use or another industrial park. offers seven commercial flights to Special care should be given to assure an Washington’s Dulles Airport each week. attractive arrival experience for visitors Corporate charter service is also avail- arriving at the airport and traveling into able, and, as of June 1999, a charter Beckley. helicopter service is offered. Significant Areas of Traffic The fixed base operator provides major/ minor aircraft repair and maintenance in Congestion and Short-term addition to fuel. The Airport is able to Solutions accommodate 60 aircraft (general and The Multi-Modal Transportation Plan corporate jets) in 20 T-hangars and seven identified several key areas where traffic corporate hangars. Car rental is avail- congestion occurs on a routine basis. In able, and limousine rental became addition, it offered short term opera- available in 1999. tional and minor roadway improve- ments to improve capacity and safety Freight (UPS and Federal Express) and until major improvements can address cargo aircraft also utilize the Raleigh the overcapacity volume of roadway use. County Memorial Airport. The Raleigh The three major areas of congestion Special care should be County Airport Industrial Park and identified were: given to assure an Research Center is a 218-acre industrial attractive arrival park adjacent to the Airport, with • Eisenhower Drive (US 19) at the experience for visitors approximately 40 acres open for devel- intersection with Stanaford Road (WV arriving at the airport and opment. Another 278 acres of undevel- Route 41), and extending south through traveling into Beckley.

The Raliegh County Memorial Airport represents a significant transporation asset

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 83 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation

Beaver. Recommended operational and where feasible to reduce side friction minor roadway improvements include: resulting from, in some cases, almost 1) Conduct an access management study continuous property access rather than to plan for improvements to existing specific driveways; and 4) General upgrad- capacity and safety in the two-and three- ing of signing and striping at intersections. lane sections; and 2) Analyze the traffic signal operations between WV Route 3 • The section of the Robert C. Byrd Drive and the WV Route 41 Stanaford Road (WV Route 16) from Harper Road (WV intersection to ensure that the phasing, Route 3) north to Kanawha Street (WV timing, and detector placements are Route 210) in the unincorporated area of resulting in the most efficient possible Sprague. Two basic operational recom- operation, even though the road inter- mendations for minor roadway improve- The potential long-term sections are too far apart for coordinated ments include: 1) Coordinate all traffic economic impact of these timing to be practical at this time. signals less than one-half mile apart into projects is very significant multiple timing program systems; and 2) for the City of Beckley • Harper Road (WV Route 3) from I-77 Upgrade signal operation so that lower and includes opening new into Downtown Beckley. Recommended volume side streets and minor movements areas for development operational and minor roadway im- are actuated and that phasing, timing, and with greatly enhanced provements include: 1) Improved traffic detector placement are reviewed to assure access to the Interstate signal operation and coordination; 2) the most efficient operation. In addition, it Highway system. Widening and/or restriping existing two- was recommended that an access manage- lane sections to three lanes wherever ment study be conducted and plan devel- practical to minimize the interference, oped to improve safety and reduce friction delays and hazards caused by left-turn where access driveways already exist, and to movements; 3) Access management protect the access in less developed areas.

Harper Road has significant congestion problems

Page 84 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7

Projected 2020 Traffic Volumes on Routes Preferred in Multi-Modal Plan

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 85 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation

Proposed Major Transportation • Widen Harper Road (WV Route 3) at the Improvement Projects interchange with I-77 (West Virginia The primary recommendations of the Turnpike); and Multi-Modal Transportation Plan (1998) for major transportation improvements are • Improve the intersection of Eisenhower indicated in the preceding “Future Trans- Drive (US 19) and Stanaford Road (WV portation Network” map and include the Route 41) by constructing additional lanes following: and improving the signal system. Many feel the construction of the • Construct a limited access, four lane East If the preferred improvements to the Coalfields Expressway is Beckley Bypass to be located east of roadways in Beckley take place, the 1998 the only viable solution to Eisenhower Drive (US 19) extending from Multi-Modal Transportation Plan projected the economic problems of Corridor “L” on the north end to 2020 traffic volumes as are shown on the Southern West Virginia. Eisenhower Drive on the south end, just following map. Two decisions that have south of the Pinecrest Business Park been made recently (and are not shown on (recommended speed of 50 m.p.h. with the traffic volume map) are: to have the access points limited to the existing US Coalfields Expressway intersect I-77 at the Route 19/I-64 interchange, the Cross Town I-77/I-64 junction; and to widen I-77 Connector, Stanaford Road-Ragland Road, rather than construct the WV Route 3 and Corridor L); Connector which would have extended the Cross Town Connector from the Tamarack • Construct an East Beckley Bypass Exten- area of Harper Road to Sophia. It is sion that will connect US 19 south of thought the proposed Coalfields Express- Beaver at Airport Road to the I-64/US 19 way connection to the I-64/I-77 junction interchange; will provide some relief to WV Route 16 into Beckley, as motorists attempting to • Construct a Cross-Town Connector that reach destinations in north Beckley areas will run parallel to WV Route 3 from will have the option of using the East Harper Road to the proposed east end of Beckley Bypass or the widened I-77 link to the East Beckley Bypass (recommended the Cross Town Connector. speed of 35 m.p.h. parkway with few intersections and no private property access The potential long-term economic impact between intersections). The Cross-Town of these projects is very significant for the Connector should include generous City of Beckley and includes opening new amounts of open space and recreational areas for development with greatly en- uses such as walking trails and bike paths. hanced access to the Interstate Highway This could be accomplished through a system. The Cross-Town Connector will combination of setback requirements and help create an important high-end residen- open space dedication requirements for tial development opportunity which could developers; attract a more economically diverse population into the City limits. The • Construct a Route 3 Connector to extend following chapter includes a more detailed from the Coalfields Expressway to WV discussion of housing conditions currently Route 3 near Tamarack and to the end of found in the City of Beckely. Chapter 9 the Cross-Town Connector; makes specific development recommenda- tions with regard to the Cross-Town • Widen US 19 from the Bypass Extension Connector. to the divergence of WV Route 3 and US 19 in Shady Spring;

Page 86 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7 Coalfields Expressway The Coalfields Expressway is the pro- viable solution to the economic prob- posed highway that will link I-64/77 in lems of Southern West Virginia which Beckley, West Virginia with US 23 in have lost coal-related jobs. Pound, Virginia. The Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act (ISTEA) The West Virginia Department of identified the Coalfields Expressway as a Transportation designated the Coalfields congestion relief project and the Na- Expressway as US 121 in May 1998. The tional Highway System Designation Act 61-mile Expressway is planned to be a (NHSDA) identified it as a “Congres- four-lane partially-controlled access sional High Priority Corridor,” including highway with at-grade intersections. it on the National Highway System. The Presently, construction is anticipated to preferred alternative chosen will follow begin in Spring 2000, taking approxi- WV Route 16 through Raleigh and mately ten years to complete. The Wyoming Counties and WV Route 83 in estimated cost of the expressway is McDowell County. approximately $1.2 billion with West Virginia’s 20% share of the amount In 1996, the West Virginia Legislature coming from gasoline taxes and road formed the Coalfields Expressway construction bonds that the Legislature Authority and appointed an executive and West Virginia voters have approved. director in 1997. This public In 1998, Congress passed the Transporta- corporation’s main purpose is to act as tion Efficiency Act for the 21st Century an advisory board for the highway, (TEA 21) which earmarked an additional advocating the highway’s construction, $22.7 million to the highway, and an and promoting economic development original $50 million appropriated by the associated with the development of this Federal government in 1991 is available roadway. Many feel the construction of for use. A total of $100 million is the Coalfields Expressway is the only available to date.

Figure 7-2 Coalfields Expressway Alighment City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 87 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation

prime opportunity for economic develop- ment for all counties, and Beckley should The Appalachian Regional Commission take advantage of its proximity to the City. (ARC), established by Congress in 1965, An excellent location for commercial/ oversees the Appalachian Development industrial development will be the area Highway System (ADHS). The ADHS is between the Coalfields Expressway inter- a 3,440 mile network of highways that sections with I-77/I-64 and WV Route 16, provide transportation access to the Approximately 54 percent south of Beckley. If the City acts now and Appalachian Region, which includes all of the demand for transit partners with the various economic of West Virginia and portions of 12 is currently met in the development agencies in addition to the states from Mississippi to New York. The County. Coalfields Expressway Authority, this area purpose of this system is to foster and could be marketed and development could promote the economic and social begin in conjunction with the construction development of the Appalachian Region. of the expressway. To date, 26 corridors are 75% complete. Due to funding and economic develop- ment issues, efforts are currently under- Research on development that occurs along way to incorporate the Coalfields a major roadway have been conducted by Expressway into the Appalachian the Appalachian Regional Commission. Development Highway System (ADHS). The Appalachian Development Highways Once a part of the system, the Coalfields Economic Impact Studies was prepared in Expressway must then be constructed to 1998 to examine the economic impact of Appalachian Highway Development twelve completed ADHS corridors on the Standards. Region’s economy. The results showed that the ADHS provides opportunity for people in this area, especially the rural areas: The Coalfields Expressway Authority has endorsed a preferred route which begins By 1995, an estimated net increase of at two locations in Raleigh County, 16,000 jobs have been created which south of Beckley. One access point to would not have existed without com- the Coalfields Expressway is at the pleted portions of the ADHS. The intersection of I-64 with I-77, south of ADHS has made the Regional a better Beckley, which travels southwest toward place to invest, live, and work; another access point at WV Route 16 (Robert C. Byrd Highway) near Sophia. In 1995, a net increase in value added to The route then continues southwesterly the Region was $1 billion and is antici- through Wyoming and McDowell pated to increase to $2.9 billion by the Counties, ending west of SR 83 in year 2015; Buchanan County, Virginia. Economic opportunity has expanded The Coalfields Expressway route will because the Region is more efficient and intersect with the King Coal Highway in easily accessible; and McDowell County. An industrial park is proposed at this location, and efforts are Users and nonusers of the highway currently underway to promote the area system have benefitted from the creation as a potential site for a federal prison. of new and better paying jobs. Another industrial park is already under construction approximately two miles to the east in Wyoming County. The area along the Coalfields Expressway offers

Page 88 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Transportation Chapter 7

the development of a bicycle trail system Bike Transportation are available through the Federal-Aid As the population of Since bicycles are permitted on state roads, Highway Program, Federal Transit Beckley ages, the number the West Virginia Department of Transpor- Program, Highway Safety Programs, and of people needing an tation has installed several “Share the Federal/State Matching Requirements. alternative form of Road” signs along existing roadways, transportation, other than making them accessible for bicycle use. The Transit Plan their automobile, will rise. State is also in the process of developing a statewide trail system. The City of Beckley does not provide residents with a public transit system. Through the efforts of a Bicycle Facilities The Beckley Transit Feasibility Study Update Subcommittee and the West Virginia (1995) was commissioned by the State Department of Transportation, a Bicycle of West Virginia Public Transportation Plan was developed in the Multi-Modal Division and the City of Beckley. The Transportation Plan to serve the major Study identified three transit needs for points of interest and traffic generators in the City, which include: Beckley. The Bicycle Plan proposes devel- opment of a trail along a 6.4 mile length of • Service development for disadvantaged CSX rail line where service will soon be citizens. abandoned. This line begins in the • Congestion management for Beckley Mabscott area south of Beckley and will and Raleigh County. proceed through the central portion of the • Services which support economic City, serving the Downtown area. development goals of the community.

The trail will then move eastward to the The estimated transit demand for Eisenhower Avenue/shopping center area, Raleigh County was approximately turning north and then northwestwardly to 741,584 trips per year. Of this total, the the Cranberry and Prosperity areas. The transit need for Beckley was approxi- trail will come close to the Woodrow mately 202,750 trips. The Study indicates Wilson High School on Stanaford Road and that existing transportation services could serve as a trunk line for students to available in Beckley and Raleigh County use in combination with an improved represent approximately 400,000 trips Stanaford Road. This would enable per year. Based on the demand estima- students to ride bicycles to school rather tion calculations performed in the Study, than drive their cars which add to the approximately 54% of the demand for existing congestion of the area. Once the transit is currently met in the County. rail has been abandoned, it will be neces- sary for the City of Beckley and/or the State Some of the transit demand needs of to acquire the rail right-of-way to ensure Beckley residents is satisfied by social trail development. service providers (agencies, hospitals, and churches) and the County’s taxi When developing a mass Two other opportunities exist for the service. The Raleigh County Community transit system, transit development of bicycle trails; within the Action Association offers public trans- services should be rights-of-way of the proposed East Beckley portation services to seniors, the handi- designed to Bypass and the Cross Town Connector. capped, and the general public through- accommodate.... These two proposed paths could also out the County. Transit services operate disadvantaged riders. connect with the CSX right-of-way provid- on Monday through Friday, from 7:30 ing bicyclists with the opportunity to reach A.M. to 5 P.M. on designated routes in other areas of the City. Funding sources for

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 89 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 7 Transportation the City of Beckley and the County. A Based on this information, the Study “Dial-a-Ride” van service anywhere in identified several criteria which must be Beckley and surrounding areas is also met by a transit system that will service the available on a daily basis between 7:30 City of Beckley: A.M. and 3:30 p.m., although the service requires 24-hour notice. Round-trip • The transit system must target the East fares for both services within the City are Beckley, East Park, and South Beckley $3; outside the City, $4, with $1 added neighborhoods. The majority of the for each additional stop. One-way trips disadvantaged population live in these are available for half the price of a round areas. trip. Special arrangements can be made for transportation outside Raleigh • In order to capture frequent trip destina- County, and the buses are sometimes tions to public and government offices and made available for charter to such places health care facilities, the system should as Charleston or the state fair. also target Uptown and the North Eisenhower Drive (US 19) area. When the Multi-Modal Transportation Study began, a two-bus pilot project was • Regular service to and from the retail and underway; however, this project was service areas, where a high concentration of discontinued following an unfavorable riders will travel, should also be provided. levy vote by residents in 1996. Despite this outcome, it is imperative for the City • The system should provide options for and County to work together to develop park-and-ride services for County residents some type of mass transportation system traveling to the Uptown area. This will for the elderly, disabled, and low-income help to reduce traffic and parking conges- population on a regular basis. As the tion. population of Beckley ages, the number of people needing an alternative form of transportation, other than their automo- bile, will rise.

The demographic analysis conducted in the Study indicates high concentrations of elderly and low-income individuals in East Beckley, East Park, and South Beckley. Traditionally, the most frequent users of transit are the elderly, handi- capped, and low income. When devel- oping a mass transit system, transit services should be designed to accom- modate the disadvantaged riders in addition to the destination of travelers. Three major issues in the development of priorities for transit service destina- tion include: 1) the large number of health care facilities and the trips these facilities generate; 2) the retail shopping developments in the City; and 3) the traffic patterns in Downtown Beckley.

Page 90 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

Housing The availability of affordable quality protect their neighborhoods from housing is an important factor to consider blighting influences and nuisances. when evaluating a community. Factors Homeowners also tend to participate in affecting the availability and quality of local programs designed to promote housing include the age of the existing neighborhood vitality and preservation housing stock as well as the type (single- and are more likely to take a more active family versus multi-family), and location. role in neighborhood organizations and government activities. In a variety of Most families want to live Most families want to live near employ- ways, Beckley’s ability to make major near employment centers, ment centers, schools, shopping centers, strides forward in livability and quality schools, shopping centers, and/or recreational opportunities. This of life is linked to homeownership. and/or recreational element contains baseline data from opportunities. existing housing studies, consolidated plans, and other housing documents, and Inventory and General Analysis of provides recommendations regarding Housing Conditions housing policies and strategies to meet the The availability and types of housing goals of the City. units and how they are distributed throughout a community are important Homeownership considerations when reviewing a American society cherishes home-owner- community’s housing characteristics. ship and the right to own land is enshrined The table below provides housing data in the Bill of Rights in our Constitution. from the 1990 Census, the most recent The U.S. homeownership rate reached an information available. all time high nationally in 1998, with almost two-thirds of American households The total number of housing units owning their own homes. Andrew Cuomo within the City of Beckley increased by of HUD recently remarked, “Persistent gaps 2,401 units (37%) between 1970 and in homeownership remain for low- and 1990, to a total of 8,917 units. During moderate-income families, especially for this same period, the County and State African-Americans, Hispanics, and other experienced slightly higher growth rates minorities who continue to be more likely of 44% and 41%, respectively. to rent.” The City of Beckley had a high percent- Without exception, the most progressive age of rental units (38%) when com- and livable cities have very high pared to the County (24%) and State homeownership rates where most residents (26%). Median contract rental rates enjoy a sense of ownership in their homes within Beckley ($239) were substantially and community. Homeowners develop lower then the State level of $303; equity and are generally more motivated to however, they were slightly higher than 1990 HOUSING CENSUS City of Beckley Raleigh County West Virginia

Total Housing Units 8,917 100% 33,278 100% 781,295100% Occupied Housing Units 7,848 88% 29,483 89% 688,55788% Owner-Occupied Units 4,838 62% 22,268 76% 510,058 74% Median Value of Homes $50,800 $44,100 $47,900 Housing Unit Vacancy Rate 12% 11% 12% Renter-Occupied Units 3,010 38% 7,215 24% 178,49926% Median Contract Rent $239 $218 $303 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 91 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing the County ($218). The percentage of growth in housing construction that vacant units within Beckley (12%) were occurred in Raleigh County and the State consistent with vacancy rates within during the 1970s and 1980s. Raleigh County (11%) and West Virginia (12%). These numbers were much Nationally, the average age of housing higher than the State of Ohio’s vacancy units is 28 years. In Beckley, the average The average age of a rate(6.5%), for example, but only age of housing units is 47 years. Housing community’s housing stock slightly higher than the national average units constructed before 1970 are concen- is one of the indicators used which is 10.1%. trated in the southern portion of Beckley. to measure the overall Older housing units (pre-1940) are availability and quality of Manufactured housing was not permit- concentrated within the southeastern housing. ted within the City until 1997. Accord- portion of the City in Ward 2 and Ward 3. ing to the Annual Report of the City Elderly and low-income households are Code Enforcement Department, four more likely than other groups to live in manufactured housing units were older housing units because those units are constructed in 1998. often the most affordable; however, these households often lack adequate means to Age of Homes maintain the units and deterioration is The average age of a community’s accelerated. housing stock is one of the indicators used to measure the overall availability Household Income and Housing and quality of housing. The high Price Requirements/Opportunities percentage of older homes (pre-1940) In order to determine the typical price of may indicate a large number of dis- homes affordable to Beckley residents, it is tressed housing units. important to analyze household income. HUD housing budget standards typically The following figure shows a compari- allow up to 28% of household income to son of the age of homes in Beckley, be used for housing costs, which includes Raleigh County, and the State of West mortgage or lease payment, property taxes, Virginia. Almost two out of three and property and household insurance. By housing units (63%) in Beckley were comparing housing price requirements to constructed before 1960, which is higher the values of the existing supply of homes than both the County and State percent- in Beckley, a rough estimate of housing ages. It is interesting to note that Beckley needs and construction opportunities can did not equally share in the substantial be determined. Nationally, the average age of housing units is 28 years. Comparative Housing Age In Beckley, the average age of housing units is 47 years.

Percentage of Homes 30%

25%

20%

15%

10%

5%

Percentage of Homes of Percentage 0% 1980's 1970's 1960's 1950's 1940's Pre-1940

Beckley Raleigh County West Virginia

Page 92 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

statistic for Beckley is much lower than Analysis of General Ability to the average household income, it would Afford Housing indicate that households earning the The first pass at determining housing price highest incomes have inordinately requirements is an analysis of average skewed the average such that median household income and median household household income may be a better income. Average household income for the determinant of the general ability of City of Beckley has increased by 44.6% Beckley residents to afford housing. from 1989 to 1999 at a rate fairly equiva- lent to income for Raleigh County and the Using the HUD housing budget standard State, as a whole. The City of Beckley had Average household of 28% of income, the Beckley house- an average household income of $41,681 in income for the City of hold earning the median household 1999, 8% higher than the Raleigh County Beckley has increased by income of $25,771 could afford housing average of $38,326 and 5% higher than the 44.6% from 1989 to 1999. costs up to $7,215 per year or $601 per State average of $39,526. month. In 1990, over 94% of the rental units reported on the Census were priced In order to determine whether the average under $600 per month. This same has been skewed upward or downward by affordability level would translate into inordinately high or low incomes, another housing which costs up to $75,000 to analysis statistic is median household purchase or build at current interest rates income which identifies the midpoint and financing terms. It is estimated that income in a list of all incomes. In 1999, nearly 60% of the owner-occupied the median household income for the City homes have a value under $75,000 in of Beckley was $25,771, slightly less than 1999. that for the County and State as a whole, but median household income has in- creased at a rate of 35.2% since 1989; a slightly faster rate than the County or State. Median household income Since the median household income has increased at a rate of 35.2% since 1989; a Household Incomes by Income Range slightly faster rate than the County or State. 1999 Household Number of Housing Affordable Income Households Affordability Housing in Category Range Cost Low High Number % Low High Average Limit Limit Limit Limit $0 $9,999 1,474 18.4% $0 $233 $117 $10,000 $19,999 1,680 21.0% $233 $467 $350 $20,000 $24,999 731 9.1% $467 $583 $525 $25,000 $29,999 620 7.8% $583 $700 $642 $30,000 $34,999 445 5.6% $700 $817 $758 $35,000 $49,999 959 12.0% $817 $1,167 $992 $50,000 $74,999 1,151 14.4% $1,167 $1,750 $1,458 $75,000 $99,999 404 5.1% $1,750 $2,333 $2,042 $100,000 $149,999 308 3.9% $2,333 $3,500 $2,917 $150,000 up 223 2.8% $3,500 NA NA 7,995 100.0% Assumptions: Maximum Monthly House Payment = 28% of gross income

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 93 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

Analysis of Housing could afford to pay between $233 and Affordability by 1999 $817 per month for housing which would Household Income Range finance homes which cost between $28,000 upward to $100,000. About 2,110 The following table and graph provide of the households (26.4%) could afford to an estimate of the number of house- pay between $817 and $1,750 per month holds in various income ranges projected Over 48% of all Beckley for housing which would finance homes for 1999 from the 1990 Census. households earned less than costing up to $217,000. The remaining $25,000 per year. 935 households (11.8%) could afford to The table also indicates the range of pay more than $1,750 per month for housing affordable to each household housing. income range. The following bar graph charts this data by indicating the number of households in each income range and Analysis of Housing Demand and the range of monthly housing costs Supply affordable to them. In order to present a comparison of the affordability requirements (in a sense, the In 1999, nearly one in five Beckley demand) for homes and the available households were estimated to have supply of homes, 1990 Census data has earned less than $10,000 per year and been used since base data on 1999 rentals probably would not have qualified for is not available for the analysis. The the purchase of a home. (On average, following table and chart represent a households in this income range could compilation of 1990 Census data on only afford to pay about $155 per household income ranges with the number For households able to month for housing which would only of both owner-occupied and rental homes. afford between $233 and $583 qualify them for financing up to $19,000 Of course, the table speaks only to the costs per month with income in the for a house.) Over 48% of all Beckley of units and does not address the issue of ranges of $10,000 to $25,000, households earned less than $25,000 per quality or condition of homes. there was a surplus of 1,966 year (while not precise, this income units. range is the closest Census range to the The third column of the table indicates the HUD Low and Moderate Income number of households in 1990 able to determination for a family of four in afford housing based on the Census Beckley). About 3,476 households (44%)

Affordability Requirements HHs Able to Afford Various-Priced Housing

1,600 1,680 1,400 1,474

1,200 1,151 1,000 959 800 731 600 620

400 445 404 308 200 223 0

Households-Category $233-467 $583-700 $817-1167 $1750-2333 $3500+ $0-233 $467-583 $700-817 $1167-1750 $2333-3500 Affordable Monthly Housing Costs

Page 94 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

General Housing Supply & Affordability City of Beckley - 1990

3,500

3,000

2,500

2,000

1,500

1,000

500 Numbers of Units and Households 0 $0-$233 $468-$583 $701-$817 $1,168-$1,750 $2,334-$3,500 $234-$467 $584-$700 $818-$1,167 $1,751-$2,333 $3,501+ Max Affordable Monthly Housing Cost

Housing Units Available in Cost Range Households Able to Afford Housing Cost

income ranges. The fourth and fifth estimate of the availability of homes columns indicate the maximum affordable priced to be affordable to households monthly housing costs with the assump- with incomes in the ranges listed in tion that housing costs are limited to 28% column 1. The following Chart illus- of the household income. The 1990 trates this distribution of household Census data available on the number of income and housing costs graphically. owner-occupied units at stated value ranges and the number of rental units at stated The following chart and table provide an rental rates were extrapolated to match the interesting comparison of the availability household income category data ranges. of homes at prices affordable to the The surplus/shortage column is a calculated population. For households earning less

Housing Demand and Supply Analysis Households Maximum Owner- Rental Housing Able to Affordable Occupied Units Units Afford Monthly Units Affordable Available in 1990 Housing Housing Affordable to Income Cost Household Cost Costs to Income Range Range Surplus/ Income Range Shortage Low High Low High 0 9,999 2,163 $0 $233 1,012 1,043 2,055 (108) 10,000 19,999 1,881 $233 $467 1,883 1,540 3,423 1,542 20,000 24,999 626 $467 $583 801 250 1,050 424 25,000 29,999 416 $583 $700 422 95 517 101 30,000 34,999 523 $700 $817 320 49 369 (154) 35,000 49,999 1,060 $817 $1,167 263 33 296 (764) 50,000 74,999 657 $1,167 $1,750 132 0 132 (525) 75,000 99,999 290 $1,750 $2,333 48 0 48 (242) 100,000 149,999 152 $2,333 $3,500 15 0 15 (137) 150,000up 80 $3,500 Higher 0 0 0 (80) TOTAL 7,848 4,895 3,010 7,905 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 95 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing than$10,000 and able to afford a Recent Housing Construction maximum of $233 in housing costs per The total number of housing units within month, there was a shortage of 108 units. the City of Beckley increased by 2,401 units This is a critical segment of the market (37%) between 1970 and 1990. During since these 2,163 households have no this same period, the County and State housing choices aside from the 2,055 experienced slightly higher growth rates of housing units that are affordable to 44% and 41%, respectively. The following this group of residents. Unfortunately, table indicates that between 1993 and In 1990, there was no there is no way to know how many of 1998, a total of 207 new single-family shortage of houses in the the available units in this cost range are residential building permits were approved City, so these 1,748 occupied by households who could in Beckley. households were obviously afford higher cost housing, which living in the (surplus) exacerbates the problem of housing the Single-Family House Construction housing units priced at lowest income households. 1993-1998 levels below what they could afford if they chose to For households able to afford between Year Number of Permits purchase more costly homes. $233 and $583 per month with income Issued in the ranges of $10,000 to $25,000, 1993 38 there was a surplus of 1,966 units. On 1994 49 the surface, this implies a good supply of 1995 33 moderate priced housing, but availabil- 1996 34 ity considerations should weigh heavily 1997 28 upon any conclusions related to a large 1998 25 number of available affordable units. Total 207 Again, it must be stated that people in higher income brackets have the option and ability to live in housing units that According to the City Code Enforcement are priced significantly below what they Department, no new multi-family units can afford. Households often choose to were constructed between 1993 and 1998. keep housing expenses lower for reasons This modest growth in housing units has such as college expenses or other house- kept pace with Beckley’s modest popula- hold obligations. tion growth during this period. A majority of the new housing units are located For households able to afford between within the Woodcrest and Maxwell Hill $583 and $817 per month with income subdivisions. in the ranges between $25,000 to $35,000, the supply of housing nearly In addition to the above observations, the equaled demand. However, there were following conclusions and data limitations 1,748 more households able to afford should be clearly explained: housing costs over $817 per month (earning more than $35,000) than there • While still useful, the data presented in the preceding table and graph is from 1990 were homes available in the higher price The total number of housing and is old. Unfortunately, 1990 Census ranges. In 1990, there was no shortage units within the City of data is the only source of comparable of houses in the City, so these 1,748 Beckley increased by 2,401 information concerning household households were obviously living in the units (37%) between 1970 income, values of owner-occupied housing (surplus) housing units priced at levels and 1990. below what they could afford if they units, and ranges of rents. chose to purchase more costly homes. • The above data illustrates primarily how households in different income groups

Page 96 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

relate to the costs of housing. Most notably, it is evident that there are many A second observation is that there households with higher incomes residing appeared to be room at the upper end of in lower cost homes. the housing market for additional higher cost rental or condominium housing • To some extent, the indicated shortage of units. While it was admittedly difficult Approximately 34.5 new 1,749 units in upper price ranges helps to and risky to introduce “maintenance- single- family residential explain recent trends in City of Beckley free” living in the community, it would units per year have been housing construction. As shown in City of appear that Beckley should be able to constructed over the last Beckley Building Activities Reports, approxi- capitalize on developments with the ten years. mately 34.5 new single family residential proper amenities to capture the high-end units per year have been constructed over market, especially Seniors and Empty the last ten years. For the most part, it is Nesters. thought this housing construction is attributed to satisfying demand for larger Housing Needs by and more costly homes from upper-income households. This is especially evident by Population Segment the development of the Woodcrest subdivi- While both upper and lower income sion and the townhouse and new brackets create demand for housing There appeared to be WhiteOak Land Company subdivision off units, the important aspect for lower room at the upper end of Maxwell Hill on the northwest side of income families is the fact that choices the housing market for town, which indicate efforts to capture become more limited as income is additional higher cost these opportunities. reduced. rental or condominium housing units. • Another relevant observation that can be Cost Burdened Households made from the above data and recent People in upper income brackets can residential construction activity is that always reside in less expensive homes if lower income households do benefit, to they so choose. People in lower income some degree, from the construction of new groups have fewer choices and are often higher cost housing units. When a moder- forced into situations where they ate- or high-income household resides in a become cost burdened. High cost- lower cost unit in the City of Beckley, then burdened households are defined as purchases a new high cost housing unit, the those individuals or families that are more modest priced home becomes paying more than 30% of their monthly available to lower income household. gross income towards their housing From this perspective, the higher cost and expenses, which includes mortgage or lower cost housing markets are interdepen- rent, taxes, insurance, and utility ex- dent. High cost-burdened penses. Severely cost-burdened house- holds are those households that are households are defined as Several additional important observations paying more than 50% of their monthly those individuals or can be made from the above charts. Of the gross income toward housing expenses. families that are paying 5,478 units with rents or financing values more than 30% of their of less than $467 per month, nearly half are In Raleigh County in 1999, 49% of monthly gross income apartments and represent 85% of all renters were unable to afford the $402 towards their housing apartments in the City. If the City were to Fair Market Rent for a two-bedroom expenses. assist more lower-income renters become unit. High cost burdened households homeowners, it would greatly impact the could only afford monthly rent of no homeownership ratios and bring Beckley more than $239 per month. The Fair more in line with national homeownership Market Rent for a one-bedroom unit was levels.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 97 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

$345. A three-person household Neighborhood, Uptown, East Beckley, and receiving the maximum TANF grant Bibb Avenue Area. Areas which are nearly could afford monthly rent of no more rental high cost burdened include the than $91 per month. A household on Shadow Wood Subdivision area, the New SSI could afford a monthly rent of no River Park Neighborhood, the area south- more than $145. A minimum wage west of the Uptown District, and the earner, earning $10,712 annually, could Redbrush Neighborhood. afford a monthly rent of no more than $268 and would have to work 60 hours Minority Housing Analysis Often low- and moderate- per week in order to afford a two- In 1990, there were approximately 4,318 income families that are bedroom unit at the area’s Fair Market minority residents in the City of Beckley. faced with housing costs Rent. The following map reveals that largest that are high relative to their populations of minority residents were incomes defer home Another dimension to the housing cost located in the southeastern part of the City, maintenance and upkeep to burden issue is the issue of maintenance. especially the Redbrush area (1,190 avoid foreclosure problems Often low- and moderate-income persons), East Beckley (490 persons), East and to meet other basic families that are faced with housing costs Park (486 persons), the Bibb Avenue area expenses. that are high relative to their incomes (461 persons), and the area including and defer home maintenance and upkeep to south of the College of West Virginia (332 avoid foreclosure problems and to meet persons). In the neighborhood Ward other basic expenses. In general, federal meetings, residents of color noted that it is and state governments have funneled very difficult to secure homeownership and billions of dollars into helping people rehabilitation financing in Beckley. Upon buy homes, but comparatively little into examination of this issue, it would appear helping owners maintain, repair, and that the problem may not be a fair housing renovate their homes. Lower-income issue, but rather a need to match potential owners have an especially difficult time homebuyers with credit counseling services affording costly home repairs and are and to workshops on various financing less likely than other owners to add or opportunities through the City and replace structural components, such as community lenders. roofing, siding, windows, or doors, and The problem may be...a need insulation; plumbing pipes and fixtures Public Housing - Unit Availability to match potential such as a sink or bathtub. Deferred and Subsidy Allocations homebuyers with credit maintenance and inadequate replace- The City of Beckley Housing Authority was counseling services and to ment of systems or structural compo- able to provide 381 households with workshops on various nents lead to deterioration of the Section-8 housing assistance in 1998. In financing opportunities. housing stock and eventually to a lower addition, 640 units of Public Housing and quality of life. The broader community- Multi-Family subsidized housing opportu- wide implications of this condition is nities are available in Beckley through the the fact that the housing stock of a Housing Authority of the City of Beckley community can decline and produce and other private or non-profit human declining property values. service providers. Tenants residing in Housing Authority units have an average The preceeding map identifies areas of income of $7,000; nine out of ten house- rental high-cost burden in 1990 for the holds have children; 1% are elderly; and City of Beckley. Areas where renters 57% are minority households. A list of would have paid more than 30% of the subsidized housing providers and a map median household income for a me- showing locations of subsidized units dian-priced rental unit include the follows: Woodcrest Neighborhood, East Park Page 98 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

Rental Housing Burden Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 99 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 100 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

Minority Population Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 101 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

This page left inetionally blank

Page 102 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

Public Housing Map

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 103 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

This page left inetionally blank

Page 104 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use - Housing Chapter 8

Summary of Prior Findings from the 1964 Comprehensive Plan effective vacant land re-utilization in Wards 3, 4, and 5. • The amount of new construction is declining • Development of increased residential density in the City indicating growth, because of in certain areas of the City should be done population increases, beyond the City limits. without disturbing the existing social environ- • Owner-occupied housing unit statistics are ment. Eliminate the “ribbon development” increasing, an indication of the single-family where possible to produce a more homogeneous The City of Beckley residential unit composition of Beckley. and economical land use pattern. Housing Authority was • Blight is limited to sections of Neighborhoods • Direct the bulk of the residential development able to provide 381 in East Park, the Bibb Avenue Area, and East toward single-family homes, since this manner households with Section 8 Beckley. of living is the obvious desire of the majority of housing assistance in • The high housing vacancy rate implies the the population within the planning area. 1998. continued out-migration trend of the Beckley populace. • Approximately one-half of the residences are 20 years of age or older and will require a progressively increased degree of maintenance. • Removal of dilapidated vacant buildings is necessary. Rehabilitation measures must be taken so that every structure in Beckley conforms to the standards of a much-needed Housing Code. • Overcrowding is a problem especially in non- white households. • Conservation, rehabilitation, and/or redevel- opment programs are needed for each neighbor- hood, with specific attention to the issue of

Subsidized Housing Providers Name Address Assisted Units Agent; Funding; Purpose Abram-King Memorial Apts 123 Hager St 50 Central Baptist Church Hsg Assoc.; 221(d)(3); Project-based Assisted Apt FMRS Mental Health Council 211 S. Vance Dr 15 FMRS housing, Inc.; 202/811; Handicapped Hillcrest Apts 108 Sandstone Dr 150 Roy Prock; FHA Insured; 236(j)(1); Lower-Income Families Manor House 624 Johnstown Rd 102 American Apt Mgmt Co, Inc.; FHA Insured; 221(d)(4); Project-based Assisted Apt. Wildwood House 150 Autumn Ln 162 Interstate Realty Mgmt. Co.; FHA Insured; 221(d)(4); Project-based Assisted Apt. Willbrian Apartments 510 Ewart Ave 100 Triple S Mgmt Co; FHA Insured; 221(d)(4); Project-based Assisted Apt. East Park 123 9th St 35 Housing Authority of the City of Beckley; Public Housing Beckwoods 131 Beckwoods Dr 60 Housing Authority of the City of Beckley; Public Housing Lewis Ritchie Apartments 420 Industrial Dr 55 Housing Authority of the City of Beckley; Public Housing Piney Oaks 50 Housing Authority of the City of Beckley; Public Housing

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 105 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 8 Land Use - Housing

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 106 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Land Use- Neighborhoods Chapter 9

Land Use Focus • Ward 2 residents identify themselves Much of the effort associated with the with the ward boundaries and did not development of this Comprehensive Plan feel that there are any individual neigh- was focused toward redevelopment issues. borhoods within Ward 2, although the Early in the planning process, many Uptown area south of Neville and Main, important issues began surfacing about the area to the west of Byrd Drive, and steps the City can take to cause redevelop- the Woodlawn Avenue areas of the ward ment and reinvestment in certain areas. were recognized to have unique plan- The City of Beckley invited residents to ning needs within the ward. attend special planning meetings on September 21, 1999 as part of the Compre- • In Ward 3, four distinct neighborhoods hensive Planning Process. The meetings were identified: East Park; New River allowed residents to discuss issues and Park; Harper Hill, and Uptown. The concerns with their ward Council Members neighborhood of East Park is roughly in individual break-out groups. The defined as the eastern end of Ward 3, discussions included a review of demo- east and south of the CSX Railroad line graphic profiles for the ward, the identifica- and north of the Uptown area. The New tion of various neighborhood areas within River Park Neighborhood is geographi- the ward, a discussion of neighborhood cally at the center of Ward 3 and is problems, and the prioritization of issues of composed of the area west of Robert C. concern for each ward. Each ward’s indi- Byrd Drive (SR 16), east of Ewart Avenue, vidual report is included in the Appendix. and north of Harper Road. The neigh- This chapter will discuss planning for the borhood of Harper Hill is roughly five ward areas. Recommendations regard- defined as the southwestern portion of ing strategies for development and/or Ward 3. The area has a backbone redevelopment have been developed, composed of Westwood Drive and specifically as they relate to land use and Harper Road east to Ewart Avenue and zoning. includes the feeder streets of Fairview Avenue, Hillcrest Street, and West Beckley Avenue. The Uptown area of Ward 3 is the Central Business District north of Neighborhoods Neville, Main, and South Kanawha Strong cities are made up of strong neigh- Streets. The northern boundary of borhoods. Residents of most wards were Uptown is roughly the CSX tracks, Croft able to identify neighborhood areas within and Wilson Streets. The eastern bound- the City. The following section lists the ary of Uptown is generally considered as names and locations of neighborhood far east as Williams Street. areas provided by residents at the ward meetings. These names are used in text and • Ward 4 is a long and narrow area maps throughout the Comprehensive Plan. extending from the northeastern reaches of the City to the College of West Virgina • Ward 1 residents were not able to identify near Uptown. This ward has four “neighborhoods” within their area and felt distinct neighborhood areas: the North- that even the ward boundaries carried little Plaza Mall Area; the Woodcrest Neigh- significance to most residents. For descrip- borhood; the Pinecrest area; and the tive purposes in this Plan, the areas of Bowling Addition/CWV Area. The Maxwell Hill, Exit 44, Crescent Road, and North-Plaza Mall area is at the northern Northwestern Avenues were used as area reaches of ward 4 generally on the east identifiers. side of North Eisenhower Drive and

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 107 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

State Route 16 and is largely commercial. general public. The Table 9-1 indicates the The area includes the Beckley Plaza and physical conditions of various neighbor- Mall. The Woodcrest Neighborhood is hood areas in each of the Beckley wards. found in the north-central parts of Ward 4 and includes the recently-platted The following map indicates the ward residential subdivision which ties into boundaries and identifies neighborhoods Woodcrest Drive. Major nonresidential and areas of the City of Beckley. uses in this area include Wilson High School, the Beckley Appalachian Re- gional Hospital, and the Raleigh County Neighborhood Vocational Technical Center. The Pinecrest area is in the south-central part Organizations of Ward 4 and includes a number of Strong neighborhoods are found where large institutions and developments. caring and proud residents live in an These institutions and developments environment that encourages self-determi- include the Pinecrest Sanitarium, the nation and the belief that anything is Armory, Beckley-Stratton Jr. High, and possible through partnerships and a shared Pinecrest Business and Tech. Park. purpose. The City of Beckley recognizes Located in the far south end of Ward 4 is that the most direct path toward develop- Strong neighborhoods are an area called the Bowling Addition or ing and maintaining more livable neigh- found where caring and CWV area. This area is predominantly borhoods is to pursue a strategy toward proud residents live in an residential and commercial. Homes in greater neighborhood-level involvement environment that this area are generally older than homes and empowerment. This strategy repre- encourages self- in the Woodcrest neighborhood. sents a significant shift in thinking toward determination and the belief a more complete and realistic view of that anything is possible • In Ward 5, residents noted that in the neighborhood development. The City through partnerships and a “old days,” the ward was nicknamed seeks to foster an environment that em- shared purpose. “Froggy Bottom.” Other names pro- powers neighborhoods to take a greater vided by participants for various neigh- role in revitalization and development borhoods within the ward included the activities. Residents identified the follow- Bibb Avenue Area, the Hill, East Beckley, ing neighborhood-based organizations in and the Redbrush Area. However, several Beckley: people indicated sensitivity to the name Redbrush, which they felt conjured up a • In Ward 1, the only community organiza- negative connotation in the minds of the tions included two Parent-Teacher Organi- zations (PTO’s) and the Exit 44 Associa- Table 9-1 Neighborhood Conditions Thriving Stable buy Challenged Transitional Threatened Ward 1 Maxwell Hill West Harper Rd Crescent Rd. Northwestern Ward 2 Woodlawn West of Byrd Dr. Uptown (South) Ward 3 Harper Hill New River Park Uptown (North) East Park Ward 4 Woodcrest Bowling Addition Ward 5 Froggy Bottom East Beckley Bibb Ave Area Redbrush

Page 108 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

Map of Neighborhood Areas in the City ofBeckley

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 109 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 110 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

tion, which includes the businesses around 5 residents appear to want a Block the SR 64/SR 77 interchange. There is no Watch. Neighborhood-based crime-watch organization in the ward. organizations can be at Neighborhood-based organizations can different points of • In Ward 2, the Ward 2 Block Watch works be at different points of evolution, evolution, leadership closely with police assigned to the Ward 2 leadership development, and effective- development, and Community Policing facility to assist in the ness in meeting the needs of their effectiveness in meeting prevention of crime in the area. neighborhoods. Three terms generally the needs of their used to describe the status of neighbor- neighborhoods. • In Ward 3, the neighborhood organiza- hood-based organizations are: function- tion is the United Neighbors Neighbor- ing; emerging; and potential. These hood Crime Watch. The organization terms are defined as follows: involves residents throughout the ward and also includes some residents from the • A functioning neighborhood-based Bowling Addition of Ward 4. As its name organization holds regular meetings implies, the organization works closely that focus on activities that will lead to with police assigned to the East Park neighborhood revitalization or main- Community Policing facility to assist in the taining the living and working condi- prevention of crime in the area. In addi- tions of a defined area of common tion, the association has undertaken efforts geography and neighborhood issues to improve recreational activities for within the City. It has organizational children in East Park and to report aban- capacity and resources indicated by doned housing and overgrown vacant lots. representational membership (with most of the membership from within It was noted by several residents that the the neighborhood), elected leadership, organization should begin to hold monthly and legal status as an organization ward meetings as they once did. It was incorporated as an Ohio nonprofit suggested the ward Councilperson and corporation. neighborhood residents could use the meetings to discuss areas of concern and to In addition, the organization should invite key City staff (such as the building have a determination from the IRS that it inspector or the park’s manager) to assist is a charitable organization meeting the residents develop strategies for community Federal tax-exemption requirements of improvements. Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Rev- enue Code which enables it to directly • In Ward 4, the Woodcrest Neighborhood apply for funds from philanthropic Organization is an active neighborhood organizations. It is suggested that the group focused on issues which pertain to Woodcrest Neighborhood Organization, the Woodcrest development. The United the Exit 44 Association, and possibly the Neighbors Crime Watch organization (from United Neighbors Crime Watch could be Ward 3) is active in parts of the Bowling considered functioning neighborhood- A functioning Addition of Ward 4. based organizations. neighborhood-based organization holds • Ward 5: The participants mentioned that • An emerging neighborhood-based regular meetings that they had no viable neighborhood organiza- organization is typically an existing focus on activities that tion that could help with some of their neighborhood association or a fledgling will lead to neighborhood needs. The only organization mentioned nonprofit corporation dedicated to revitalization. was the East Beckley Community Associa- neighborhood revitalization, but does tion or Organization, but many thought not meet the definition of a functioning that this group existed only on paper. Ward neighborhood-based organization. It is

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 111 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

thought that the Ward 2 Block Watch tions and establish new neighborhood- and the East Beckley Community based organizations in appropriate areas to Ultimately, functioning Association are examples of emerging assist them with becoming functioning neighborhood-based organizations that, with a little more entities. The implications for the City organizations in thriving guidance, could become even more providing neighborhood walking patrols neighborhoods are desired effective for neighborhood improvement and using police to staff Block Watch for the City of Beckley. fully functioning. organizations is that these efforts have been the historical first step in many cities •A potential neighborhood-based for neighbors to get involved in the organization is one that does not revitalization of their communities and currently exist, but could begin function- have often spurred the creation of neigh- ing with a little encouragement. The key borhood improvement organizations. The ingredient for a potential neighborhood- City can and should take steps to foster based organization to emerge is leader- and encourage residents to participate in ship with a mission to involve fellow neighborhood betterment groups. residents in activities to improve their neighborhood. In some cases, more Neighborhood-based organizations than one neighborhood-based organiza- function at different levels. Some are tion could serve the same area due to organizations that focus on neighborhood activity focus differences (as an example, organizing for crime-watch, clean up, and a block watch, a neighborhood housing/ image-building campaigns. Highly economic development organization, functioning neighborhood-based organiza- and a service club could co-exist within a tions have also become active players in the neighborhood and each achieve great development arena, implementing real results). Areas which could benefit from estate development projects. neighborhood-based organization activities and which appear to have the None of the neighborhood-based organi- key leadership ingredients include zations in Beckley currently have the Maxwell Hill, Harper Hill, the western capacity or training to undertake home area of Ward 2, East Park, and the East construction, rehabilitation, etc., and it Beckley/Redbrush areas. would likely take years to develop this capacity. However, it is an effective and Functioning Neighborhood- efficient policy for the City to direct energy and resources toward involving neighbor- Based Organizations in Thriving hood-based organizations in determining Neighborhoods neighborhood priorities, consensus Ultimately, functioning neighborhood- building, project identification, leverage of based organizations in thriving neigh- additional resources, and formation of borhoods are desired for the City of project development teams to cause the It is an effective and efficient Beckley. There seems to be a desire for implementation of key projects. policy for the City to direct more contact between ward energy and resources toward councilpersons, City staff, and neighbor- Neighborhood-based organizations can involving neighborhood- hood residents. help spotlight problems regarding street based organizations in conditions, traffic patterns, neglected determining neighborhood The City approach for neighborhood property, and related problems. The City priorities.... revitalization is to become engaged with can look to neighborhood-based organiza- functioning neighborhood-based tions to aid in efforts to market its housing organizations, as well as to nurture and economic development programs emerging neighborhood-based organiza- (such as housing rehabilitation, first-time home buyer programs, demolition, etc.,) to

Page 112 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

help provide the greatest program impact. build a stronger market. The promotion Over the long term, many neighborhood- of these relationships can help create a The fact that business based organizations want to increase synergy between local residents and owners desire a better, internal capacity to provide more substan- nonresidential entities that are already safer community is often tial responsibilities in real estate develop- part of the neighborhood fabric and overlooked by ment projects. A City strategy to partner character. Therefore, facilitating and neighborhood groups. with neighborhood-based organizations encouraging such relationships is a and help them meet goals to revitalize their recommended approach. neighborhoods can expedite solutions to current problems and increase the overall Potential Development Partners revitalization activity within the City. In Neighborhood groups need administra- order to continue to support the evolution tive and project-related resources to and growth of neighborhood groups, some develop additional organizational and City staffing priorities could be changed to development capacity. The City, through include responsibilities for assisting its resources and contacts, can encourage organizations meet regularly, provide and pursue local and national funding assistance in the preparation of detailed and development partnerships/relation- strategic neighborhood revitalization plans, ships that will assist neighborhood and coordinate City resources as neighbor- organizations with direct services, hood needs arise. funding, and other requisite skills to undertake revitalization projects. Neighborhood-based Organizations And Local Some of the largest support organiza- Institutions and Businesses tions for neighborhood-based develop- ment organizations include the Local One way to promote the internal capacity Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC), and potential success of neighborhood The Enterprise Foundation, Neighbor- groups is to encourage the development hood Housing Services of America, and of relationships between neighborhood- the Structured Employment/Economic based organizations and public and Development Corporation (SEEDCo). private institutions and/or businesses located in a particular neighborhood. • LISC is the nation’s largest support The fact that business owners desire a organization for grassroots community better, safer community is often overlooked building with its mission to mobilize by neighborhood groups. The talents and partnerships to help local people rebuild resources of corporate managers with an deteriorated neighborhoods and rural interest in the revitalization of the neigh- areas across America. Established by the borhood can be useful to help solve Ford Foundation in 1979, LISC provides Neighborhood groups neighborhood problems. Institutional funding and technical know-how to need administrative and partners may include hospitals, churches, neighborhood-based development project-related resources schools, and government representatives. organizations to create affordable homes to develop additional Access to capital can be secured through the for working families, spur commercial organizational and participation of banks that recognize investment, create jobs, and expand development capacity. potential market opportunities in neighbor- opportunity in low-income neighbor- hood lending or that seek to satisfy Com- hoods. LISC works with neighborhood- munity Reinvestment Act (CRA) require- based development organizations ments. Nonresident small business mer- because it believes they are accountable chants in a neighborhood are often moti- to local residents and they produce vated to help improve the neighborhood tangible results through working part- environment out of safety concerns or to

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 113 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

a grant from the Ford Foundation to nerships in neglected areas that encour- provide technical and financial assistance age private sector investment. By to neighborhood-based organizations and channeling funds to local neighborhood local “anchor” institutions that are working development organizations and provid- in partnership to revitalize disadvantaged ing any needed technical support, LISC neighborhoods. These anchor institutions believes it empowers residents to set include colleges, universities, hospitals , their own priorities and shape the community health centers, community process of community renewal. foundations, youth-serving agencies, workforce development organizations, and LISC supports programs that help government entities. rebuild communities such as commu- nity-based housing development SEEDCo has helped to catalyze partner- programs, programs aimed at large scale ships between 105 institutions and 90 retail developments, anti-crime partner- neighborhood-based groups in 58 locali- ships with local police, programs that ties. A key SEEDCo program is the Histori- enhance local efforts at building civic cally Black Colleges and Universities involvement, community-based project which seeks to engage institutions childcare programs, those aimed at in community development efforts. employment and training partnerships, SEEDCo also has a program which pro- and those that build partnerships among vides technical assistance to nonprofit neighborhood-based development human service groups, especially on organizations and local housing authori- workforce development and youth devel- ties to redevelop communities. LISC has opment. 43 local programs working in over 100 cities and urban counties across the • Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) country with a track record of direct of America is a private, nonprofit, tax- assistance to over 1,500 groups who exempt corporation created in 1974 to created over 80,000 homes, and 10.3 form partnerships with neighborhood million square feet of commercial and residents, business leaders, and local industrial space. government officials who make a commit- ment to each other to provide the resources • The Enterprise Foundation is a na- necessary to revitalize their neighborhoods. tional, nonprofit housing and commu- NHS partnership programs are active in 47 nity development organization created states and serve more than 1,004 commu- in 1982 by Jim Rouse. The Foundation’s nities (45% serve minority neighbor- mission is to cultivate, collect, and hoods). disseminate expertise and resources to help communities across the United NHS offers its partners technical services, States successfully improve the quality of core operating support, capital grants, and life for low-income people and bring five major types of loan products which lasting improvements to distressed include: rehabilitation and secondary communities. In order to achieve that financing recourse loans; recourse first mission, Enterprise works through a mortgages for problem properties; non- network of more than 1,500 community- recourse first mortgages; multi-family based nonprofit organizations by permanent financing; and interim real providing opportunities and solutions estate development financing. A major for low-income housing, community tool is the creation of a locally funded and development, and social services. controlled revolving loan fund, which is • SEEDCo was established in 1986 with

Page 114 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

used to make affordable loans (individually should include both a subjective and tailored to the client’s ability to pay) to objective analysis of neighborhood residents who do not qualify for conven- strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and tional loans. threats. The objective analysis should entail a general description of the area One of the most important Neighborhood Strategic Planning steps for neighborhood through U.S. Census data, surveys, One of the most important steps for revitalization undertaken auditor information, real estate data, and neighborhood revitalization undertaken by by neighborhood-based crime statistics. Identification of trends neighborhood-based organizations is the organizations is the would also be helpful. preparation of a strategic development plan preparation of a strategic to improve the neighborhood. The purpose development plan to An existing land use inventory of the of the neighborhood planning should be to improve the neighborhood should be prepared along determine priorities, develop action plans, neighborhood. with zoning information, a description and create internal organization capacity of the housing stock, a listing of identify- and relationships with development ing characteristics of the neighborhood partners for implementation. (boundaries, physical attributes, historic/ architectural features, natural features, The City should play a major role in the average lot sizes and configurations), a neighborhood-level strategic planning description of open space and recre- process. It should outline the desired plan ational areas, an inventory of vacant lots, contents, insist on and help to maximize a map of the existing transportation and neighborhood participation, and ensure circulation system, and a listing of that there is consensus on an initial list of capital improvement needs. parties responsible for data gathering and ultimate implementation of various • Environmental Scan: This component potential components of the plan. is an assessment of the local political, social, and economic conditions that Small planning grants using public or may or may not impact the neighbor- private sources of funds could be awarded hood. to selected organizations to enable them engage planning consultants to lead the • Overview of Existing Local Plans: The planning process. (The State of West neighborhood should be aware of Virginia has recently increased the funding existing City and County plans and available for planning grants funded by determine how they may impact the The plan should be Community Development Block Grants development of the neighborhood (e.g., reviewed and approved by from $60,000 to up to $100,000.) Upon Master Plan, Capital Improvements Plan, the residents in order to completion of a neighborhood plan and Community Economic Development maximize their agreement adoption by the neighborhood, the City Strategy, transportation plans, park, and and involvement in should review and adopt each plan. bicycle trail plans, etc.) Another benefit implementation. of this kind of review is that it allows the The contents of a neighborhood plan neighborhood to be compared with the should consist of at least the following rest of the City and adjoining neighbor- elements: hoods.

• Neighborhood History: This component • Formulation of a Vision Statement, is a brief overview of the history of the Goals and Objectives: Assuming the best neighborhood and its relationship to the possible scenarios, how do residents see community, as a whole. their neighborhood in ten to twenty years? This vision should be crafted into • Neighborhood Analysis: This component

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 115 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9 a short statement that could possibly be adopted by the City, the neighborhood The City of Beckley should adopted as the mission of the NBO. The organization should be contacted for continue to seek advisory general objectives, goals, and implemen- matters related to the municipal services, participation from tation activities identified in the plan capital improvements, law enforcement, neighborhood-based should flow from and lead to implemen- rezoning, code enforcement, nuisance organizations in legislative tation of the vision. abatement efforts, the identification of decisions. buildings for demolition, and targeting of • Formulation of Neighborhood Plan: federal community development funds. At a minimum, this component should This request for input should be part of the address the following issues: housing, formal deliberative process undertaken by parks and open space, future land use, City Council. Some communities copy vacant land reuse, zoning changes for neighborhood-based organizations with inappropriately-zoned areas (e.g., information sent to City Council members overuse of multi-family zoning), neigh- when these matters are brought up for The City should attempt to borhood retail, traffic circulation, listing discussion. help neighborhoods create a of needed capital improvements (light- unique identity ing, storm drainage, sewer work, curb, Neighborhood Identity: characteristic of the area roadway improvements, tree trimming, and its history. The City should attempt to help neighbor- sidewalks,) and recommendations for hoods create a unique identity characteris- improved City services (police, fire, tic of the area and its history. Efforts to refuse, street/alley cleaning, leaf pickup, create neighborhood identity could and enforcement of housing, zoning, include unique street lighting, street and building, and health codes). sidewalk treatments, boulevard creation, individualized zoning overlays, signage • Prioritization: The plan should treatments, tree planting, beautification prioritize those elements of high impor- themes, public open space located at key tance that need to be implemented first neighborhood street intersections with based on neighborhood consensus. benches and gazebo-style bandstands, etc. The use of decorative street lighting and a The plan should be reviewed and return to brick streets provides an immedi- approved by the residents in order to ate sense of identity for historic areas and maximize their agreement and involve- has the added effect of enhancing property ment in implementation. The plan values and the quality of life. should also be submitted to the City Planning Commission for their review A neighborhood could choose an identity and comment and the finished plan to based upon its place in the history of the City Council for approval and inclusion City, ethnic or ancestral themes, leading in the overall City Comprehensive Plan A neighborhood’s industries, a sports affiliation or sports by amendment. Information summary physical layout and heroes, etc. A neighborhood’s physical data can also be forwarded to the City’s original housing design layout and original housing design should Consolidated Plan. should provide cues for provide cues for new development. New new development. development should be designed with Participation in Public respect to the existing housing patterns Decisions whenever possible, thus creating a coherent The City of Beckley should continue to whole, rather than introducing entirely seek advisory participation from neigh- new and inconsistent styles and patterns of borhood-based organizations in legisla- architecture. tive decisions. Where a neighborhood has created a strategic plan that has been Particular attention should be paid to the

Page 116 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

issue of density during the redevelopment of the neighborhood. Residents would process. With the apparent out-migration like to see the buildings reused for a of some of Beckely’s population, care public purpose that fosters a sense of Participants felt that great should be taken to incorporate lower community. Participants felt that the efforts should be made to densities and more open space amenities City needs to continue to support preserve historic into new construction, allowing this Mountain State University with any buildings within the housing to compete with new suburban ongoing or proposed expansion projects. Uptown area. developments, creating more sustainable communities. Ward 3: Participants from Ward 3 expressed concerns for continued improvements to recreation facilities in Ward Issues East Park. It was suggested the City As part of the Comprehensive Planning should complete the remodeling of the process, residents were invited to attend East Park Pool, Playground, Fence, and special planning meetings on September Parking Lot. Another suggestion was to 21, 1999 to discuss issues and concerns in improve the East Park School/Head Start neighborhoods in their ward. The discus- Community Center by the construction sions included a review of demographic of a recreation facility (such as a game data for the ward, a discussion of neighbor- room, gym for basketball and volleyball, hood problems, and the prioritization of tennis courts) and provision of funds to issues of concern. The demographic engage a recreation supervisor, especially profiles for each ward are attached in the Additional park and in the winter. Appendix to this Comprehensive Plan. recreation are the highest priority desired in ...Ward Participants mentioned that illegal The following issues were identified by 4. dumping occurs at a vacant triangular lot participants as concerns and ideas for the which is formed by Broadway Street, improvement of the community. Some Scott Avenue, and Powerline Drive, and issues were unique to a single ward, and suggested the City could partner with others were presented in more than one residents to convert the “Triangle” to a ward of the City. The issues have been Community Garden, possibly calling it grouped by topic with recommendations the East Park Botanical Garden. following each topic group. Ward 4: Additional park and recreation Quality of Life Issues: are the highest priority desired in this Ward 2: Several Quality of Life issues were ward. This includes expansion and/or prioritized in Ward 2 including historic development of existing parks along According to the preservation, elementary schools, and the with the development of new parks. participants, a woeful promotion of higher education opportuni- Residents suggested many ideas for park deficiency in Ward 5 is the ties within Beckley. Participants felt that and recreation improvements. lack of adequate parks, great efforts should be made to preserve playgrounds, and open historic buildings within the Uptown area. Ward 5: According to the participants, a space areas. Participants were very concerned that the woeful deficiency in Ward 5 is the lack of elementary schools which have been closed adequate parks, playgrounds, and open or will be closed in the near future within space areas. Many mothers voiced the ward will destroy the fabric of the concern that their children had no place neighborhood. They feel that families are close to home to play ball safely as there less likely to move into the neighborhood if are no parks in East Beckley. With 23% elementary-age children have to be bussed of the population between the ages of 0- significant distances, and that families with 17, this was seen as a high priority for young children will be forced to move out

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 117 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

munity center, a recreation center, housing the ward. Participants expressed disap- for senior citizens, student housing for pointment that their neighborhood CWV, or a business incubator, among other Stratton Jr. High was relocated to Grey possibilities. The City should work with Flats Road (even though the building residents to prioritize potential uses for the Preservation of historic will be reused as an elementary school). facility. buildings and architecture is Several expressed concern that too many felt to be an important churches are locating in storefronts The community feels it is important to cultural element of the City. causing parking problems. There was assist CWV every way possible (expansion, also concern that the recently built zoning, recognition, etc.) The implications neighborhood police station is never of such community support are that the manned. growth of CWV is desired for the commu- nity, and the City can and should take steps Observations and Implications to support this growth. Concerning Quality of Life Issues: Wards 3, 4, and 5 want development, expansion, or continued improvements to Preservation of historic buildings and parks and recreation areas. The signifi- architecture is felt to be an important cance of these desires are that residents can cultural element of the City. Two and should be involved in defining park Many historic buildings in historic landmark organizations recom- locations, amenities, and designing the Uptown are vacant or mended that two additional areas be park trail system. Locations of future new underutilized and are not designated as districts for inclusion on parks should be sought with these consid- being maintained well. the National Register of Historic Places erations in mind. Generally, parks should (residential area on North Kanawha be as large as possible in order to facilitate between Wilson and Quesenberry Streets municipal maintenance and management and an area immediately south of the of these open space resource. Courthouse Square Historic District). The City could enlist the assistance of a These three wards have increasing amounts sympathetic professor at CWV or high of untended vacant lots which should be school teacher to use the process for reused and, whenever possible, converted nomination of historic landmarks as a into private ownership, or assembled into class assignment. large parcels for new developments. Vacant lots can remain unmanaged trash-strewn Many historic buildings in Uptown are menaces that have a blighting influence on vacant or underutilized and are not the surrounding neighborhoods for years. being maintained well according to In addition to their unsightliness, the several participants. The implications of growing quantity and persistence of these this is the potential loss of properties lots decreases residents’ quality of life, and architectural heritage that have . discourages investment in the City, and As pressure mounts to helped to define and provide character contributes to trends of depopulation and contain suburban sprawl by for the City. disinvestment. However, vacant lots, in and redirecting development of themselves, are not intrinsically negative. inward and reusing urban Ward 2 is concerned about the proposed As pressure mounts to contain suburban land, the City’s vacant lots loss of Central and Institute Elementary sprawl by redirecting development inward could become valued assets. Schools, and Ward 5 has expressed regret and reusing urban land, the City’s vacant for the conversion of the Stratton Junior lots could become valued assets. Creating High School into an elementary school. a system that both manages vacant lots and Central Elementary could most likely be facilitates their transfer for reuse will open used by CWV. The Institute Elementary School could possibly become a com-

Page 118 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

new possibilities for redevelopment of side/rear yards whenever possible. Other these Beckley neighborhoods, which in turn potential uses include community will expand the potential for community gardens, tot-lots, off-street parking/ Undevelopable lots in the groups to expand capacity, create job garages. community should be opportunities for residents, and shape the reused for open space future of their neighborhoods. The basis of Some communities have even experi- amenity helping to reduce this system should be an asset management mented with urban agriculture, tree densities somewhat and approach to vacant land that is comprehen- farms, herb gardens, as well as teaching provide existing homes sive, strategic, and ongoing. The New gardens associated with schools, and any with side/rear yards, Kensington Open Space Management number of innovative and creative whenever possible. Program, located in neighborhood in north solutions for the vacant land problem. Philadelphia is a successful example of this Assisted by the proposed Community new vacant land management approach. Development Department, Beckley’s Recent studies have shown that the City of neighborhoods should be encouraged to Philadelphia will reap $1.38 for every undertake similarly creative approaches dollar invested in this form of vacant land to effectively reusing what is currently a management, breaking even in 12 years. negative influence in their communities and converting them into assets. Ward 3 has proposed that its Powerline Triangle could become Botanical Garden. Housing Issues: Generally areas that are illegal dumping Participants voiced Ward 1: It was noted that housing in the grounds and other undevelopable lots in concerns regarding Ward 1 area sells for between $150,000 the community should be reused for open deteriorating housing and $250,000. No housing problems space amenity helping to reduce densities stock. were raised. somewhat and provide existing homes with Ward 2: Housing issues were considered a priority for the ward. Many homes in ward 2 need maintenance and rehabilita- tion. Participants voiced concerns regarding deteriorating housing stock. Vacant homes need to be rehabilitated or razed for the health and safety of the neighborhood.

Ward 3: The participants felt that too many homes in East Park need mainte- nance and rehabilitation. Many resi- dents have not been successful in efforts to obtain financing for home ownership. Many vacant homes need to be razed for the health and safety of the neighbor- hood. (Residents have been told by the City that demolition is a minimum of a 60-90 day process, but cannot under- stand why some homes are still standing after several years.)

Ward 5: To bring in more middle income residents to the area, the partici- Vacant Land provides significant neighborhood challenges and opportunities

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 119 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

pants felt that the City should now to help lift property values. Such focused encourage mixed-income housing actions could be defined in neighborhood developments in the ward. Though they plans. liked the public housing units that are built there, the residents feel they have Several areas expressed concern with the absorbed their fair share of low-income length of time it takes for the City to take housing units, and now want more action on neighborhood nuisances. This moderate-income housing development. implies that changes are needed to State Participants described several problem laws which do not allow Cities to demolish properties that needed demolition. structures without owner consent. The need for good-paying jobs is a priority for Observations and Implications Economic Development Issues: participants. from the Housing Issues: Ward 1: The need for good-paying jobs is a priority for participants from this ward. Little, if any, new residential construction They felt that most of the new jobs being is occurring within the City except in created are low-end jobs (retail/commer- recently annexed subdivisions. Addi- cial) with low wages and few or no ben- tionally, some areas of Beckley have efits. It was stated that people cannot raise many homes that are candidates for families on incomes provided by these demolition, replatting, and new con- jobs, therefore, the young people with struction. Because of declining house- training and education are leaving Beckley. hold sizes, the City needs to add homes (A good example is that people in Beckley just to maintain population. Continued are driving to Huntington and Charleston aggressiveness to pursue annexation for to work in their Toyota plants.) residential development is needed. Progress toward this goal could involve Economic development incentives offered the formation of a nonprofit corporation by the City, County, State, etc., should be to acquire land for annexation and tied directly to the quality of the jobs being development. created. Incentives should be provided to companies to locate in Beckley and/or to With new construction, conservation of annex into Beckley. “Clawback” provisions sound housing units is also needed. should be included in the agreements to Many residents do not seem to be aware reclaim public funds given to companies that there is City financial assistance for Economic development that do not keep their job creation/ acquisition and rehabilitation. An incentives offered by the retention promises. (It was stated that implication of this is that the City City, County, State, etc., some newer companies (telemarketing) Housing Programs may need to be better should be tied directly to the hire people who never seem to make it marketed. If issues such a credit qualifi- quality of the jobs being through their probationary period, which cations prevent people from becoming created. is when the benefits kick in.) homeowners, the City should explore joint-programs to assist households with Ward 2: Job creation, commercial develop- credit problem assistance. ment, and elimination of nuisance busi- nesses are priorities for Ward 2. Residents Several areas of the City suffer from low want to see more business growth within property values and are not viewed as the Uptown area. New businesses should places where residential property values be encouraged to preserve the historic are increasing. This implies that focused character of Uptown. Concerns were actions at a neighborhood level are expressed with the number of vacant needed to remove dilapidated units commercial storefronts being used for coupled with strategic new construction Page 120 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

storage. This is attributed, in part, to the City needs to align municipal land buildings being held for speculative use plans with campus plans for growth. purposes; waiting to see if they will be There is a need to develop a special needed for additional parking around the “university” zoning district to formalize new Federal building. Concerns were the CWV campus growth area and leveled that the numerous bars in the include mechanisms to minimize Uptown area will create additional crime procedural delays. The City can encour- problems. age the University’s growth to the north toward the Uptown area. Student Ward 3: Residents of East Park are anxious housing could be considered north of for new job opportunities, especially the campus to enable students to industrial employment which offers better support entertainment night life in the wages and benefits. Uptown area. (See Chapter 10.) The growth of Mountain State University (CWV) is Ward 5: The participants were quite united People want better paying job opportu- important for the that Ward 5 needed businesses in their nities in Beckley. It is felt that the City development of the neighborhood, specifically, neighborhood needs to be more successful in landing Downtown. retail. Residents have to get in a car and jobs, although economic development drive to establishments that should only be efforts are commendable, to date. One a walking distance away. Many comments method to be more aggressive is to offer were made that when the old time business incentives for companies to locate or owners retired, no other folks replaced annex in the City (incentives need to be them. A drug store was seen as a high tied to the “quality” of jobs provided priority for the ward. and should include “clawback” provi- sions to ensure businesses comply with Observations and Implications their stated employment goals). One of the strengths of the area are transporta- Concerning Economic tion opportunities via the airport and Development Issues: the interstates. Beckley could target Notwithstanding the construction of the airport-related and high-technology Federal Building and the ongoing efforts of industries, especially along the pro- Beckley Main Street, the Uptown business posed SR 19 Bypass area. Proper district revitalization process has been slow planning along this corridor could help and uncertain for many property owners. provide a special identity to this area as Many participants The myriad of plans developed over the the “place of choice” for new industrial reported that they do not years for the area appears to have caused development in the State. Other poten- feel safe in the Uptown some confusion for many property owners. tial industries to target for this Bypass area. Some have expressed hesitation to invest in area include warehousing and distribu- buildings and businesses until a plan of tion, recreation opportunities along the action is adopted that meets basic needs of slopes of Piney Creek (skiing and business and consumers. One of the toboggan runs, etc.,) and retirement implications of this is that property owners community industries. may be hesitant to invest when the very buildings they might improve may be The Ward 5 area seeks retail develop- slated for demolition as parking garages. ment. This kind of development has been provided in many areas of the The growth of Mountain State University is Country through neighborhood eco- important for the development of the nomic development planning. Focused Downtown. An implication of this is that planning studies need to identify and

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 121 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9 describe existing retail buildings, their improvements at the overpass (the City ownership, and existing/intended uses. maintains the road, but the State resurfaces The neighborhood market must be it). They suggested that there are too many analyzed to determine perceptions, traffic lights on Harper Road at Exit 44, or competition, and market needs. Resi- that better synchronization of the lights dent-suggested needs include a small would help relieve congestion. grocery store and a drug store. A market study of these and other potentially It was suggested that pedestrian crosswalks A priority for Ward 1 is the desired businesses could be undertaken or safety islands are needed for Harper elimination of “unbearable” to relate demand to businesses which Road at the Pikeview Drive/Exit 44 inter- traffic congestion at Exit 44. normally operate within the parameters change. Traffic is so heavy that, too often, provided in the neighborhood. One people can only cross halfway, and then growing method to encourage businesses must stand in the middle of the road to to locate in a neighborhood is to provide wait for the opposite lanes of traffic to clear them with a retail incubator; this is or stop. There was also the suggestion that typically done by acquiring available or a pedestrian overpass over Harper Road vacant properties and offering them to was needed, but agreement could not be targeted businesses at leases below reached where it should best be located or market value for a period of years until whether there is adequate right-of-way. It they are established and able to purchase was also thought that sidewalks are needed the property. along Harper Road at Exit 44. Once again, there was a question as to whether or not Many participants reported that they do there was adequate right-of-way. not feel safe in the Uptown area. The implication of this statement is that the Participants felt more sidewalks are needed perception of safety is important to draw in the ward as well as throughout the City. people to the Uptown area. Methods to enhance the perception of safety include Ward 2: Participants stated the installation brighter and cheerful lighting, pedestrian of new sidewalks and repair or replacement paths, cleanliness, and a visible police of existing sidewalks is a priority. presence. Ward 3: Several transportation issues were Transportation Issues: discussed by Ward 3 participants: Ward 1: Ward 1 participants discussed several transportation issues: The residents of Harper Road in Ward 3 are extremely concerned with the traffic A priority for Ward 1 is the elimination congestion and the unsafe conditions and of “unbearable” traffic congestion at Exit delays for residents attempting to pull out 44, which is considered a major problem on Harper Road from the neighborhood, area. Suggestions included the addition especially at the intersection of West Participants felt more of a fourth lane on Harper Road where Avenue. Moreover, there is concern that the sidewalks are needed in the there are currently three, but several remedies the City may undertake to relieve Ward as well as throughout members of the group questioned if the congestion could encourage more the City. there was adequate right-of-way for the commercial development, more conges- fourth lane. (Right-of-way problems tion, and, ultimately, a decrease in residen- may also include an existing cemetery tial property values. For example, the and gas station.) Since I-64 and I-77 are residents felt that if the City chooses to State highways, some members of the install more traffic lanes or additional group felt certain the City cannot make traffic lights, this will temporarily relieve congestion, but could encourage more

Page 122 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

commercial development and actually increase the impact of traffic on the neigh- depends on where you live on Harper. borhood. There appears to be three distinct areas Residents of Ward 4 along this corridor. Exit 44 is the auto- strongly encourage the Residents have been informed the new oriented commercial area that serves the development of land-use Crosstown Connector has an estimated highway businesses. East of this area is planning along the new construction start up within the next two the hospital/commercial area that is of a By-Pass. years. There is great hope that this will more general commercial nature. relieve traffic congestion along Harper Further east is a purely residential area. Road; however, in the meantime, the Finally, at the far east of the corridor, the residents are requesting the use of police to Downtown area emerges and some promote safety and relieve traffic conges- commercial development extends tion in the area, especially during peak outward from Downtown. Each of traffic hours. these areas must be dealt with separately. Ward 1 and the Exit 44 Association want Participants noted that the intersection of more lanes, lights, and attention to East Prince, East Main, and Williams Streets pedestrian safety, while Ward 3 does not in the Uptown area is very dangerous want Harper to have more lanes or because too many drivers do not stop. They lights. It is important to recognize the felt strongly that this intersection needs to differences between these areas and be improved to promote safety. Residents of closely examine existing zoning regula- East Park want to begin discussions on how tions . sidewalks can be installed throughout the neighborhood, especially along school The Cross Town Corridor is felt to be an All neighborhoods need to routes and near play areas. extremely important element for the be more walkable. relief of traffic congestion on Harper Ward 4: Several transportation issues were Road, as well as in the Downtown area. discussed by Ward 4 participants: Residents in Ward 5 complained that the Residents of Ward 4 strongly encourage the area has narrow streets. On the surface, development of land-use planning along this implies that streets should be the new By-Pass to be located on the east widened to ease traffic problems. On side of Ward 4. It is expected that this new the other hand, narrow streets are not roadway will create commercial and necessarily bad because in some cases, industrial development activity, and there narrow streets can help clam traffic flow are grave concerns that it may not be and help increase the sense of commu- properly planned. nity and saftey. This issue requires further study. Participants considered Sidewalks are needed for safety reasons in the continued existence of the ward, especially for the elderly and All neighborhoods need to be more the North Beckley sewer children. There is a desire to expand walkable. Given this perception, it service area was a pedestrian linkages throughout this ward. seems City efforts to improve sidewalks problem. More connections to existing and proposed would be generally supported. All bike trails are also desired. crosswalks should include handicapped accessible ramps that meet the latest Observations & Implications provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act. (ADA) Walkways should Regarding Transportation Issues: connect residential areas with parks/ Harper Road is a critical east-west traffic commercial areas improving pedestrian arterial experiencing significant problems movement. that need to be addressed. The solution

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 123 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9

Ward 3 residents reported a dangerous to implement. intersection at East Prince, East Main, and Williams Street. The implication is Ward 3: Several infrastructure issues were that the City should undertake an discussed by Ward 3 participants: intersection study to recommend improvements. Participants noted there are storm sewer problems at the intersections of William Several key person surveys noted that and East Prince Streets; William and certain areas along Eisenhower Drive Hargrove Streets; Sour Street; Stanbury It was felt that Beckley’s could benefit from turning lanes or and Kessinger Streets; and the Scott Avenue sewer system is in good service roads. The City, working with dip. financial condition and that Ward 4 residents, could prioritize the two systems should intersections for analysis and appoint a Participants stated that several of the streets become one. task force to make recommendations for in East Park need to be repaved. improvement. Ward 5: One of the greatest needs in Ward Infrastructure Issues: 5 is storm drainage work. Participants Ward 1: Several infrastructure issues pointed out that a tremendous amount of were discussed by Ward 1 participants: flooding occurs after it rains.

The participants considered the contin- Observations and Implications ued existence of the North Beckley sewer Concerning Infrastructure Issues: service area was a problem, as the rates It is an issue in Ward 1 that something have doubled or tripled, recently. It was should be done about the continued explained that this County sewer district existence of the North Beckley Sewer was bankrupt last year and that the EPA District. The City recently attempted to had intervened. A bond issue was passed merge the two systems in Beckley; however, recently and capacity has been increased; the merger did not occur. The question however, plans to connect the system to whether continuing two systems is in the Beckley and turn it over to Beckley have best interest of the community, as a whole, not been implemented as planned. has been advanced, and it seems logical to Participants felt that since the City of conduct a cost feasibility study to evaluate Beckley has 5,500 sewer customers, the cost savings if the two entities would while North Beckley has only 1250 Participants from Ward 1 merge. customers, the North Beckley sewer rates felt that annexation of the are much higher to cover costs. It was unincorporated areas inside felt that Beckley’s sewer system is in good Public Services Issues: Beckley is important for the financial condition and that the two Ward 1: Participants from Ward 1 felt that City. systems should become one. annexation of the unincorporated areas inside Beckley is important for the City: Participants felt more fire hydrants are The issue of annexation is complicated by needed in the Shadow Wood area. misinformation about fees and taxes and who pays what, whether you’re in or out of There were some questions as to whether the City. Possibly literature clearly explain- or not the City could take over the ing these issues is needed. People need to private water company and provide the know if City residents actually pay higher same or better service for the same rate. rates and taxes than nonresident. This It was felt that only one rate could be applies to water, sewers, electric, taxes, etc. charged, but that this might be difficult Most of the car dealerships in the area are

Page 124 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 9

located in the “donut hole.” Thus, the City (basically) on the other, intergovern- collects no B&O tax from them. There are mental coordination is sometimes a only two car dealership in the City. problem, especially with the State owning the highway. Delivery of fire If land is annexed to the City, the City’s 2% protection is also a problem in this area, B&O tax is levied on utility charges. Mem- as the City cannot provide service to the bers of the group stated that the utility west side of the interchange, although its companies (which are private) had a law Pikeview Drive Road fire station is passed that allows them to pass the B&O within a half mile of the interchange. tax onto the property owners. People in the County do not pay the City B&O tax, Ward 3: Several public service issues were therefore, this is a disincentive to annex discussed by participants: into the City. However, part of the B&O tax The continued existence pays for police and fire services, which is Residents of East Park feel that addi- of unincorporated areas what these people in the donut hole feel tional police protection is warranted. within the City causes an they need. unnecessary duplication Many lots in Ward 3 have overgrown of fire and police services Several intergovernmental public service vegetation. Trees and shrubbery in East by the County for these issues were discussed by Ward 1 partici- Park need to be cut back from the road. areas. pants: Provision of emergency public services to Several vacant lots contain tires and families in the unincorporated areas inside other garbage, especially in the Broad- Beckley are a key issue, specifically, because way, Scott, and Powerline “Triangle.” of the “donut hole” and uneven boundaries of the corporate limits. In many instances, Several lots have abandoned cars or the City services (police/fire) are within 5 residents are parking in the front yard. minutes of the population base, but since the area is in the sole jurisdiction of the Residents do not understand why it takes County, residents must wait 15-20 minutes so long for the City to enforce codes, for the State Police or County departments especially when public health and safety to respond. The City has 56 police officers are a concern. Ward 5 residents feel they to patrol the City compared to the County would benefit from public Sheriff, who has 40 officers to patrol the Several participants felt that East Park transportation. entire County. Potential life threatening need more police patrols. situations could occur because of the locations of corporate limits. Also, insur- Ward 5: Many participants expressed ance is higher for residents living outside that they have a hard time getting the City. around the City for shopping, medical appointments, etc. Participants ex- Regarding annexation of the “donut hole,” pressed frustration they have a police several members of the group felt that the substation, but it is not staffed with few anti-annexation “radicals” do not police. represent the majority of residents living in the donut hole. Because the City Police Observations and Implications travel through the unincorporated areas to Concerning Public Service cross town, the unincorporated areas gain the appearance of higher crime protection. Issues: The continued existence of unincorpo- Since the City is on one side of the I-77/ rated areas within the City causes an Harper Road interchange and the County is unnecessary duplication of fire and

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 125 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 9 police services by the County for these see this corridor clogged with heavy traffic areas. The consolidation of public and commercial development between Exit service providers to best meet the needs 44. The residential areas of Harper Road of the population, not the service should remain residential. provider, must be the preeminent Residents of Ward 4 desire concern. Mountain State University’s growth could greater efforts to beautify be expedited through a “campus” zoning commercial corridors. One approach to address this includes classification. the mandatory inclusion of unincorpo- rated land in the City’s coverage area The new By-Pass and Cross-Town Corridor whenever the City boundaries surround projects require immediate creative and the unincorporated area. It is recog- innovative land-use planning classifica- nized that this could require changes to tions, overlays, and access management State law and coordination with the standards. (See Chapter 12.) County. We have a concern that the Redbrush Ward 5 residents feel they would benefit Neighborhood has an extensive use of from public transportation. Many commercial zoning. The issue of too many communities provide special needs churches occupying storefronts can be populations with subsidies for the use of prevented in the future through parking private taxis or shuttle services. restrictions and a change of the desired use of the land. Zoning Issues: Ward 3: The residents of Harper Road in Ward 3 are concerned with the current zoning along Harper Road, which allows Zoning needs to be revisited commercial development and actually along Harper Road. promotes more congestion and develop- ment blight. Residents fear loss of property values and an extension of the “mess” found at I-77, Exit 44.

Ward 4: Residents of Ward 4 desire greater efforts to beautify commercial corridors. They generally feel that there is a lack of landscaping and architectural The new By-Pass and Cross- treatments that would help make these Town Corridor projects areas more attractive to area residents require immediate creative and shoppers. and innovative land-use planning classifications, Ward 5: Several participants stated that overlays and access too many churches are locating in management standards. commercial storefronts in the ward.

Observations and Implications from the Zoning Issues: Zoning needs to be revisited along Harper Road. The City cannot afford to

Page 126 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Uptown Beckley Chapter 10

Uptown Beckley

History As discussed in more detail elsewhere in defined as that area bounded generally this Comprehensive Plan, General Alfred by Robert C. Byrd Drive on the west, to Beckley built a settlement in 1836 at the the east side of Kanawha Street on the intersection of two trails, which are cur- east, and from the Post Office and rently known as Main Street and Kanawha Library on the north to Second and Street. He recorded a paper town layout in Church Streets on the south. 1838, designating streets, alleys, Court House Square, a church, burial grounds, a Downtown Beckley has generally been school, a tavern, and several stores, all of comprised of a variety of businesses, which later became known as Uptown including restaurants, personal services, Beckley. retail stores, offices, a car dealership, and financial institutions; as well as The first County Courthouse was built in government offices at all levels, art 1852, and the town slowly grew around galleries, several churches, the Post Court House Square. After a fire destroyed Office, the library, two colleges (Moun- over 30 wood-frame shops and residences tain State University, formerly the in the Neville Street section of Court House College of West Virginia, and Concord Square in 1912, local builders rebuilt this College), and the Beckley-Raleigh area using native sandstone and brick. County YMCA. Continued construction during World Wars I and II resulted in many historic and Over the years, numerous events un- highly decorative examples of 20th century folded to help Downtown Beckley evolve public architecture. These buildings are to what it is today. Those events in- identified elsewhere in this Plan. cluded:

Downtown Beckley has historically been • 1970-1989 - Numerous shopping centers and malls were constructed on the outskirts of the City, causing busi- nesses to leave the Downtown area. At the same time, the coal mines began closing, dealing an even harsher blow to the downtown economy.

• Late 1980’s - The City spent over $1 million on streetscaping in the Down- town in an attempt to preserve and enhance the commercial heart of the City.

• 1988 - The “Main Street West Virginia” program was started.

• 1990 - The City of Beckley became part of the National Main Street and Main Street West Virginia programs, using the 501(c)4 status of Beckley Renaissance.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 127 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

• 1994 - The Beckley Downtown area provements, and other design features; was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. --Market the unique characteristics of Uptown and create a positive image •1995 - A Lender Commitment Program through promotions, special events, and was initiated with six local banks, and a public relations; and facade grant program was started. --Strengthen the existing economic base by •1996 - Beckley received Honorable assisting businesses in expansion efforts, Mention in the Great American Main recruiting new businesses, converting Street awards program. unused space to usable space, and sharpen- ing the competitive skills of downtown • 1996 - Groundbreaking was held for businesses. the new $30 million, 160,000 sq.ft. federal complex, the design of which was featured in the January 1996 issue of Architectural Magazine. The complex Past Studies was to house the Federal Courts and the As the Downtown evolved and growth in Internal Revenue Service offices. the Beckley area continued, numerous studies were undertaken in an attempt to • 1997 - The Historic Mural Program was strengthen the Downtown in the fight for a As the Downtown evolved started. share of commercial business. and growth in the Beckley area continued, numerous • 1998 - Main Street Beckley awarded Many recommendations from these plans studies were undertaken in four facade grants and assisted with five were implemented, and many recommen- an attempt to strengthen the design projects. dations were repeated in subsequent Downtown. studies. It appears that all the studies • 1999 - The new federal complex played at least some small role in the opened, adding approximately 300 evolution of Uptown Beckley. These studies additional employees to Uptown are identified below, along with their Beckley. major recommendations.

• 1999 - Beckley Main Street was named 1. 1964 Comprehensive Plan by Michael the State’s “Most Improved Program.” Baker, Jr., Inc. This Plan recommended that the City: The National and State Main Street programs that the City of Beckley is • Provide an east-west bypass affiliated with strive to: around the Downtown. • Designate one-way streets in the --Build cooperation between businesses Downtown. and groups that are active participants in • Remove noncompatible land uses. the Uptown, through membership • Address 2nd and 3rd stories. drives, volunteer recruitment, and • Address signage. promoting a positive program image; • Improve municipal parking lots. • Clean up the rear of buildings on --Improve the overall appearance of Neville Street. Uptown by blending rehabilitation, • Demolish storage and other sheds historic preservation, streetscape im- in the Downtown. • Establish back entrance to busi nesses.

Page 128 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

• Adopt minimum standard housing Kanawha Streets. codes. • 36,000 sq.ft. of superblock retail/office • Provide off-street parking at in the area south of Prince and east of reasonable rates. First Avenue. • Expand the core area. • 100,000 sq.ft. of office/retail on Prince • Provide night time activities, Street. bowling alleys and supper clubs. • 70,000 sq.ft. of office/retail on Neville • Improve entertainment facilities. Street. • Eliminate on-street parking on Neville, • 96,000 sq.ft. of office/retail on Prince Main, and Prince Streets, with the ultimate Street. goal of 100% restriction of on-street • A 1,053 car parking deck on North parking in the Downtown. Fayette Street. • Improve the internal traffic pattern. • Three parking decks in the McCreery •Locate cultural activities • Provide provisions for pedestrian safety and Fayette Street area for 747 cars. and events in the and improve shopper access between • A 1,676 car parking deck in the Downtown. parking lots and retail stores. municipal parking lot. • Instill proprietor pride in building maintenance. 3. 1985 Work Program for Beckley Renais- • Add public housing for seniors and a sance by SEM Partners, Inc. A revitaliza- luxury apartment north of Prince Street at tion study. the eastern end of the Downtown. • Develop a West Plaza project, a Central 4. 1994 Courthouse Square District by Kim Plaza project, and an East Plaza project. A. Valente.

2. The Downtown Beckley Plan, 1977 by This effort resulted in the identification Scruggs and Hammond, Inc. Recommenda- and numbering of all buildings in the tions included: Downtown. The buildings were identi- fied by name of business, address, • Streetscaping improvements along Main business type, and products and/or Street. services offered. • Court House Plaza improvements to include closing Heber Street between Main 5. Beckley Main Street Strategic Planning and Prince Streets. Retreat, 1998 by R. David Blackman & • Streetscaping improvements along Prince Associates. The summary report from Street. this retreat recommended that Beckley • Streetscaping improvements along North Main Street: Fayette Street. • Improvements at the intersection of • Fill all storefronts on Neville Street. Kanawha and Prince Streets. • Add two new restaurants, serving both • Realignment of First Avenue. lunch and dinner. • An office/retail structure (approx. 270,000 • Locate cultural activities and events in sq.ft.) on the west side of Court House the Downtown. plaza. • Provide shopping and entertainment • An office/retail structure (approx. 100,000 after 6:00 P.M.. Add the Uptown to the sq.ft.) on the north side of Prince Street. • Add 100 beds in hotels or other tourism trade business. • A 250-unit, high-rise apartment complex accommodations. on North Fayette Street. • Add the Uptown to the tourism trade • 111,000 sq.ft. office building at Kanawha business. and Prince Streets. • Find a use for the Lewis Chevrolet • A hotel with parking at Main and building.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 129 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

• Recruit an adequate number of volun- • Construct a parking facility adjacent to teers. the new Federal building, at the corner of • Acquire the full support of the Uptown First Avenue and Neville Street, on land power structure. owned by the First Baptist Church and the • Add influential community leadership City, which will free up the Lewis property to the Advisory Board. for a cultural center. The facility should include: Develop Action Plans that focus on: • Volunteer recruitment and training. • About 600 parking spaces, • Development of the Lewis Chevrolet • Three stories plus a basement, property. • Street-level rental space, and • Uptown window displays. • A design compatible with neighboring • Involving the Main Street Design buildings. Committee in City public improvement • The approximate cost of such a facility projects. was quoted as $6 million. • Increasing the involvement of area organizations in the work of Beckley Establish a cultural center on the current Main Street. Lewis Chevrolet property, which would:

6. Beckley Downtown, Urban Design • Be devoted to performance and cultural Preliminary Plan, 1999 by Beckley arts, Downtown Planning Group. This group • Be home for Theater West Virginia, of influential City and County govern- • Be a center for community-based pro- ment officials, business people, and civic gramming, events, and educational pro- leaders, formed the Beckley Downtown grams, Planning Group to help guide and direct • Provide for evening use of the parking special development projects. In prepar- facility, ing this Master Plan, the group estab- • Foster business for Downtown restau- lished four broad goals: rants and shops, • Be a centerpiece of Downtown renewal, • Provide a safe, attractive, and pleasant • Take advantage of property already Downtown environment serving local owned by the City, and and regional residents and tourists; • Acquire funds from the Walker Founda- • Make Downtown Beckley a primary tion for the study. entertainment and event site for south- • Maintain a Downtown Post Office of ern West Virginia; approximately 2,500 sq.ft. which would be • Create an upscale merchandising located at the corner of First Avenue and center in the Downtown district that Prince Street. encourages the development of small • Acquire the GC Murphy building and use local businesses and complements the the area as a natural gateway into the offerings of existing Beckley and Raleigh Downtown. A new building should be County retailers; and, constructed for retail and other businesses, • Encourage the continued long-term with a half-open courtyard facing Neville development of the City and County as a Street that will serve as a focal point for the premier site for recreation and tourism, Downtown. and as an attractive area for retirement • Provide additional parking by adding living and professional employment. two new surface parking lots, one at Heber and Prince Streets, and the other in the To accomplish these goals, the Group southern part of the Downtown. Trees and identified the following projects: green space should be incorporated into the designs of these lots.

Page 130 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

interested parties. These individuals • Reroute heavy traffic around the inner identified numerous issues and prob- district of the Downtown, e.g., eastbound lems that they felt needed to be ad- traffic could be diverted from Neville Street dressed if Uptown Beckley were to retain Acquire the GC Murphy south on Heber Street to McCreery Street. its place in history as the heart of building and use the area Beckley’s commercial and office area. as a natural gateway into • Create a pedestrian zone by closing off the Downtown. vehicular traffic on Main Street from the Issues and problems identified during Federal Courthouse to South Kanawha those meetings have been grouped into Street, and on North Fayette Street from various categories and include the Prince Street to McCreery Street, creating as following: much green space as possible. Building/Owner Issues • Capitalize upon higher education, • Property owners will sell but will not especially Mountain State University rent. Buying is often not an option for a (formerly CWV), which provides a captive new, small business owner. audience of students for the Downtown. • There are several vacant/available • Capitalize upon the investment of the buildings in the Downtown, which are local business community in the changes in detriments to a thriving business climate. the Downtown. • The construction of the Federal • Emphasize high-end recreational facilities building has caused a few problems, to attract upscale tourism to the Down- including a reduced number of parking town. spaces, lack of access to the back of buildings backing up to the Federal • Target retirees and professionals as special building, and higher rents. interest groups to the Downtown and to the City of Beckley. • Absentee owners and owners who do nothing are a major problem. As an Key Issues in 1999/ example, the GC Murphy building has been vacant since 1984. Also, there are 2000 clusters of buildings that could be Although Beckley and Raleigh County have available for development. established an identity as southern West Downtown faces Virginia’s center for government, education, challenges typical of health care, retail goods, recreation, and Management Issues other similar-sized cities tourism, the Downtown faces challenges • The continued success of the existing across the nation. typical of other similar-sized cities across small business incubator is at risk the nation: vacant and underutilized because the people managing it have left buildings, streets serving vehicular traffic to take other jobs. that primarily passes through the area, and an area that lacks cohesiveness or a sense of • Unity is needed among existing community. merchants, including common store hours. Thus, as part of the City of Beckley’s Comprehensive Plan process, a special • Acquiring participation in the planning effort was dedicated toward Uptown and management of the Downtown is a Beckley. To that end, several meetings were major problem. (The Chamber has held with local merchants, City, and Main started a Leadership Program, which Street representatives, as well as other may help identify and educate potential City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 131 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 leaders.) Better communication and tenants in their buildings. It was men- personal touch are needed to get people tioned that Harrisburg, PA has a program involved, especially the young people. that accomplishes this. See Appendix: PA Anti-Blight Legislation. • Different interest groups have different vision statements about the best route to Participation in the get to the future. Traffic/Parking Issues planning and management • Parking, in general, appears to be a of the Downtown is a major • The current Main Street manager does problem. Signage identifying parking areas problem. a very good job, but has too much on appears to be lacking. her plate and is getting burned out. Short-term crises and activities prevent • Several buildings belong to the City and any long-term plans from being imple- could be demolished for parking. mented. • SR 3 should be rerouted into the Down- Incentive Issues town. • There is a demand for a Lender Com- mitment Program. Marketing Issues • Beckley needs to identify a “hook” to get • Incentives appear to assist new busi- people into the Downtown. Residents need nesses, not existing businesses. to identify what it would take to get “US” back Downtown, not some anonymous • Possibly vacant properties should be third party. taxed at a higher rate to encourage building owners to locate and keep • Telephone sales have decreased the number of people shopping in Downtown

Vacant commercial buildings are found throughout the downtown Page 132 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Insert Plate 10-1

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 133 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 134 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Beckley. It is assumed that the Internet blue), including Federal, State, County, and will exacerbate this problem. municipal offices, a bus station, the post office, the library, a fire station, and several • Linkages should be made between the schools; residential properties (indicated in Downtown and the colleges, regional yellow); three churches and associated Beckley needs to identify a tourism, local churches, arts and cultural facilities (indicated in pink); and the “hook” to get people into activities, and Courthouse activities. College of West Virginia buildings and the Downtown. parking lots (indicated in shades of • Several attempts were made years ago orange). to remove the “sleaze” element from the Downtown and to create a more user- The small amount of green space found in friendly Downtown after dark. Pod the Downtown (that area around Court parking areas were created, a bus system House Square) is shown in green, while was started (but failed), and windows restaurants are indicated in purple, and the were cleaned up, to list a few accom- many civic lodges (which also serve food) plishments. The folks spearheading are indicated with a purple outline. There those efforts are willing to regroup and is one small hotel in the Downtown, and start anew. that is indicated with a light green outline.

The National Historic District is outlined Existing Land Uses in with a dark green line. Major topographic changes are illustrated with a red arrow in Uptown Beckley those key areas that will be discussed in the For the purposes of this Comprehensive recommendation section. The area to the Plan, Uptown Beckley has been defined southern part of the map, which is left The southern most point of as the area outlined on Plate 10-1. The white, is primarily single-family residential this Downtown area is area encompasses a larger area than development. The southern most point of critical as a gateway to the identified in any of the earlier Down- this Downtown area is critical as a gateway Uptown. town plans, for reasons that will become to the Uptown, and will be discussed in obvious in the remainder of this Chap- more detail later. ter. The boundaries are generally Robert C. Byrd Drive on the west, Croft Street The boundaries of the Uptown area were on the north, Garden Terrace on the east, expanded to the east and south as part of and Second Street (WV Route 3), this planning process primarily because of Bellevue, and Willow Lanes on the the expansion plans of Mountain State south. University and the potential positive impact of that growth on the future of Land uses in Uptown Beckley have Uptown Beckley. Founded in 1933 as changed somewhat over the decades Beckley College with 97 students its first during which the above-referenced year and nine full-time faculty members, downtown plans were completed. Plate CWV originally operated out of the First 10-2 identifies the most current, general- Methodist Church. Hedrick Hall, its first ized land uses found today in Uptown building, was constructed in 1936. Beckley. Illustrated on the Existing Land Use Map are the office, commercial, and Additional buildings were subsequently retail businesses (indicated in red); constructed and a major renovation was public parking lots (indicated in gray); undertaken in 1985. Additional buildings government buildings (indicated in were purchased as the College continued to

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 135 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 grow. In 1990, under the direction of should position itself to capitalize upon President Charles H. Polk, Beckley the captive audience of students, who are College entered a new and exciting era, within walking distance of the center of the one which is making the College one of Uptown. The University can also partner the most dynamic educational institu- with the City to promote and redevelop the tions in West Virginia. In 1991, bacca- Uptown area, providing incentives for staff laureate degrees in several subject areas and faculty to live and shop in Uptown. were approved, marking a major turning point for the nearly dormant college. Mountain State University Traffic and now serves approximately The global view taken by the new Transportation 2,000 students. administration resulted in a name change, and the “College of West Corridors Virginia” was born. Major renovations to the campus were made, including a Bell Tower which housed an elevator for Vehicular and Truck Traffic Shroyer Hall; a fourth floor and elevator Major transportation corridors that impact addition to O’Dell Hall; and landscap- the Uptown include State Route 3, which ing, lighting, and parking areas through- forms the southern boundary of the out the campus. Downtown area, as indicated in yellow on the Existing Land Use Map (Plate 10-2). In 1997, a 58,000 sq.ft. library was Robert C. Byrd Drive, a major north-south completed and is now the focal point of highway through the City of Beckley, forms the campus. In 1998, CWV purchased the western-most boundary of Uptown The University should the former Beckley Junior High School, Beckley. Kanawha Street, which runs partner with the City to adding three facilities to the campus. In through the Mountain State University promote and redevelop the February 1999, a historic affiliation campus and the eastern edge of the Up- Uptown area. agreement was executed allowing West town, provides a major north-south Virginia University to provide classes secondary access through the City. and programs on the CWV campus. Prince Street provides major east-west In addition, joint programs were agreed access through the northern part of the to be offered in the Beckley area. Plus, a Uptown, with one-way traffic heading west. cooperative engineering program with Neville Street and Main Street provide a West Virginia University Institute of secondary east-west access through the Technology began in the Fall of 1999. Uptown, with one-way traffic headed east. The College of West Virginia recently The two streets end at Heber Street, and announced a name change to Mountain utilize Heber Street for a half block connec- State University (MSU). tor, creating a major jog for traffic in the center of Uptown. Mountain State University now serves approximately 2,000 students, with a As discussed earlier, traffic through the Parking is perceived as a diverse student population of older, Uptown is considered by many people to major problem in the nontraditional students as well as be a major problem. Truck traffic and Uptown. younger traditional students. Because of through traffic utilize both SR 3 and this rapid growth, the University will Kanawha Street through the Uptown, have a tremendous impact on the City of causing unnecessary vehicular traffic Beckley, and primarily on Uptown congestion, as well as conflicts with Beckley. pedestrian traffic.

As will be discussed later, the Uptown Pedestrian Walkways Page 136 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Plate 10-2 Land Use

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 137 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 138 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Sidewalks are inconsistent in width, Thus, there are a total of 1,217 parking There are a total of 1,217 location, and condition throughout the spaces in the Uptown, 57% of which are parking spaces in the Uptown. Often, sidewalks are less than monthly parking spaces. There are two Uptown. three feet wide. Uneven, deteriorated dedicated handicapped spaces and pavement presents problems in many areas. handicapped spaces are available upon Dedicated pedestrian walkways between request in monthly parking lots. buildings or at mid-block are few and far between, making access to parking lots less Mountain State University also has than desirable. Some walkways are difficult about nine parking lots on or near its to find and somewhat uninviting. campus. City-operated and privately- operated parking lots are indicated on This abandoned rail bed the Existing Land Use Map (Plate 10-2). is scheduled to be Bikepaths converted to a bike path An abandoned railroad track helps form the in the very near future. western border of the Uptown area defined in this study, paralleling Byrd Drive for a Market Studies short distance. This abandoned rail bed is Two market studies have been completed scheduled to be converted to a bike path in within the past three years: the very near future. This trail should be connected to other regional and local bike • Beckley Main Street Market Analysis trails where ever possible. Raleigh County has done Report, prepared for Main Street West a good job at capturing Virginia by Terrell Ellis and Associates, Parking Inc., November 1998, and retail sales within its Parking is perceived as a major problem in boundaries. the Uptown, especially since the construc- • Beckley Retail Market Analysis, March tion of the new Federal complex, which 2000 Updated Information, prepared for resulted in the loss of 317 existing parking Main Street West Virginia by Susie spaces. The lot on the west side of First Salisbury, Terrell Ellis and Associates, Avenue, which contains 102 monthly Inc. spaces, was given back to the City after the sale of the lot behind the police station for The Beckley Trade Area, as used in these the Federal complex. (These are not in- reports, was defined as including six cluded in the 317 lost spaces.) counties: Raleigh, Wyoming, Boone, Fayette, Mercer, and Summers. It was According to a 2000 parking study prepared noted that Raleigh County had the by the Board of Public Works, there is a greatest increase in retail sales between total of 262 metered on-street spaces in the 1991 and 1997 (62%), and that Raleigh Downtown area. There are 43, two-hour County has done a good job at capturing free parking spaces available in off- street retail sales within its boundaries. parking lots, and 55, one-hour free parking spaces in off-street parking lots. Two-hour The City of Beckley was noted in the free parking is located at South Fayette earlier study of having a very strong Street (12 spaces), East Prince Lot (18 capture rate in the areas of apparel and spaces), McCreery at South Fayette Lot (13 accessories, general merchandise, spaces) There is one-hour free parking furniture and appliances, auto dealers, st located at 1 Ave. and Neville Street (10) and eating and drinking establishments. spaces, Main Street (17 spaces), and Neville However, the City was losing sales in Street (16 spaces), making a total of 348 building materials, drug stores, gas metered and nonmetered parking spaces. service stations, food stores, and other

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 139 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 retail stores. and building materials.

Especially important to the Uptown The March 2000 Update indicates that service businesses, Beckley is very strong Raleigh County has seen significant growth in capturing service businesses, such as in all 50 categories, as is the trend for the personal services, business services, entire State of West Virginia. The State Raleigh County shoppers health services and engineering, account- experienced a 4% increase in the median outspent the State of West ing, research, and management. The household effective buying income (EBI) Virginia shoppers in all City’s weaknesses lie in hotels, camps, between 1996 and 1998, while Raleigh categories except apparel and lodging; miscellaneous repair; County’s EBI increased by 5.2%. Summers and accessories. amusement; recreation, and motion County’s EBI increase was the greatest, at pictures. Information on legal and social 6.8%. services was not available. It should be noted that this information is citywide Between 1997 and 1999, only one category and that downtown data cannot be lost sales--Food Sales, while eating and separated. drinking establishments remained con- stant. All other categories experienced It was also noted that Raleigh County increases in sales. shoppers outspent the State of West Virginia shoppers in all categories except Although Raleigh County continues to be apparel and accessories. County shop- the leader in the trade area for capturing pers are especially strong spenders in sales as a percentage of available EBI, the general merchandise, food stores, and City of Beckley is losing some of its ability auto dealers. The County is witnessing to capture sales from the County. The The City’s weaknesses lie in sales surpluses in all categories except 1992 capture rate of 67% (meaning that hotels, camps, and lodging; apparel and accessories, and is a leader Beckley was capturing 67% of the total miscellaneous repair; in retail sales of grocery stores, general County sales) dropped to 57% in 1999. amusement; recreation, and merchandise, furniture and appliances, Significant losses were witnessed in motion pictures.

Current Parking Inventory Location 1 hr free 2 hr free Metered HC Monthly Total Piney Ave Lot 22 22 E. Prince Street Lot near Lilly’s 18 2 25 45 Old Parking Building Lot 18 73 91 S. Kanawha Street Lot 20 29 49 McCreery/Fayette St. Lot 12 62 74 Old Cab Stand Lot 22 22 1st United Methodist Church Lot 24 24 Herber St/Neville St. Lot 24 24 Lewis Chevrolet north side of bldg 56 56 First Ave. Lot 11 4 11 4 Neville Street 65 65 Lewis Lot east 82 82 Church Lot Neville and 1st Ave 33 33 Lewis Chevrolet W side of bldg 110 110 Old Pastry Lot 46 46 On-Street Parking 55 43 262 360 Total 55 73 389 2 698 1,217 Source: Bureau of Public Works, 2000 Page 140 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

furniture & appliances, auto dealers, and gas • Efforts to improve window displays service stations. However, eating & drinking have continued; establishments and building materials had • A newsletter has been produced and significant gains in sales during that same time distributed on a regular basis (six times period. There may be some discrepancies in per year); reporting procedures between the two Census of • A volunteer orientation program has Retail Trade reports, which could account for been implemented; some of the differences. • New resident welcome packages have been updated and distributed; In the Service Industry, Beckley continues to • An annual luncheon and an annual remain strong, especially in capturing Health awards ceremony have been organized; Care, Social Assistance, and Personal services. • Membership recruitment efforts have been continual; • A calendar of special events has been Management prepared and is kept current; As stated earlier in this Chapter, Beckley became • Holiday promotions have been a Main Street community in 1990. At that time, organized; a Downtown Manager was hired and manage- • A web site has been established and In its last assessment, the ment of the Downtown became a priority for maintained; Beckley Main Street the City and merchants in the Uptown area. • A block captain program has been program was cited as Committees were established to address the key developed; “becoming a true elements of the Main Street program, including • SBDC seminars have been coordinated economic development promotions, design, organization, and eco- and held; organization (which) has nomic restructuring committees. These com- • The Beckley Business Center has been laid the groundwork mittees successfully accomplished a variety of managed as best as possible; necessary for economic tasks and were recognized continually by Main • A consultant has been retained to growth.” Street West Virginia for their efforts. investigate a potential large project for the Downtown, possibly at the Lewis Beckley Main Street has actively pursued the Building; following types of activities: • Market data have been updated on a regular basis; and • Numerous incentive programs have been • Main Street staff have participated in established; regular assessments by the National • Various promotional materials have been Main Street Center and Main Street West developed; Virginia. • Business assistance efforts have been coordi- nated and promoted; Most Main Street communities receive Private sector funding • A consultant has been hired to work on their funding from three sources: local (for the Main Street signage issues; government; membership dues or Program) is far below the • Surveys have been conducted of CWV students annual donations; and special projects, recommended levels. and Federal employees to identify ways to events, and grants. Generally, the income capture those markets; from these three sources is evenly split. • Design assistance services have been provided Beckley Main Street, however, receives to store owners; half of its funding from the City, one- • The low-interest loan and the facade grant fourth from membership dues, and one- programs have been promoted and adminis- fourth from other sources. tered; • Coordination of efforts with the bike trail In its last assessment, the Beckley Main design committee have been ongoing; • Coordination with City regarding street improvements has been ongoing; City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 141 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Street program was cited as “becoming a discontinuation of the program would true economic development organiza- surely be the death knell for the Uptown. tion (which) has laid the groundwork necessary for economic growth.” It also That is not to say that the other activities, states that “organization is still a con- groups, and efforts currently in place are cern.” The advisory board appears to be not needed. They definitely are. However, What organization is better weak and the City is still the main if the Uptown is to move forward in a suited to coordinate all financial supporter, while private sector concerted, successful manner, all these activities related to Uptown funding is far below the recommended activities, groups, and efforts need to be Beckley than Beckley Main levels. Most of the leadership continues coordinated so that each capitalizes on the Street? That is precisely to come from the City, as opposed to the energy of the others. what the role of a Main private sector. Thus, the assessment Street organization is. states that the Board must be strength- The synergy created by everyone working ened and private sector funding must be together, toward the same overall goals, increased. with reasonable knowledge of what everyone else is doing, will attain the goal There is continued concern about the of maintaining the Uptown as the City’s amount of work required to be under- core for several activities (although those taken with a single staff person and activities may be different than originally volunteers, as well as with the apathy of envisioned). What organization is better property owners, volunteer burnout, and suited to coordinate all activities related to frustration with the amount of time Uptown Beckley than Beckley Main Street? A committee should be involved in the Main Street process. That is precisely what the role of a Main established to spearhead Numerous other problems were ob- Street organization is. linkage programs between served during the assessment, most of the Uptown and Mountain which have already been discussed in However, the number of activities under- State University this Chapter. way and the activities proposed cannot be undertaken by a single person. The Beckley Main Street program would benefit from Recommendations redirecting its efforts toward educational As a result of the overall comprehensive efforts and building a stronger support planning process undertaken with the base with the business community. City of Beckley, including especially the input of the Steering Committee and the 2. Continue and strengthen Main Street group, the following recom- current efforts to capitalize on Whenever possible, mendations are made regarding future incorporate additional efforts to continue and enhance revital- existing markets. student housing or ization efforts in Uptown Beckley. Numerous markets have been discussed and are currently being pursued in various classroom buildings in areas ways. These efforts need to be continued between the Uptown and 1. Maintain and strengthen the Mountain State University. Beckley Main Street and strengthened. They include: organization in some form. • Develop linkages with Mountain State Overall, the City and Beckley Main Street University. The growth of Mountain State appear to doing all the right things in University in the past decade and as trying to achieve the goal of preserving projected for the future, must be linked the Uptown as the heart of the commer- closely with the revitalization of the cial activity of the region. Although Uptown. The students at the College there is concern regarding the continua- present a captive audience, which requires tion of the Beckley Main Street program,

Page 142 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

services and goods that the University • Mountain State University and Up- doesn’t necessarily have to (or can’t) town Beckley should consider a student provide. A committee should be estab- book store, a student union, a technol- lished to spearhead linkage programs ogy (workforce) training center, and between the Uptown and Mountain State similar facilities that could be located University. Efforts should include (but not closer to or in the Uptown. Other be limited to) the following: universities have been highly successful in attracting national chains to their • Whenever possible, incorporate addi- campus to provide attractive and high tional student housing or classroom quality service to students, staff, faculty, buildings in areas between the Uptown and and the wider community, benefitting all Mountain State University so that the two parties. entities can grow closer together. A poten- tial area for such housing or classroom • A pedestrian link should be established facilities is along South Fayette Street, north between the University and the Uptown. of Willow, where several vacant and A potential location for such a walkway underutilized buildings front both sides of is illustrated on Plate 10-3. Starting on the street. Underutilized or vacant upper campus, the walkway could begin on floors of commercial buildings should be Minnesota Avenue and extend north- reused for student housing/rental apart- westerly to Church Street. It should ments wherever possible. continue mid-block between existing parking lots and buildings due west to A pedestrian link should Lebanon Lane, and then on to Howe be established between • Mountain State University should con- Street. From Howe Street, the path the University and the sider purchase and/or utilization of build- should continue across the mid-block, Uptown. ings in the Uptown that are vacant or underutilized for future classroom space or with different options available to reach administrative office. These could include McCreery Street. The path could then buildings along East Main Street, east of link up with existing streetscaping Kanawha Street and buildings along projects on Heber, Main, and Neville Kanawha Street, south of East Main Street. Streets. As a more long-term goal, this These acquisitions should be guided by a pedestrian path should be connected to Campus Master Plan. the proposed bike path along the abandoned railroad right-of-way, which • Beckley Main Street should partner with forms part of the northern and western Mountain State University to establish a boundaries of the Uptown. special marketing effort geared toward recruiting businesses of special interest to • The pedestrian walkway should be college students. Music stores, video developed to include a safe, delineated rentals, CD trade stores, specialty clothing pedestrian walking area, decorative street and unique gifts, cafes, eating and drinking lighting (to match Uptown), landscap- establishments (especially pizza and burger ing, decorative pavers in areas, and Beckley Main Street and places), coffee shops, book stores, card possibly banners or other signage system the University should shops and evening entertainment establish- to mark the path. The goal of the path is work toward developing ments are examples. The student surveys to draw the students from the Mountain joint programs indicated that going to restaurants, going to State University campus into the Up- movies, shopping, and recreation are their town, and to let them feel safe and top four after-school activities. welcome. Possibly this walkway could be expanded over the years to become a sort of “plaza” connection between the

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 143 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Uptown and Mountain State tion. Also, consideration should be given University.[It should be noted that 87% to enticing a fast-food restaurant to locate of the student survey respondents have in the Uptown. vehicles on campus. Thus, the walkway must be more effective and attractive • Since many of the employees attend than driving. Fridays in the Park, special events should be held to draw them into the stores • The City and Mountain State Univer- before, during, or after these events. sity should develop a new zoning classification for the college district. The • Beckley Main Street should work with the College’s plans for future development Federal building manager regarding should be taken into consideration and advertising Uptown businesses within the a new classification should be developed building. Possibly a kiosk or marquee that would allow the University to could be installed in the building or in the achieve its goals (provided they are courtyard outside the building to market consistent with the City’s plan) in as Downtown businesses and events. expedient a manner as possible. The employees at the • Special sales coupons could be offered to Federal building present • Beckley Main Street and the University Federal (and possibly all Uptown) employ- another large untapped should work toward developing joint ees to entice them into Uptown businesses. market for Uptown programs whereby students can be used businesses. to manage or assist with some of Main • Since most of the employees participate Street’s programs. For example, the in “family activities” after work, additional business department at the College family activities in the Uptown in the could manage the business incubator, evenings and on weekends should be under the auspices of Main Street. Or planned. the communication classes could help organize and coordinate downtown • Extended business hours to accommo- promotional events. At some point, date the after-work shoppers will be maybe the University could offer credits required to service this audience. Services and activities for those types of activities. geared toward seniors Develop linkages with seniors. Another should be pursued by audience available in the Uptown is the Continue to develop linkages Beckley Main Street and senior population residing at the complex with the Federal Complex merchants. employees. on Kanawha Street. Services and activities geared toward seniors should be pursued The employees at the Federal building by Beckley Main Street and merchants. present another large untapped market Suggestions include: for Uptown businesses. Survey results indicate that this market is not being • Enhance the walkway from the senior tapped as much as it should. Some housing complex to the Uptown area. suggestions include: Assure that it is accessible, pleasant, safe, and well-lit. Also, a unique trolley could • Since Federal employees have only 30 be started to cater to the needs of the minutes for lunch, cafes or restaurants seniors, while providing services to others hoping to target that market should have as well. luncheon buffets and other specials, as well as other incentives to pull that • Providing senior activities in the Uptown market in for lunch. Possibly guarantee during special events, for example, during that “lunch is served within ten minutes Fridays in the Park. or it is free” would work in this situa-

Page 144 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

items on the menu.(Link to Fall Festival • Promoting special coupons or sales for mentioned below.) seniors. • Building on the existing Appalachian • Having restaurants cater to special menus Festival, develop a series of seasonal Target regional visitors for seniors. major events that celebrate the unique and draw them to history, culture and environment of Uptown. Beckley • Advertising Uptown businesses and events southern West Virginia. For example, at the senior housing complex. celebrate the opening of the new Down- town bike trail with a professional bike • Targeting the senior population that race, underwritten by the business resides in the rest of the market area, community. One focus could be the especially as the population continues to “Best of West Virginia” building on the age. Tamarack theme. For example, building on the “Taste of Beckley Festival” a “Best • Including seniors as active volunteers in of West Virginia” Food Festival could Beckley Main Street activities. This could celebrate the unique cuisine, beverages, prove to be a very beneficial source of and food products grown and made in volunteers for Main Street. the State. A “Best of West Virginia” Arts and Crafts Festival could draw artists and Develop linkages to regional their patrons from across the State and tourism industry. support development of the Culture and The Beckley Downtown, Urban Design Entertainment District. An annual “Best Preliminary Plan identifies long-term of Beckley” competition would identify development of the City and County as a the best commercial establishments in premier site for recreation and tourism, and the City and promote them to residents as an attractive area for retirement living and visitors. and professional employment. However, recent marketing studies point out that the • Develop the “Best of West Virginia” City’s weaknesses lie in hotels, camps, and arts and crafts studios and display lodging, amusement, recreation, and galleries as part of the Culture and motion pictures. Recommendations to Entertainment District. Live and work address these issues and attract a greater spaces should be developed on the segment of the tourism market include: upper floors of existing Downtown commercial buildings as a means of • Develop coordinated marketing plans in attracting working artists and their partnership with the Regional Visitor and patrons to the district. Convention Bureau, Tamarack, and others, • Continue beautification efforts includ- Divide the Uptown which target regional visitors and draw them to Uptown Beckley. ing improvements to the City’s gateways, conceptually into three major thoroughfares, and Downtown districts. • Develop a variety of lodging options. gateways. Aggressively pursue facade Support development of bed & breakfast improvements and historic preservation facilities in historic homes and commercial of Downtown buildings. Highlight the buildings in and near Uptown Beckley. City’s unique history with markers and interpretive signage. Eliminate all • Develop a range of dining optionsfrom billboards. the most casual to high end. Feature the “Best of West Virginia” produce and food • Implement the proposed way- finding signage system. Work to expand the

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 145 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 signage system to include regional The University District attractions and resources. The City of This district is indicated on Plates 10-3 and Beckley’s leadership on this project can 10-4 with the orange outline. It includes help to assure maximum benefit to the the western most portion of the Uptown City and to the Uptown, in particular. from the southern part of Kanawha Street northwest to Main Street. Its eastern • Implement a trolley tour/bus loop that boundary is South Heber Street and its links the Downtown to nearby tourism southern boundary is Willow Lane. resources, such as the historic district, the Recommendations include: Armory, hotels/motels and Tamarack. • The size of this district is much larger • Downtown plantings could follow the than Mountain State University’s existing “Best of West Virginia” theme and focus campus so that it allows for the planned on native and endemic plants. Visitors expansion of the College. It assumes that could be provided with a self-guided the campus will grow toward the Uptown, tour of this unique collection of plant thus preserving the residential areas material. around the present campus and creating a synergy with the Uptown activities and 3. Divide the Uptown businesses. The University should partner conceptually into three districts with the City’s new Community Develop- ment Department to attract new business for marketing, planning, investment and residential development recruitment, and development that improve the quality of life and vitality efforts. The three districts of the University District and Uptown as a recommended are as follows: whole. New restaurants, bookstores, shops, boutiques, and quality rental/

Tamarack Page 146 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Plate 10-3 Proposed University District

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 147 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 148 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Plate 10-4 Proposed Districts

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 149 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 150 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

ownership units should all be aggressively offices, the YMCA, the library, and the pursued. current post office. In addition, most of the retail shops and professional services • Additional buildings and facilities that in the Uptown are located in this district. could potentially be owned and/or oper- Recommendations include: ated by the University are indicated along East Main Street and South Kanawha Street, • Retail and service businesses should be as discussed earlier. enticed to “cluster” within this district, to strengthen the synergy of the district. • The potential for additional student housing and/or classroom buildings on • Any new government offices should be South Fayette Street, as discussed earlier, is encouraged to locate within this district illustrated on the map. Whenever possible, if at all possible. For example, if the City existing structures should be reused in decides to build a new municipal order to preserve and revitalize historic building at some point in the future, it buildings in the Uptown area. would strengthen the entire district and the Uptown if the facility could be • The proposed pedestrian walkways constructed within this district. discussed earlier are indicated on the map. In addition to the walkway linking the • A unique logo and color scheme campus to the Uptown, additional walk- should be adopted for this district and ways along South Kanawha and Crawford should be used in flags, banners, signage, Streets are shown. The latter walkways etc., to bolster the unity within this should be incorporated into the pedestrian district. system described previously, with the same lighting, landscaping, pavers, banners, and • Professional offices capitalizing on the signage. location of the government offices should be encouraged to continue to • The intersection of Church Street and locate in this district. Currently, many Minnesota Avenue should be realigned for attorneys, accountants, appraisers, smoother turns for vehicular traffic. At the lending institutions, etc., are located same time, the pedestrian path should be here, and this trend should be promoted. incorporated into the design and construc- tion process. The Cultural/Entertainment District • Possibly Mountain State University This district includes the western portion colors, mascot, and logo could be incorpo- of the Uptown from Prince Street on the rated into any signage or banner system north to Robert C. Byrd Drive on the utilized along the pedestrian walkway, as west, Second Street (SR#3) on the south, well as throughout the entire University and First Avenue on the east. This District. district presents the most exciting potential for the future of the Uptown The Government/Service/Retail and the opportunity to establish some of District the critical visitor amenities needed to This district is outlined in blue on Plate tap into the regional tourism industry. 10-4 and includes most of the northern part Recommendations, which incorporate of the Uptown. Numerous government and many of the ideas from earlier studies, public buildings/facilities are located include: within this area, including the Federal complex, the County Court House, State • Beckley Main Street should target this

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 151 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 area as a number one priority for a large- center, as illustrated on Plate 10-5. These scale redevelopment project. include:

• The Lewis Chevrolet building and/or • A series of buildings along the north side site should be developed as an arts/ of Neville Street connecting to the cultural cultural center. All cultural and arts- arts center and creating a pedestrian walk related activities should be clustered in area from the western end of the Uptown this district so as to provide a synergy to First Avenue. Sections of these buildings that will bolster each individual business should be set back from Neville Street so or organization in the district. This that green, landscaped areas can be pro- district should incorporates any or all of vided. the following: • Tenants for these buildings should • A museum (suggestions include: “Best include unique shops, such as arts, an- of West Virginia,” youth, veteran’s, civil tiques, crafts, a Christmas shop, a Hallmark war, coal, and/or a transportation card shop, a hobby shop, a sports store, a museum.) Tamarack branch, a hotel, restaurants, and The hotel should include • Activities after 5:00 and on weekends. other specialty shops. The buildings meeting space for medium- • Entertainment, arts, and cultural should be a minimum of two stories in sized conferences, seminars, activities on a regular basis. height (preferably three or four, to match and conventions, drawing • An art gallery, possibly with a picture- existing historic buildings) and should be out-of-town visitors to the framing shop. This gallery could present designed to complement existing architec- Uptown area. the “Best of Beckley,” featuring the works tural styles in the Uptown. Upper floors of local artists, exclusively. could house live/work studios for “Best of • Activities for children, young adults, Beckley” working artists. and seniors. • A farmer’s market (either indoors or • A branch of the post office should be outdoors, or both). This market could maintained in the Uptown area. feature the “Best of Beckley” selling locally gown produce, food products, • A large, landscaped parking lot between crafts, and plants. Prince and Neville Streets to service the • A home for several existing organiza- cultural arts center and the associated tions such as: businesses, as well as the hotel, restaurant, Historic Landmarks Commission etc. This parking area could also be used Youth Museum by Uptown shoppers. Cultural and arts The City of Beckley should Theater West Virginia events, generally in the evenings and on design a “gateway” at each Beckley Arts Group weekends, would require parking at off- of its major entrances to the peak times, which will provide for greater Uptown. • A center for community-based pro- usage of the parking lot. gramming, events, and educational programs dealing with the arts • Upscale, loft housing could be incorpo- • A senior center rated on a third or fourth floor of several of • Child and Senior-day care the buildings in this area. centers. • A community recreation center. • On the south side of Neville Street, • A conference or meeting facility. additional buildings should be planned • Movie theaters. along the frontage of Neville Street around the existing bank buildings, and tenants The district should include other activi- should include specialty shops as listed ties that complement a cultural arts above.

Page 152 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Plate 10-5 Proposed Arts/Cultural District

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 153 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 154 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

Plate 10-6 Proposed Gateways

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 155 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Page 156 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10 4. Improve traffic • Apartments, a conference center/hotel, and/or a restaurant should be planned for circulation and A major gateway should the southern portion of this district, along be developed at the “Y” Second Street, to bring Uptown residents to parking in Uptown entrance to the western the area, as well as to provide accommoda- part of the Uptown at tions for people utilizing the cultural arts Beckley. Robert C. Byrd Drive. center. The hotel should include meeting There is general agreement that there are space for medium- sized conferences, some traffic circulation and parking seminars, and conventions, drawing out-of- problems in the Uptown. Previous plans town visitors to the Uptown area. identified problems regarding traffic and parking,, and recommended solutions to • Parking should be designed so that it can them. The Steering Committee and be shared among all the businesses in this Main Street group also presented these district whenever possible. Extensive problems for consideration. With this landscaping should be included in all information in mind, the following parking areas. recommendations are proposed:

• Pedestrian walkways throughout the Gateways district, and an extension of the proposed Any Downtown that is trying to attract bike path along Neville Street, should be tenants and shoppers needs to entice included in the design plans, so that the those people to enter a defined area to district is very pedestrian friendly. which they otherwise might not travel. The City of Beckley should design a • The area between Byrd Drive and the bike “gateway” at each of its major entrances The cross-town connector path should be developed as a passive green to the Uptown. These gateways should if/when constructed could space, possibly incorporating a walking include green space, landscaping, resolve many of the traffic path, linking the Cultural Arts district to the signage, artwork, sculpture, appropriate problems currently new bike path with appropriate bikeway lighting, and/or information that lures experienced in the extensions. This could be part of a major people to enter. The Uptown theme Uptown. gateway into the Uptown, as discussed later should be incorporated into these in this Chapter. gateways. Civic and service groups should be asked to sponsor a gateway, • A parking garage should be constructed in and/or schools could be asked to the northeast corner of the intersection of participate in design contests for these Neville Street and First Avenue. It should gateways. A “Best of Beckley” or “Best of include retail space on Neville Street, a West Virginia” theme could be used as a landscaped green area at the corner, and the focus for these gateways. vehicular entrance off First Avenue. The garage should be designed to accommodate Four gateways (at a minimum) are several levels of parking. The facade of the recommended: structure should be designed to comple- ment existing Uptown architectural styles. • Gateway 1. A major gateway should be developed at the “Y” entrance to the western part of the Uptown at Robert C. Byrd Drive, as indicated on Plate 10-6. Located in this triangle currently are two businesses: a cleaners and a gas station. This triangle presents unlimited possi- bilities for a very attractive entrance into

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 157 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

Uptown Beckley. The businesses located Traffic Circulation in the triangle, however, are important Although no traffic studies were under- corporate citizens. Possibly Beckley Main taken as a part of this comprehensive Street and the City could encourage planning process, existing plans were relocation of these businesses by offering reviewed and recommendations from past incentives, swapping land, or otherwise studies were analyzed, in light of what the Avoid closing downtown assisting these businesses so that it is a Steering Committee and Main Street group streets to traffic to create a win-win situation. This gateway should expressed as major concerns regarding pedestrian mall. be designed in conjunction with the traffic circulation. design of the cultural arts center and should be continued as part of a corridor The crosstown connector if/when con- design plan through the cultural/ structed could resolve many of the traffic entertainment district. A signature problems currently experienced in the building (welcome center, branch of Uptown, by taking truck and through Tamarack, etc.) could also be considered traffic off SR 3 and other east-west roads. within the triangle. Thus, the City should implement improve- ment projects in the Downtown that would • Gateway 2. A second gateway is enhance revised traffic patterns created by recommended for the area south of the the crosstown connector. Uptown where SR 3, South Fayette, Church, Heber, and Alabama Streets Recommendations intersect. (Refer to Plate 10-6.) The City Specific recommended improvements of Beckley should authorize a schematic include: analysis of this area to eliminate this • Reroute nonUptown traffic out of the maze of intersecting streets and create a Uptown. Directing truck traffic to alternate green space that could serve as the routes through proper signage would solve entranceway into the Uptown from the part of the problem. south. This, too, may require the relocation of some businesses or homes, • Improve the intersection of the five or six but is essential to creating a viable image streets (as discussed above) at the southern for the heart of the City. Possibly a circle part of the Uptown, to improve traffic flow like those used in Europe would work on SR 3. well here. • Analyze the potential of redirecting east • Gateway 3. A third gateway is pro- bound traffic from Neville Street, south on posed for South Kanawha Street in the Heber Street, and east on McCreery, as Beckley Main Street should Mountain State University area. This recommended in a former study, to continue its efforts to work gateway could serve as an entry point for determine if such a change would reduce with the bikepath group to both the Uptown and the University congestion in the area near Court House assure that the project District. Square and the Federal complex. comes to fruition.

• Gateway 4. A fourth gateway is • Study the potential of connecting Willow proposed for North Kanawha Street near Street from South Fayette Street west to the library and the original post office connect to Bellevue Lane. Topography building. This serves as a major en- changes may require a bridge as part of this trance to the Uptown from the north and extension. could include signage identifying locations of various government build- • The streetscaping improvements in the ings. Uptown should be extended on all streets within the Uptown area in a phased

Page 158 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

manner. The phases should be coordinated has been found generally harmful to with private or other public investments Downtown businesses located on those being made in the area. South Kanawha streets. Street in the College District is an example. As continued investments are made by Bikepaths Mountain State University, appropriate Bikepaths have been a high priority topic streetscaping improvements along Kanawha in the City of Beckley over the past few Street should be made to complement years, with the major rails-to-trails Mountain State University’s investment. bikeway project being planned and negotiated. This alternative means of Pedestrian Walkways transportation should be emphasized in Any parking deck Sidewalks and walkways throughout the the Uptown, especially as a means to constructed in the Uptown should continue to be upgraded attract tourists off the future bikepath Uptown should include through a planned annual walkway im- into the Uptown, and to bring the retail shops at street level. provement program. A standard design and students from Mountain State University width should be the goal, and all deterio- into the Uptown. Specific recommenda- rated sidewalks should be replaced in a tions include: timely manner. Recommendations include: • Beckley Main Street should continue its efforts to work with the bikepath • The decorative treatment constructed in group to assure that the project comes to the core of the Uptown should be contin- fruition. As plans for construction ued through the balance of the Uptown, approach, Beckley Main Street should once again in a phased manner to comple- plan for tying the bikepath into the ment private and other investments. Uptown, as it will form the western and part of the northern boundary of the • The pedestrian walkway from Mountain Uptown. State University to the Uptown should be implemented, as discussed above. • A bikepath should be constructed along Neville Street in conjunction with • Locations for additional pedestrian the development of the cultural arts walkways in the middle of blocks should be center. Possibly wider setbacks on the identified and developed to provide better north side of Neville could provide sight distance and access between parking adequate room for this bike path. lots and storefronts. Existing walkways should be enhanced to match the • Bicycles could be included in the streetscaping plan. Although handicapped design of the pedestrian connector accessibility will be difficult in many between Mountain State University and locations, steps should be used to bridge the Uptown. major changes in topography to create the needed pedestrian connectors. • Bicycle-related businesses should be recruited for areas along the bikepath in Many cities undergoing • Select alleys should be upgraded to match the Uptown area, possibly between Third revitalization efforts in the streetscaping plan as much as possible, Avenue and Byrd Drive. their downtowns return to so that they are perceived as safe, accessible two-way traffic, and on- means for both vehicular and pedestrian • The green area recommended for the street parking. access throughout the Uptown area. area east of Byrd Drive, north of Neville Street, and west of the proposed motel • Avoid closing Downtown streets to traffic near the cultural arts center could cater to create a pedestrian mall, as this approach to bicyclists.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 159 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

• Areas to lock bikes up so that owners • Any parking deck constructed in the can walk through the shops and the Uptown should include retail shops at cultural arts center should be provided street level and should maintain the facade to encourage this type of transportation design that complements existing build- in the Uptown. ings in the Uptown area. Topographic changes should be capitalized upon to Parking emphasize the retail portions of the structure and screen the parking portion of There is no question that parking is a the structure. perceived problem in the Uptown and The City and Beckley Main that construction of the Federal building • Most of the surface lots in the Uptown Street should study the has exacerbated that problem. A solu- area are currently reserved for monthly possibility of adding on- tion to the problem should be identified parking, (approximately 60%). Reserving street parking to the streets soon. Recommendations include: some of the proposed parking structure’s in the Uptown. upper levels for monthly parking and • A comprehensive parking analysis providing a Downtown trolley shuttle to should be completed to identify the take employees to their places of work economic feasibility of constructing a quickly and conveniently, should be parking garage in the Uptown area. studied. This would allow conversion of surface lots to free (time-limited) or • The preferred location for a parking metered spaces for visitors, who generally structure appears to be the northeast prefer surface parking. corner of the intersection of First Avenue and Neville Street. This location would • There is a major movement in many serve many potential customers: cities undergoing revitalization efforts in their downtowns to return two-way traffic, -- The employees at the Federal on-street parking, and angle parking on complex, their downtown streets whenever possible. -- County employees at the Court Many cities that turned streets into pedes- House, trian plazas are now converting the plazas The facility could act as an -- All other employees in the Up- back to streets and parking, as the plazas “incubator” for small arts town, did not bring people into the downtowns and crafts related -- Customers, as planned. Beckley has not made any of businesses. -- Visitors to the Cultural Arts Center, these major changes to the Uptown yet, which should have direct access to although some of these changes have been the parking structure via an discussed. It is strongly recommended that overhead pedestrian walkway over Beckley Main Street and the City work First Avenue, together to study, in-depth, any proposal to -- Employees in the Cultural/ make streets one-way or to remove on- Entertainment District street parking, since the results could be the -- Shoppers visiting this District, opposite of the desired goal. -- Bicyclists utilizing the bikepath, -- Visitors staying at the hotels, • The City and Beckley Main Street should proposed for this District and/or study the possibility of adding on-street eating at the proposed restaurants, parking to the streets in the Uptown. and, -- Moviegoers attending the pro- posed theaters at the cultural arts center.

Page 160 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

5. Encourage • Redevelop the Lewis Chevrolet build- ing/site. The Lewis Chevrolet building redevelopment of has been the subject of many past studies and much speculation. It presents an specific sites in the opportunity for a major redevelopment Finding tenants for the project within Uptown Beckley and upper stories of the Uptown. should be a high priority for both the buildings is as important The discussion on the three districts City and Beckley Main Street, as well as as finding tenants for the recommended for Uptown Beckley pre- other interested parties. A proposed street level storefronts. sented, in general, the proposed land uses project has been discussed in earlier which should be promoted and clustered sections under the Cultural/Entertain- within the Uptown area. There are specific ment District, and is illustrated on Plate areas in the Uptown which require con- 10-5. Beckley Main Street should certed revitalization efforts. Recommenda- identify a party or partnership that tions include: would be interested in spearheading efforts for the redevelopment of this • Find a niche for Uptown Beckley. Most building/site. One partner could be downtowns today are not able to compete Tamarack with the development of an with malls and shopping centers on the Uptown branch that would be dedicated outskirts of the cities. Successful down- to housing craftspeople’s studios. This towns have identified a “niche” which is facility could include hands-on demon- exclusive to their downtown. Beckley has stration areas, arts and crafts studios, and one built-in niche, government services, a retail facility/art gallery which could which is a good start. The cultural arts specialize in selling locally produced center could be another niche, as could works, the “Best of Beckley.” The facility college student services, and senior services. could act as an “incubator” for small arts From a retail perspective, antiques, arts, and crafts related businesses and assure crafts, unique gifts, and specialty shops continual development of quality generally complement the service compo- suppliers for Tamarack. nents already in the Uptown, without competing directly with the malls and • Redevelop the GC Murphys building shopping centers. The cultural arts center site. This is a key area, located across would bolster this type of niche in Uptown Main Street from the County Court Beckley. House and the Federal complex, and should be a landmark facility in the Uptown should market aggressively to the Uptown. Several proposals have been tourism industry given Beckley’s centralized discussed including demolishing it for a location to the southern West Virginia parking garage and retail shops. How- outdoor recreation and tourism area. ever, this block presents a key set of Locate any new Restaurants and specialty retail would buildings and facades from a historic Municipal Building in the greatly benefit from this new market perspective, and if they can be saved and Uptown. audience and local residents would benefit redeveloped, the City and Main Street from a more lively Downtown with a wider should consider that approach first. range of goods and services. Recent studies That is not to say that one or two identified Tamarack at the number one structures shouldn’t be removed and draw for visitors. Uptown could build on possibly some green space added to the “Best of West Virginia” concept and/or create a focal point for the Uptown area. establish a “Best of Beckley” marketing concept. • Target other key vacant buildings for redevelopment. There are several vacant

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 161 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10 buildings in the Uptown that are key to the viability of the entire area. The Coordination with Mountain State Univer- Beckley National Bank building, the sity in terms of providing housing for original post office, the AEP building, students as Mountain State University and the Acordia Insurance building continues to expand is an important goal. should all be targeted for redevelop- Senior housing utilizing Federal tax credits ment. Having these buildings under the should also be encouraged. Until tenants control of private individuals interested are found for upper floors, window in redevelopment activities is a first step treatment (curtains, shutters, etc.) should Additional hospitality toward success. Developing partnerships be added to all windows, so that at least it resources in Beckley would with Beckley Main Street, the City, the looks like the floors are occupied. help to strengthen Uptown’s State, HUD, lending institutions, devel- appeal to the tourism sector. opers, Mountain State University, and • Improve rear building facades. The back others to brainstorm on how to rede- of the buildings are often as important as velop these properties is a first step. the front of the buildings, especially if Identifying all available financing patrons are encouraged to park behind the incentives, including tax credits, is also buildings they wish to visit. Of special critical. interest are the back of the buildings on Neville Street, as they now are visible from • Locate any new Municipal Building in the new Federal complex. Screening of the Uptown. If/when the City of Beckley HVAC units and trash receptacles/ decides that a new facility for its admin- dumpsters is imperative. Adding land- istrative offices is required, very strong scaped areas, green space, decorative street consideration should be given to lighting and furniture, pedestrian walk- locating a site within the Uptown area, ways, etc., should be considered in a and preferably within the Government/ phased program to complement and Service/Retail District. Ownership of the encourage private investment. Main Street City’s existing buildings should be Beckley and the City have many incentive negotiated with Mountain State Univer- programs in place which should be sity for continued expansion of the targeted to these areas. University. • Find a tenant for the AEP Building. A • Fill all vacant buildings or storefronts. new tenant for the vacant AEP Building on Beckley Main Street should continue its South Kanawha Street should be identified. The most likely potential user in the future efforts at recruiting new businesses to Provide disincentives to would be Mountain State University. Until locate within the Uptown area, incorpo- hold vacant property. rating many of the recommendations such time as that is possible, an interim made within this report. tenant should be identified.

• Target housing for upper floors of • Secure a branch post office in the Up- buildings. Finding tenants for the upper town. Since the main post office is relocat- stories of the buildings is as important as ing out of the Uptown area, efforts have finding tenants for the street level been underway to negotiate the retention storefronts. These upper stories could of a branch facility in the Downtown area. house offices and/or residences, both of It is always beneficial to maintain postal which can bring more people into the activities in the central business area of a Uptown. Upscale housing, loft apart- community, as they draw many people. ments, artist’s studios, live/work units, student housing, and condominium • Maintain and expand the business units should be considered. incubator. The concept of a business incubator is a good one. Finding a way to

Page 162 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

manage it economically is generally very would help to strengthen Uptown’s difficult. It is suggested that Beckley Main appeal to the tourism sector. Street explore partnering with Mountain State University on the management and • Provide disincentives to hold vacant expansion of the business incubator, before property. Develop an incentive/disincen- deciding to close it down altogether. tive program to reward/penalize prop- erty owners based on the use/nonuse of • Add a Farmer’s Market. This activity their properties. Beckley Main Street could begin as a monthly activity, then should appoint a committee to work on become more frequent, with the ultimate this issue. The Harrisburg legislation can goal of having a permanent year-round be used as one model. Brainstorming Immediate efforts (are Farmer’s Market. One potential location is with key business leaders in the commu- needed) to further in the Cultural/Entertainment District. nity, with the involvement of City legal cultivate the support of Another location mentioned is the counsel, could result in some interesting Beckley’s business leaders Earwood Street area. techniques for accomplishing the goal of through educational encouraging property owners to utilize seminars and special • Recruit additional restaurants to the their buildings to their highest and best speakers, and through a Uptown. The number of people in the City use. See appendix for legislative initia- concerted and ongoing and in the Uptown area daily could warrant tives for ending blight in Pennsylvania. membership drive. additional restaurants. Both surveys indicate that there is some pent-up demand • Property taxes could be adjusted and for eating establishments. Also, if the the City’s B&O tax could be used as an Mountain State University student popula- incentive. There is a program in place tion is targeted, as well as the senior now which possibly could be expanded. population and the Federal employees, the State enabling legislation could be market would expand considerably. The required to undertake some unique cultural arts center proposal would also procedure. attract many people to the Uptown. As a result, a variety of additional restaurants • Identify an organization to buy/sell should be recruited--upscale restaurants, properties. An organization should be pizza, and burger places for the college identified (there are several potential students, fast- food restaurants, cafes, bagel existing organizations) whose goal it is shops, bakeries, upscale drinking establish- to buy/sell and rent buildings in the ments, coffee shops, ice cream parlors, etc. Uptown consistent with the goals and Additional restaurants would also appeal to objectives of Beckley Main Street. The the tourism sector of the economy. goal should be to reduce the absentee ownership problem through acquisition • Recruit a lodging facility. A hotel or other and reuse of properties owned by lodging facility (possibly even a bed and absentee owners. This organization breakfast) should be recruited for the should coordinate its activities through Uptown, especially in conjunction with the Beckley Main Street. It should be orga- development of the cultural arts center. nized under statute so that donations of Locations have been identified in the land and buildings can be considered tax Cultural/Entertainment District for such deductible by the donor. facilities. Additional expansion of Moun- tain State University will necessitate a need for additional rooms, and the University could helP.M..ain Street market rooms in the Uptown, which is closer to the College. Additional hospitality resources in Beckley

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 163 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

membership drive. BMS should also 6. Continue and undertake several fundraising events Soliciting interest from throughout the year in order to increase developers, both local and strengthen the financial resources with the goal of national, is one method of increasing private support and member- packaging and promoting a activities and ship support to one-third of the budget project to sell to an outside party. responsibilities of respectively. Beckley Main Street • Beckley Main Street should be the umbrella agency for all groups and activi- (BMS.) ties involving the Uptown, even if only on a peripheral basis. The right hand must The recommendations contained in this know what the left hand is doing, if all Chapter thus far, cannot be successfully parts of the effort are to be headed in the accomplished unless someone is leading same direction. the efforts. Beckley Main Street is a very successful organization. It accomplished • All management and promotion pro- many activities and events every year, grams should be continued, although the receives State and national awards for its numbers of activities should be reduced efforts, and has a work program that until adequate staff is available. would shame most similar organiza- tions. The problems being felt by • Main Street should pursue a long-term Beckley Main Street appear to be three: relationship with Mountain State Univer- sity, where possibly a class or a department • Not enough paid staff. teams with Main Street for ongoing roles • Inadequate financial resources. and responsibilities in the Uptown. • Insufficient private sector support, Refine and enhance Management of the incubator, organizing from both financial and involvement Business Recruitment promotional events, providing assistance perspectives. package with effective to small businesses, art classes working brochures, web page, and with store owners on window displays or The answer is not to stop the Main Street presentations targeting facade designs, are just a few of the ways program. Restarting it ten years from entrepreneurs. that Main Street and Mountain State now would be much more difficult than University could team up. The University giving it a shot in the arm right now. should be encouraged to provide staff and Beckley Main Street is doing so many faculty with significant financial incentives things, and doing so many things right. to live and shop Uptown as well as assist in It is the best (and only) organization to attracting new commercial and residential manage a downtown program, and investment in Uptown. downtowns must be managed just as malls and shopping centers are man- • Additional staff must be recruited, both aged, especially if the downtowns must paid and volunteer. Main Street should compete with them. Thus, recommenda- consider teaming with: tions for Beckley Main Street include: -- Mountain State University and other • The City of Beckley should continue to college student interns. support the efforts of Beckley Main -- Seniors or retirees. Street, but immediate efforts to further cultivate the support of Beckley’s busi- ness leaders through educational seminars and special speakers, and through a concerted and ongoing

Page 164 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 10

community is identified, and developers -- Working with the Chamber of are asked to respond on a variety of Commerce to expand its Leadership issues which can be compared among Program to the high school level to proposals by the local reviewing group. generate more interest in municipal The developers submitting the top issues at an earlier age. proposals can be asked to make a formal -- High school students. presentation to the review group. -- Corporate sponsors.

• Continue to pursue incentive programs In addition to the above for new and existing businesses. Beckley recommendations, Beckley Main Main Street and the City have developed Street can bolster existing many good incentive programs. However, programs by: there is always room for more creative ways • Building a stronger partnership with of getting things done. A utility discount the existing business community program was mentioned as a potential through education programs and a Including signage for incentive. parking in the overall membership drive to build support and “buy-in” to the Main Street Program. signage program being • Pursue a long-term funding mechanism explored. to support Beckley Main Street. Establish- • Establishing a marketing partnership ment of Special Improvement Districts with Tamarack, Mountain State Univer- (SID’s) or Business Improvement Districts sity, and other regional leaders to (BID’s) have been accomplished by several position Uptown Beckley as the hospital- communities for their Main Street pro- ity hub for tourism in southern West grams. This may require special enabling Virginia. legislation at the State level, but there are precedents in other states where these • Refining and enhancing Business mechanisms have been successful; or Recruitment package with effective possibly the City could institute a program brochures, web page, and presentations of this nature on its own. Funds from these targeting entrepreneurs. programs (which are assessments on real property) are used to fund salaries and • Instituting a Pride in Beckley Uptown other administrative costs, as well as any program with a focus on identifying and activities associated with the SID or BID celebrating the “Best of Beckley.” area. • Increasing funding in the various • Include the Beckley Main Street Program incentive programs when possible. in the proposed Community Development Department discussed elsewhere in this • Conducting contractor seminars and report (See Chapter 12.) certification programs to assist with the renovation projects. • Use the Request for Proposal (RFP) process, if necessary, to recruit developers • Increasing the amount of design for specific projects, such as the cultural arts assistance provided to building owners center. Soliciting interest from developers, when financing is available. both local and national, is one method of packaging and promoting a project to sell • Including signage for parking in the to an outside party. All relevant informa- overall signage program being explored. tion is collected and synthesized into a package. The information desired by the • Encouraging store owners to utilize

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 165 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 10

signage that explains their product and/ or service very clearly. Discourage the use of internally lit or flashing signs in the Uptown Area.

• Discouraging sandwich signs on sidewalks, at least until sidewalks are widened.

• Encouraging the use of banners, outdoor cafes, and “Open” flags to make the Uptown area more festive.

• Increasing desirable night life in the Uptown.

Sources of Support In order to accomplish these goals, financing these proposals must be sought at every level possible. Some resources include:

• Encouraging private/public partner- ships to address specific projects or activities, especially acquisition and redevelopment of property.

• Community Development Block grants.

• State of West Virginia, Small City Community Development Block grants for downtown development.

• Investigate the HUD Upper-story Living Quarters program which provides funding for retail renovations on the street level and apartment quarters on the upperstory levels.

• Working with the State and Federal governments, local philanthropic community, foundations, businesses and private individuals to establish a revolv- ing loan fund to support targeted new business establishment that further the goals of this plan.

Page 166 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Zoning Chapter 11

Zoning Regulations process rather than by issuing use vari- Update ances. As part of the development of this Compre- hensive Plan an update of the City Zoning Zoning Code Design and Layout Code was undertaken. This update process One important element of a zoning code was undertaken by the Beckley Plan Com- is that it must be easy for the average mission and took place throughout the person to read and understand. Several development of this Comprehensive Plan. “mechanical issues” were identified to The first stage involved a review of the enhance the design and layout of the existing Zoning Code to identify a variety of existing Zoning Code: code deficiencies. The second stage of the process involved analysis of proposed • Quick Reference Tables: Tables listing revisions to the Zoning Code necessary for such items as setback and lot area require- implementation of the Comprehensive Plan. ments provide a quick reference of zoning Draft ordinances and other legislation requirements; required to revise the Zoning Code were provided for City legal staff review. • Clarity: It is important to have the permitted and conditional uses within Zoning Use Variances each zoning district clearly listed in the zoning code; and The practice of issuing of use variances by the Board of Zoning Appeals (BZA) has been • Zoning Definitions: Zoning definitions identified as being problematic. Currently, need to be purged or updated for changes the BZA has the authority to permit the made in current and previous updates. extension of an existing or proposed building or use into a more restricted district. The problem with this practice is that it has General Zoning Update created “islands” of commercial activity Elements within well established residential areas. The Planning Commission reviewed and This problem is evident along Harper Road considered a number of recommended east of State Route 77, and along many major specific changes to the Zoning Code. roadways in Beckley. In some places, this These changes included the following practice has resulted in diminished property items: values for adjacent residential land and has contributed to increased congestion with • The existing code retyped into a comput- additional curb cuts and locations of traffic erized format. generation. • Definitions were added for an assorted Another dimension to this problem is the list of new land uses that were not fact that as more and more commercial included in the Code. Some of these new space is created through use variances (or uses included uses such as “data process- rezonings) the likelihood that existing older ing facilities, coffee shop, home improve- commercial areas (such as Uptown Beckley) ment center, and outlet center.” Many of will be revitalized are diminished. these uses did not exist when the original code was developed. Definitions for adult Although not a specific amendment to the entertainment (from existing legislation) code, it is recommended that the practice of and updated definitions for manufactured use variances be halted and proposed homes were also among the items added. commercial uses in residential areas be considered as part of a zoning change • New uses were placed in zoning

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 167 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 11 Zoning districts. Once defined, new uses were placed into appropriate zoning districts. • Home occupation requirements were updated. • Definitions were moved from various parts of code and were put in a single • Standards for Conditional Uses were chapter in the code. Definitions were added. also checked to make sure they are Parking standards were actually used in code. • To minimize curb-cuts, access control updated, and some measures were included in the site plan standards were reduced to • Flow charts were added to the code to review requirements. more effectively illustrate procedures. address the issue of excess parking being required. • Cross references were checked. • Graphics showing minimum lot sizes were added. • Zero lot line dwellings were added as a permitted use where duplex units are • A use matrix was added to better allowed. illustrate what uses are permitted in which zoning districts. • Added an Office / Residential Transitional Zoning District that is intended to provide • Tables for lot size and setback require- for transitional uses between commercial ments were added. and residential land uses.

• Some changes were made to code • Landscape buffer zone requirements have language with regard to variance proce- been updated. dures and sign variance requests. Parking Requirements • Conditional uses were previously The review of Beckley Zoning Code also defined in the definitions and potentially included a determination that the standards were allowed in any zoning district. This and requirements for parking needed was changed to take conditional uses out attention. Parking lots are typically de- of definitions and specific uses were signed for peak needs which vary by time of added to various districts.

• A section of regulating telecommunica- tion facilities was prepared and held for further review by municipal officials. A section number is reserved for this material. Required Interior Parking Lot Landscaping • Site plan design standards and review process have been addressed.

• Swimming pool regulations were added.

• Corner visibility at intersections has been addressed.

• The description of the Courthouse Square (B-3) Zoning District was moved to follow the B-2 zoning district and was renamed the “General Business District.”

Page 168 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Zoning Chapter 11

Parking lot graphics

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 169 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 11 Zoning

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 170 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Zoning Chapter 11 number of broader and far-reaching the day and season. The Christmas season is zoning issues have surfaced as a result of the time of the year that places the highest the development of this plan, key person demands on retail parking needs. In interviews, input from focus groups, and Beckley, it is apparent that excessive amounts discussions with the Planning Commis- of parking exist as illustrated in the following sion and City officials. Some ideas were graphic. These large expanses of asphalt do discussed previously; however, the very little to add to the appearance of the following issues are more directly associ- community. While it is unclear as to ated with the implementation of the whether the large underused parking lots are Comprehensive Plan and therefore are the result of local requirements or the desire not usually incorporated into the Zoning of the business to provide additional spaces, Code until a Comprehensive Plan is it is evident that the amount of parking adopted. This analysis included consider- spaces required by the City are excessive in ation of several issues: communication The existing City Zoning some cases. towers and telecommunications net- Code requires excessive works, sign regulations, parking lot design amounts of parking for For example under previous zoning require- requirements, and the addition of new various uses. ments, the amount of parking spaces zoning districts. required for general retail establishments was one (1) space per each 200 feet of floor Sign regulations space. New proposed zoning standards, The City of Beckley’s zoning regulations reduce this amount to one (1) space per should be updated to require higher every 300 feet of floor space. The joint use of quality sign standards. As noted previ- parking lots by more than one user should be ously, some changes were made to code encouraged when appropriate and additional language with regard to signage variance review of all parking standards is warranted. procedures. However, further improve- ment of signage requirements is needed to In addition to actual numbers of parking reduce the negative visual impacts often spaces, parking lot design is another impor- associated with excessive and poorly tant issue. Professional landscaping has a designed signage. Specifically, the type tremendously positive impact upon the and number of signs permitted within appearance of parking lots. Landscape each zoning district are not clearly stated features also have a secondary benefit of in the code. This should be changed to reducing the amount of surface water runoff define a total number of freestanding and Professional landscaping by absorbing large amounts of water. has a tremendously other sign types allowed per use, and building in each zoning district. positive impact upon the New landscaping requirements were added appearance of parking to the code and included the requirement Where possible, new signs should en- lots. that islands should be required to enhance hance the visual appearance of the the visual appeal of large parking lots. surrounding area. Examples of quality Exterior and interior landscaping require- signage include low profile signs (not ments were added for parking lots greater exceeding 10 feet in height and not than 6,000 square feet. A ratio of approxi- exceeding 32 square feet in area) con- mately five percent interior landscaping is a structed primary of natural materials such common standard. For very large parking as, wood, brick, and stone. Some specific areas, parking lots should be designed to recommendations include: breakup the visual expanse of asphalt to give the appearance of multiple smaller parking • Limit freestanding signs to one per lots. business, with a maximum height of no more than 15 feet. Future Update Recommendations In addition to the issues defined above, a City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 171 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 11 Zoning

• Encourage the use of ground signs by • Link sign controls to an overall allowing them a size bonus (relative to streetscape improvement plan. freestanding pole signs). • Whenever possible set a limit to life of • Prohibit, or strictly regulate, ‘problem’ nonconforming signs and sue incentives, signs such as billboards, portable signs, education, negotiation, and other tech- pennants, streamers, and flashing sings or niques to encourage their early removal. intermittent lights. A new light industrial In addition, large billboard type signs have zoning district is • Limit shopping centers, malls office a major visual impact upon an area. proposed which would parks, and similar large developments to Existing zoning requirements are very relate specifically to 21st one group sign, with no freestanding signs general (requiring, for example, only a century high-tech for individual businesses. 1,500 foot separation). More strict industries. measures could be taken to limit bill- • Develop special controls for historic boards, along with continued enforce- areas, downtown commercial districts, ment of existing requirements. A few neighborhood shopping areas, and communities have taken strong steps in commercial corridors of special impor- this area and determined that no new tance. These might include limiting the billboards will be permitted. In some color and material of signs, requiring the cases, there are billboards that are in use of smaller, shorter signs, or encourag- disrepair and some appear to be noncon- ing integrated sign designs for new forming. In either case, these billboards development. should eventually be removed.

Overlay zoning districts are zoning districts that add additional development standards over and above those contained in the underlying district.

Improved signage requirements will help reduce negative visual impacts of poorly designed signage

Page 172 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Zoning Chapter 11

district is too broad in scope related to New Zoning Districts: newer and more modern business park Beckley should consider adding new zoning and light industrial land uses that are districts to address new uses and introduce envisioned for some of the areas near the unique development standards. Items to be East Beckley Bypass. A new light indus- addressed include non-traditional residential trial zoning district is proposed which The City should continue developments such as planned unit develop- would relate specifically to 21st century to work with the ments (PUD’s), cluster developments and high-tech industries. Such a district may University to develop a conservation developments. To encourage not necessarily apply to particular areas in campus master plan. the development of well designed office the City at the present time, but could be parks with light/hi-tech industries a new prepared as a floating district that could be industrial zoning district should be devel- applied to land as needed. oped. An institutional zoning district should be introduced to address the unique While more discussion should take place development issuses assocaiated with concerning the uses allowed in a new Mountain State University. Additionally, a zoning district of this type, the following new low-density residential district should uses represent a starting point for these be created to allow developers an opportu- discussions and provide a better descrip- nity to develop upscale housing on large lots. tion of the types of developments antici- pated. Possible permitted uses in a Add a New Planned Unit business park/ light industrial district Development Zoning District: include: The City should add a Planned Unit Develop- ment (PUD) District to the zoning code. • Administrative and business offices, PUD’s allow more flexibility regarding including corporate office headquarters, setbacks and lot sizes than traditional zoning districts and also allow for more innovative • Banks and other financial institutions, forms of residential development such as cluster developments. A new PUD Zoning • Distribution facilities, including parcel A new commercial overlay District could provide the necessary regula- delivery facilities, zoning district should be tory tools to achieve a more creative and considered to help interesting development in the vicinity of • Educational facilities including trade or address issues related to the Proposed Cross-Town Connector. As will vocational schools and colleges, traffic flow and corridor be discussed later, this area is proposed to be appearance. developed into a creative mixed-use residen- • Manufacturing or assembly processes tial development that preserves unique which relate to products such as produc- environmental features found in this area tion of drugs and medications, electronic and provides for a variety of residential types. components or equipment, research and Similarly, the area next to the East Beckley testing laboratories, computer equipment Bypass could be developed using a PUD assembly, testing or repair, approach given the mixture of proposed land uses. • Printing and publishing businesses,

Add a New Industrial Zoning • Medical centers, clinics, and hospitals, District: • Professional offices, such as doctors, Beckley has only one zoning district that is engineers, attorneys, and accountants, applicable for existing or future manufactur- ing and industrial land uses. This existing • Research laboratories,

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 173 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 11 Zoning

• Restaurants, constructed wholly within a building devoted to an office, institu- Overlay zoning districts are recommended tional, or manufacturing use, for Harper Road and Eisenhower Drive for • Self-service storage facilities, both functional and aesthetic reasons. From • Wholesaling, including the storage, a functional standpoint it is critical that handling, or sale of merchandise prima- existing roadway capacity be maintained rily to retailers or other wholesalers. and not further diminished with poorly planned access in new development that Add a New Commercial Corridor slows traffic flow and compromises traffic safety Overlay Zoning District: For areas such as Harper Road and From an aesthetic viewpoint these roadways Eisenhower Drive, a new commercial represent key city corridors that help define overlay zoning district should be consid- the sense of place in Beckley. Visitors form ered to help address issues related to an impression of the City by driving along traffic flow and corridor appearance. these corridors. Overlay zoning districts are zoning districts that add additional development standards over and above those contained Add an Institutional Zoning in the underlying district. District: Requirements included in such overlay A zoning district that is unique to the Overlay zoning districts are zones could include measures to address Mountain State University, is desirable as a recommended for Harper access management, signage, landscaping way to address the uniqueness of a college Road and Eisenhower Drive and even building / parking area design. campus. The University is expanding and it for both functional and Access management requirements could is typically difficult to deal with such a aesthetic reasons. include specific minimum driveway unique and large land use such as a college spacing standards or other requirements with more common zoning tools. The City that complement other more general should continue to work with the University access control requirements defined in to develop a campus master plan for devel- the updated zoning code. opment and develop a specific zoning district for this use. Signage limitations could include limita- tions on the number and size of free Add A New Low-Density standing signs as well as location (mini- Residential District. mum distances from the public right-of- Currently, the lowest density residential way). Landscaping requirements can district (R-1) has a minimum lot size of just include a requirement that there be an 10,000 square feet. Most suburban residen- undeveloped landscape strip between the tial developments that are oriented toward right-of-way and any parking areas or upper-income housing have much larger other paved areas. Such landscape strips lots. It is best to have zoning districts that help to better separate parking areas from closely match actual developed densities to the roads and (if graded properly) can avoid re-subdivision problems. help obscure the visibility of parked cars. Subdivision Regulations Requirements addressing building and A determination was made early in the parking area designs can address urban planning process to consider the addition of design matters such as types of roof lines, subdivision regulations for the City. Subdivi- building masses, parking lot location and sion regulations should establish a system in general archiectural styles. Page 174 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Zoning Chapter 11

which the applicant/developer meets Because this is a free speech issue, any with the City prior to the submittal of a related litigation takes place at the Federal preliminary plat. The subdivision level, resulting in higher litigation and legal regulations should provide detailed expenses. standards not addressed in the zoning The City of Beckley’s code which help to establish a quality The City of Beckley’s regulation of sexually- regulation of sexually- development that relates to the commu- oriented businesses is an attempt to mitigate oriented businesses is an nity as a whole. Some of the standards the negative secondary impacts associated attempt to mitigate the which should be incorporated or further with such businesses. It is recognized that negative secondary impacts defined include: sexually-oriented businesses, due to their associated with such nature, have serious objectionable opera- businesses. • Requiring development to conform tional characteristics, particularly when they with the Beckley/Raleigh County Multi- are located in close proximity to each other, Modal Transportation Plan and the thereby, contributing to urban blight and Comprehensive Plan; downgrading the quality of life in the adjacent area. Therefore, the City desires to • Addressing stormwater management, minimize and control these adverse impacts i.e., detention, runoff, siltation, etc.; and thereby protect the health, safety, and welfare of the citizenry, protect the citizens • Encourage creative development designs from increased crime, preserve the quality of that preserve natural features; life, preserve the property values and character of surrounding neighborhoods • Aesthetic and engineering issues related and deter the spread of urban blight. to subdivision design (street layout, street lighting); Local government’s ability to regulate sexually-oriented businesses through zoning • Provide for adequate park space and regulations that are content-neutral was up walking/bicycle paths. held in the Federal Court case Richland Bookmart, Inc. dba Town and Country V. Regulation of Sexually-Oriented Randall E. Nichols (1998), 137 F.3d 435 (6th Businesses Cir.). One of the most significant methods of regulating sexually- oriented businesses – In Richland, the Court found substantial and typically the first approach adopted by government interest in Tennessee’s purpose a community is to use zoning ordinances to “reduce crime, open sex and solicitation to restrict the location of sexually-oriented of sex, and preserving the aesthetic and businesses (SOB’s) within the boundaries commercial character of the neighborhood of the municipality. “Place” regulations surrounding adult establishments.” [Note: are one of the most effective methods of In J.L. Spoons, Inc. v. City of Brunswick protecting communities from the nega- (1998), 18 F.Supp. 2d 782 (E.D. Ohio), the tive secondary impacts of sexually- Court did not rule on the government oriented businesses. Further study may be interest, but it noted the government required due to the evolving body of law interest was to “regulate sexually oriented and new studies regarding the negative businesses in order to promote the health, secondary impacts of SOB’s. Retroactive safety, morals, and general welfare of the action is generally not possible requiring a citizens of the City, and to establish reason- preventative approach in order to effec- able and uniform regulations to prevent the tively resolve SOB issue. Thus, the deleterious location and concentration of ordinance must be defensible based on sexually-oriented businesses within the reasonably expected secondary effects. City.”] City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 175 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 11 Zoning

Distance requirements for sexually- welfare of the citizenry has imposed zoning oriented businesses have been established regulations to reasonably mitigate the based on studies examining how sexually- negative secondary impacts associated with oriented businesses impact crime statis- sexually-oriented businesses. tics within the immediate area they are located. For instance, a study conducted Within the City of Beckley, sexually- by the City of Indianapolis, Indiana found oriented businesses are allowed as condi- that sex-related crimes occur four (4) tionally permitted uses in the General times more frequently in neighborhoods Business District ( B-2) by a special excep- with a residential character located tion from the Board of Zoning Appeals. adjacent to a sex-oriented business than in commercial areas with a sex-oriented The ordinance states that sexually-oriented business. Other studies have attempted to businesses may not be located within one establish quantitatively how far reaching thousand feet (1,000') of a residential zone, the secondary impacts of sexually- church, school, park, libraries, or other oriented businesses. The analysis result- sexually-oriented business. ing from these studies indicate that additional or expanded sexually-oriented businesses led to significantly increased property (e.g., burglary, theft, auto theft) personal crimes (e.g., assault, robbery) Detailed studies over time within a 1,000 foot radius of the sites. have clearly documented the negative secondary Additionally, where the time frames of impacts associated with operation overlap between sexually- sexually-oriented oriented businesses and other facilities, business. (e.g., schools, churches, parks, play- grounds,) there is even more potential for harm to legitimate users.

Vulnerable populations that use these facilities are exposed to the potential harm from the secondary impacts of sexually-oriented businesses. This can take the form of personal or property crime, harassment or propositioning of pedestrians. When this occurs, legitimate users and neighborhood residents are typically excluded or driven away by the illicit activity.

Detailed studies, over time, have clearly documented the negative secondary impacts associated with sexually-oriented business. The City of Beckley, in an attempt to protect the health, safety, and

Page 176 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Goals & Strategies for Chapter 12 Implementation Goals and Strategies

Beckley is actually two cities. It is home for almost 20,000 people who cherish its small town appeal. It is also a City that on a daily basis, swells to more than 100,000 shoppers, tourists, and employees – a large American city by any measure. In many ways, Beckley has the best of both worlds. However, the City faces substantial challenges in the new century as it tries to accommodate the dual roles of maintain- ing its economic prosperity as well as its livability for its permanent residents.

What can we do to meet these challenges?

• We can plan and enhance our streets, traffic flow, and road signage such that our guests do not experience dangerous or confusing intersections, congestion hassles, or wish they were somewhere else.

• We can provide them with memories of another enjoyable day in Beckley by providing attractive urban spaces along our major transportation corridors, Uptown Beckley, and in our shopping areas.

• We can help our visitors feel safe by enforcing building maintenance standards and finding new ways to solve the legal problems which currently prevent reuse of The City faces substantial abandoned buildings. challenges in the new century as it tries to • We can offer an exciting Downtown experience by creating a fun environment that accommodate the dual includes culture, entertainment, and easy access to government and business services. roles of maintaining its economic prosperity as • We can serve as the hospitality hub for regional tourism, boosting and diversifying well as its livability for its our local economy. permanent residents. • Not only can we treat others well, but we can make sure that none of our resident family are left out of the good life by making sure that all neighborhoods are desir- able places to live.

• We can offer high technology industrial park amenities that attract businesses offering 21st century jobs with “living wages.”

• We can help low-income households become homeowners so they can help build solid neighborhoods and equity in their homes.

• We can provide a housing environment that offers excellent retirement villas, a great place to raise a family, and an exciting singles environment. Defining what we want is easy. Defining how we • We can ensure that our college campuses are incorporated into our Downtown and get there is challenging our community by creating a synergistic partnership for investment, attracting new commercial and residential developments to Uptown Beckley.

• We can link our community to regional trails and internally with new bicycle and walking trails. City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 177 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

Defining what we want is easy. Defining how we get there is challenging, but the following section of the Comprehensive Plan will summarize goals presented in the plan and provide a greater definition of long-term view of future land use and transportation. A short-term activity is thought to be necessary for accomplishment within one to three years after this Comprehensive Plan is adopted. A medium-term activity should be accomplished within three to five years. A long-term activity will take five or more years to accomplish, but is nonetheless still very important to the City and should not be considered to be a lower priority. GOAL: Develop the administrative capacity to implement this plan. 1) Establish and Maintain a Community Development Department (Short-term). There are many community development challenges that lay before the City in the new century. To meet these challenges, it is apparent that the City of Beckley could benefit It is, in fact, rare that a City from an internal planning and community development department to aggressively take the size of Beckley does not hold of key projects necessary for the City’s success in the future. It is in fact, rare that a have a Community City the size of Beckley does not have an internal Community Development Depart- Development Department. ment. This Community Development Department should do the following: a) Serve as an umbrella organization for several staffed and nonstaffed existing and proposed organizations dealing with community development related activities, such as Beckley Main Street, Zoning, Housing, Beckley Renaissance, the Beckley Housing Author- ity, nonprofit development corporations, etc. b) Secure grants and financing for key development projects. Untapped grant sources might include the Appalachia Regional Commission, Rural Development, the E.D.A., the U.S. Department of Interior, HUD Demonstration Programs, foundations, and local corporations. c) Assist neighborhood leaders in establishing relationships with development partners, such as LISC, Enterprise Foundation, Neighborworks, SEEDCo, the Ford Foundation, etc. d) Review proposed zoning changes in terms of consistency with this comprehensive plan and subsequent plan updates. e) Serve as a source of information to the community and other City departments regarding local development trends. This task could also include the development and maintenance of an in-house GIS system (in partnership with the County) as a means to organize and maintain data. f) Spearhead development initiatives with a range of partners such as Mountain State University, community development corporations, private developers, state and federal agencies, and neighborhood groups.

2) Create a GIS system. Beckley’s current mapping capacity is inadequate and a quality GIS mapping system should be built. With widely-used existing technology, it is possible to have a local GIS

Page 178 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

system capable of illustrating a given parcel in the City, an air photo of the site, property ownership data, zoning classification, and information concerning infra- structure in the right-of-way. The costs of developing this system could be shared Since Beckley is a fairly among many entities (the county and utilities) to help reduce individual costs. The large municipality, a largest initial investment will be in developing a digital cadastral(parcel) land base. minimum implementation This is essentially the base map. It should be orthorectified. An information gather- of three to five years can ing phase will include collection of paper maps, digital (CAD) maps, and parcel be expected before the full databases carrying tax information. The land use map should match the cadastral benefits of the program (parcel)mapping. Beckley may be able to rely on regional/county data that has can be realized. already been developed by others and which can be integrated -or- it may be neces- sary to have survey quality, high precision data that will support engineering accu- racy. Obviously, the higher the accuracy, the greater the cost and time required. Once cadastral mapping is completed, all parcel based information, such as land use and zoning, simply becomes another item (field) in the attribute data table. During the implementation phase, a whole new set of variables comes in to play related to application, development, and customization of the system to support myriad administrative functions and information needs. Staff recruitment and training is a critical component at this stage. Since Beckley is a fairly large municipality a mini- mum implementation of three to five years can be expected before the full benefits of Implementing a GIS is a the program can be realized, but by that time it will pay large dividends. Implement- very large project, and ing a GIS is a very large project, and City should contract with a project manager to City should contract with help them contract for a Needs Assessment, Implementation plan, a project manager to help Orthophotography and planimetric mapping contracts and then an implementation them. contract. There are a wide variety of firms who specialize in each of these GIS development phases. (Short-term)

3) Create a nonprofit development corporation. In today’s market, tourism/technology and industrial prospects and other job- creating enterprises look for development sites that are ready for construction with all utilities, appropriate zoning, and tax incentives already in place. Only a few fortunate cities have successfully relied upon the private sector to provide for all their industrial development needs. In a competitive climate, Beckley cannot afford to wait for other interests to deliver a full range of vacant and readily developable sites and must take action to provide them by other means. The annexation efforts of the City could be substantially assisted through a nonprofit organization friendly to the City to work with 4-C. Such a group could be a significant source of developable greenfield sites, using public and/or private dollars to acquire properties, conduct feasibility studies, and undertake pre-development and development activities including the initiation of annexation proceedings. The nonprofit organization could be an existing local organization or another organization specifically formed to perform this function. (medium-term) GOAL: Effectively guide future land use: 1) Aggressively plan for high technolgy/light industrial development and mixed use residential along the East Beckley Bypass, especially at the Grey Flats and Raglan Road industrial areas. The Grey Flats industrial area represents an expansion of the PineCrest Technology

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 179 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12 and Business Park. (medium-term) a) Provide adequate development regulations to assure an attractive environment through various unifying physical design themes. New types of shopping are cutting into traditional retail b) Provide a mixed-use “village square” commercial node with associated high density store shopping patterns. multi-family housing and adjacent single-family housing designed in the “neo-tradi- tional” community style. (See Proposed Bypass Development Concept Plan.)

2) Aggressively plan for residential development along the Cross-Town Connector (Short-term; see Housing Goal) a) Create a “New River Parkway” to extend the park system and link to the new pike path to the east. b) Provide adequate development regulations to assure an attractive environment through various unifying physical design themes.

3) Maintain Harper Road as an Attractive Corridor: Maintain Harper Road as an attractive corridor. a) Recognize that there are three existing land use areas on Harper Road and plan for them accordingly. A commercial area exists from I-77 to Northwestern Avenue. A residential area exists from Northwestern Avenue to Sunrise Avenue. A commercial area exists from Sunrise Avenue to the central business district. (Short-term) b) The City should not approve further use variances along Harper Road and should move forward with developing a new Overlay Zoning district.

4) Carefully Monitor and limit the Addition of Commercial Space in Light of Increasingly Popular Nontraditional Shopping. It is recommended that the New types of shopping (such as internet sales, catalog sales, and home shopping City and County jointly networks), which are cutting into traditional retail store shopping patterns and may prepare a market analysis of result in more and more store closures. Beckley has a tremendous amount of retail space projected retail space and limiting future commercial zoning approvals in favor of redeveloping existing demands. underutilized commercial space may become a logical approach in the future. There is also concern that adding more commercial space could hurt efforts to redevelop existing vacant commercial space in the City, and particularly, in Uptown Beckley. Adding residential uses to upper floors of vacant commercial buildings should be explored.(long term)

It should also be recognized that the issue of potentially overbuilding the area with commercial space is actually a City and County issue and should be addressed jointly. It makes little sense for the City of Beckley to respond to this issue in any way, if the County does not take similar action steps, since new commercial space can easily locate outside the City of Beckley. For this reason, it is recommended that the City and County jointly prepare a market analysis of projected retail space demands and determine the maximum likely commercial square footage demands for the region in the future. Understanding projected needs on a regional basis can help prevent the overbuilding of commercial retail in the City and the County. (Short-term)

Page 180 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

GOAL: Maintain and enhance Uptown Establish a committee to spearhead linkage Beckley programs between the (see Chapter 10 for additional recommendations) Uptown and Mountain State University. 1) Continue and strengthen current efforts to capitalize on existing markets. (Short and long-term)

a) Establish a committee to spearhead linkage programs between the Uptown and Mountain State University (formerly CWV.)

b) Continue to develop linkages with the Federal Complex employees.

c) Strengthen linkages with the regional tourism industry, beginning with Tamarack. Divide the Uptown conceptually into three d) Develop linkages with the retirement industry to attract and serve senior commu- districts for marketing, nity. planning, recruitment and development efforts. 2) Divide the Uptown conceptually into three districts for marketing, planning, recruitment, and development efforts. (Short and long-term)

a) The University District, which will include the area surrounding the Mountain State University campus, allowing for planned expansion and enhancements.

b) The Government/Service/Retail District which will include the numerous govern- ment and public buildings/facilities located in the northern part of Uptown.

c) The Cultural Arts District which includes the western portion of Uptown.

3) Convert the Lewis Chevrolet site into an arts/cultural center with regular entertainment, arts, and arts-related education and cultural Convert the Lewis activities on a regular basis. (Short-term) Chevrolet site into an arts/cultural center. Explore partnerships with Tamarack, Mountain State University, and other post secondary institutions to facilitate implementation of this project. (Medium-term)

4) Develop a convention hotel, restaurants, and associated hospitality resources. (Long-term)

Work to preserve/restore 5) Improve traffic circulation and parking in Uptown Beckley. two-way traffic and on- (Medium-term) street parking in the Uptown area. a) Gateways should be designed at each of the major entrances to the Uptown.(medium-term)

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 181 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12 b) Improve traffic circulation by implementing improvement projects in the Downtown. c) Extend streetscaping improvements in the Uptown to all streets and walkways in a phased manner. d) Address parking problem in the Uptown area:

• Undertake a comprehensive parking analysis to identify the economic feasibility of constructing a parking garage in the Uptown area. (Medium term)

• Include street level retail shops in the parking structure with a facade design that complements existing Uptown architecture. Ideall, city support should • Work to preserve/restore two-way traffic and on-street parking in the Uptown area. reflect only one third of BMS’s funding. 6) Encourage redevelopment of specific sites in the Uptown (Long- term) a) Redevelop the Lewis Chevrolet building/site for cultural/arts related activities. b) Redevelop and preserve the WT Grant building. Aggressively pursue the c) Target key vacant buildings for redevelopment. construction of the Cross- Town Connector. d) Locate any new Municipal Building in the Uptown. e) Target housing for upper floors of buildings. f) Improve rear building facades, especially those on Neville St. g) Find a tenant for AEP Building. h) Maintain a branch of Post Office in Uptown. i) Maintain/Expand the Business Incubator. Aggressively pursue the construction of the East j) Add a Farmer’s Market. Beckley Bypass. k) Recruit additional restaurants to Uptown. l) Recruit lodging/conference facilities. m) Provide disincentives to hold vacant property. n) Identify an organization to buy/sell properties.

7) Continue to strengthen the activities and responsibilities of Beckley Main Street. (Long-term) a) Pursue long-term funding to support Beckley Main Street: The City should continue to Page 182 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

support the efforts of Beckley Main Street but, BMS should redirect efforts toward build- ing community support through education programs, fundraising events, and an ongo- ing membership drive. Ideally, City support should reflect only one third of BMS’s funding. (Short-term)

b) BMS should be the umbrella agency for all groups and activities involving the Up- Develop a system of town. bicycle and walking trails. c) Continue effective management and promotion programs.

d) Recruit additional staff, both paid and volunteer.

e) Use the Request for Proposal (RFP) process to recruit and evaluate developers for specific projects. GOAL: Maintain and enhance the roadway and transportation systems in and around Beckley

1) Construct New Roadways to Address Traffic Flow Needs. (medium- term) Begin gateway a) Aggressively pursue the construction of the Cross Town Connector (medium-term) beautification efforts. b) Aggressively pursue the construction of the East Beckley Bypass (medium-term)

2) Develop Consensus on Design Elements of the East Beckley Bypass and Future Development. (Short-term)

3) Maintain capacity and upgrade existing roadways. (Short-term to long term)

a) Require traffic impact studies and utilize access management control techniques in local zoning to preserve existing roadway capacity along key corridors in Beckley. Key corridors include Harper Road, Robert C. Byrd Drive, and Eisenhower Drive. (Short-term)

4) Pursue the establishment of a public transportation system in the City of Beckley. (medium-term) It is important for the City to aggressively seize 5) Develop a system of bicycle and walking trails that provide all opportunities to develop 21st century residents an alternative source of transportation and recreation. employment. (medium to long term) A bicycle plan was proposed in the Multi-Modal Transportation Plan to serve the major points of interest and traffic generators in Beckley. The spine of the trail is a 6.4 mile length of abandoned CSX rail line which extends from the Mabscott area south of Beckley generally along the Robert C. Byrd Drive through the central portion of the City and then eastward to Eisenhower Drive and then north-westerly to the Cranberry and City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 183 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

Prosperity areas. Once the right-of -way is acquired, it will be necessary to proceed with improvements. Two primary opportunities for additional bicycle trail developments High technology industries include separate bicycle paths along the proposed East Beckley Bypass and the Cross- providing jobs with wages Town Connector. Funding sources for the development of a bicycle trail system may be between $15 and $25 per available through the Federal-Aid Highway Program, the Federal Transit Program, hour should be primary Highway Safety Programs, and Federal/State Matching Requirements. (medium-term) targets. 6) Develop attractive entrances to the community to help improve perceptions of Beckley. (Short-term) Beckley is located in a major center of tourism activity. Area attractions such as Tama- rack, the Exhibition Mine and Museum, and the nearby National Park attracts tourists to the area from great distances. To build on this activity, the City of Beckley should develop more attractive entrances to the City to help visitors recognize that the City is a Develop a Technology or special and attractive place. The City has made some efforts in this regard, but more Workforce Development could be done. Existing and possible entrances are shown on attached drawings. Center. a) Begin gateway beautification efforts on two to three entryways within the next two years. Of the six major City gateways, priority should be given to the three gateways from the interstates (I-64/US Route 19, I-77/WV Route 16, and I/77/WV Route 3) as these are most highly traveled by visitors. Ideas should be sought from the community including potentially schools, colleges, neighborhood organizations, service clubs and corporate sponsors. GOAL: Maximize economic development opportunities for employment and workforce The City should attempt to expand its influence toward development. the Raleigh County Airport.

1) Attract 21st Century Employment. (Medium-term) The Beckley economy has been restructuring in recent years, transforming from a mining-dependant economy to one that is more diverse. As a center of retail employ- ment in the region, lower-paying retail jobs have grown substantially. As this transfor- mation continues, it is important for the City to aggressively seize all opportunities to develop 21st century employment. While the City currently offers sites in the PineCrest and Ragland Road area, it is thought that additional places for industrial development are needed to satisfy desired employment goals. One of the best opportunities the City of Beckley has to do this is to develop a business and high technology industrial park along the proposed East Beckley Bypass with associated commercial and neo-traditional housing. High technology industries providing jobs with wages between $15 and $25 per hour should be primary targets.

2) Develop a Technology or Workforce Development Center with the College of West Virginia on the CWV Campus or at the High Technology/Industrial Parks. (Short-term)

Page 184 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

PLAN OF EAST BECKLEY BYPASS TECHNOLOGY PARK

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 185 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 186 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

3) Annex potential development sites before they are redeveloped. (Short-term) Annexation after an area is developed is difficult. The City needs to use all available leverage to annex key properties, especially those with potential to be developed indus- trially.

Provide adequate housing 4) Seize Development Opportunities Associated with the Proposed choices.. East Beckley Bypass in the Grey Flats Industrial Area and the Ragland Road Industrial Area. (Short-term) The East Beckley Bypass is planned to be a 4-lane parkway with controlled access at- grade intersections. The construction of this parkway represents a major opportunity for Beckley, not only in terms of better transportation flow, but also economic development possibilities. It may be the most promising economic development opportunity for the City that will arise in the next 20 years. It should be viewed in a larger context than simply as a new way to move cars more efficiently through Beckley. The parkway will offer high visibility for adjacent developable land and excellent access to the interstate system. Existing and proposed land uses near this new roadway are expected to be nonresidential and include mainly manufacturing, offices, institutions, and some types of commercial uses.

5) Seize the Additional Opportunity to Develop Land North of I-64 Between Beckley and Airport Road. (Long-term) The City should attempt to expand its influence toward the Raleigh County Airport and provide land for industry which utilizes both air and land-based transportation. The topography may not lend itself perfectly to a conventional industrial park, but portions of the site have fairly gentle slopes and offer great location potential due to high visibil- ity, access to the Interstate and airport. This may be a longer term endeavor and second- ary to development of the East Beckley Bypass in terms of City energy and focus. Steps a This parkway may provide nonprofit development arm of the City could pursue include the securing of options, the City’s best opportunity defining utility requirements, general conceptual planning. to develop an attractive residential community offering a variety of 6) Explore the Concept of Utilizing a Request for Proposal (RFP) housing types. Process to Expedite Development. (Short-term) The nonprofit development organization working with the City does not need to get involved in all the aspects of site development. Many tasks can be performed quite well by the private sector once the organization has site control and has initiated annexation proceedings. Innovative cities encourage competition by seeking proposals from local and national developers to meet the desired objectives for development of a particular area. GOAL: Housing - Provide an adequate range of housing choices.

1) Protect the Residential Development along the Harper Road Corridor from Northwestern Avenue to Sunrise Avenue from General Commercialization. (Short and long-term)

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 187 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

The City should not grant use variances along Harper Road

2) Seize development opportunities associated with the proposed Cross-Town Connector). (Medium-term) The Cross-town Connector is planned to be a 4-lane parkway that would generally follow the Little Whitestick Creek alignment. Parallel bike lanes are also proposed and would connect to the future bike trail in the center of town along the abandoned rail line. A In Beckley, there is an new resident of this subdivision could reach many local businesses along the Robert C. apparent growing demand Byrd Drive within a half-hour walk. Access to adjacent private property along the for lower-maintenance Parkway would be controlled and limited to only a few locations in order to enhance housing. traffic flow. Existing land uses, zoning and slope, to some extent, seem to point toward the appropriate adjacent future land uses as being residential (the area is currently zoned residentially). However, there is also an opportunity to do more creative development in this area using concepts utilized in master plan communities and planned unit develop- ments where residential types and densities are mixed in a creative way. This area is wooded and there are believed to be wetlands in the area. These natural features could be preserved and accommodated in the physical design of developments. This parkway may provide the City’s best opportunity to develop an attractive residential community offering a variety of housing types. Specific design of residential subdivisions could include conservation design principles. Such principles include the concept of clustering residential densities and preserving natural amenities on the site as common open space. One concept of this type of development is as shown in the illustration on the following page.

3) The City Should Encourage New River Drive Property owners adjacent to the Cross-Town corridor to work collectively to design and develop a premier residential community. (Short-term) Since there are only a few property owners in the New River Drive area, it is possible that a consortium or partnership could be formed to collectively define a unified develop- ment concept for the entire area. The illustrated design concept shows a sample property Enhance existing housing by developed with conservation design principles for a residential subdivision which converting vacant land into preserves open space and significant natural features on the site. Generous separations side/rear yards. between residences and the road are also illustrated which would contribute toward an open and spacious feeling along the Cross-Town Connector. The City should view this development consortium as a partner in the effort to create this premier residential community. The City should organize meetings of involved property owners to discuss development possibilities within the context of this Comprehensive Plan.

4) The City should encourage a mixture of housing types in this area in order to satisfy growing demand for condominiums and lower maintenance housing units demanded by the growing empty-nesters and seniors. (Long-term) This area represents a significant amount of undeveloped property which can add a large number of housing choices for residents. While the illustration above indicates de- tached, single-family units, it is also possible that a design could incorporate multi- family or otherwise attached units with a similar design. In Beckley, there is an apparent growing demand for lower-maintenance housing desired by Empty Nesters and Seniors.

Page 188 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

CONCEPT DRAWING FOR RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 189 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

This page left intentionally blank.

Page 190 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

5) Beckley should strive to become a City of home owners. (short and medium-term) The City is below the national average for home ownership (62% compared to 74% for the State and 66% for the nation). But when the high vacancy rate (12%) is considered, only 52% of the housing units are occupied by homeowners. The City is nearly a rental community. Without exception, the most progressive and livable cities have very high home ownership rates where most residents are able to build equity and have a stake in the quality of life of their community. Based on the past successes of the Beckley Housing Neighborhood watch Authority with rehabilitation and construction of rental units, the City should now organizations have been refocus its housing efforts toward rebuilding neighborhoods based on home ownership the historical first steps in More specifically, the City (with its new community development department) should: many cities for neighbors to get involved in the a) Work to combine vacant lots in areas with small lots to provide buildable sites for new revitalization of their housing construction. communities. b) Create a “landbank” of properties in key revitalization areas that can be developed for home ownership.

6) The City Should Seek to conserve homes and prevent loss of historic homes and other vacant or neglected structures. (Long-term) The City of Beckley has many older housing units with two out of three constructed prior to 1960. Nationally, the average age of homes is 28 years; in Beckley, the average age of homes is 47 years. The older homes are often very affordable to lower income house- holds and should be preserved for home ownership opportunities whenever possible. When demolition is absolutely necessary, attempt to replace the older home with new, affordable housing for low and moderate income households or enhance existing housing by converting vacant land into side/rear yards. New housing should be in harmony with existing housing developments. GOAL: Empower neighborhood-based organizations to become leaders in the transformation of their neighborhood.

A major step for effective 1) Continue to seek development partnerships between the City neighborhood Community Development Department and neighborhood revitalization is to assist neighborhoods to prepare organizations. (Short-term to long-term) and adopt neighborhood strategic plans a) Increase contact opportunities between Ward councilpersons, City staff, and neighbor- hood residents. The implications of more and regular contact with neighborhood organizations includes the opportunity for better representation and knowledgeable distribution of needed City services by Ward councilpersons versus the alternative of working in isolation and without the active participation of residents in the Wards.

b) Increase Community Policing (Block Watch) resident participation in Wards 2, 3, and 5. The implications for the City providing neighborhood walking patrols and using police to staff Block Watch organizations is that these public safety efforts have been the historical first steps in many cities for neighbors to get involved in the revitalization of City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 191 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

their communities and have often spurred the creation of neighborhood improvement organizations.

2) Help neighborhood organizations become more effective. (short- term) a) Invest in the people of Beckley by fostering and encouraging residents to participate in neighborhood betterment groups. Some City staffing priorities could be changed to include responsibilities for assisting organizations to meet regularly. Another method to assist neighborhood organizations is to increase the capacity of organizations through annual training workshops for staff, officers, and Board-members. Better-trained Develop a program of leadership will increase the effectiveness of neighborhood organizations and attract disincentives for resident participation. The workshops could be coordinated with the active participa- deteriorated, nonrevenue tion of the College of West Virginia, lawyers, business leaders, the newspaper, foundation generating buildings and representatives, State officials, and others. Basic organization topics could include: sites to turn them into viable revenue-generating How to hold an effective meeting. properties. Incorporation and federal tax-exempt status procedures. Creation of effective by-laws and policies. Techniques to effectively lead an organization. Public Relations techniques. Fund-Raising techniques. Issue organizing techniques. Asset based open space management. b) A major step for effective neighborhood revitalization is to assist neighborhoods to prepare and adopt neighborhood strategic plans to improve each neighborhood or ward. Upon completion of each plan, the City should review and adopt each plan as a full partner of each neighborhood or ward association. Assistance to each neighbor- hood or ward association should be provided to implement the plans by identifying funding and making each plan a City priority. Involve professional planners to guide the neighborhood organization through the process of crafting a plan. This would include the identification and prioritization of land use goals and development project needs, determination of the appropriate development role for the organization in light of capacity and potentially available area resources, and the identification of key devel- opment partners who would jointly agree to task schedules for implementation of the Neighborhood Strategic Plan. c) Encourage neighborhood organizations to develop open space management plans with specific landscape and design beautification features in order to address vacant land issues, help define neighborhood boundaries and create a greater sense of place. Incor- porate neighborhood plans in City policies, and community development plans. d) Small planning grants and/or technical assistance using public or private sources of funds could be awarded to organizations meeting minimum criteria and having the resolve to develop and implement revitalization activities. The City could identify the criteria each neighborhood should evaluate and address in their plan. e) Neighborhoods should seek linkages with the development intermediaries which

Page 192 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P Chapter 12

offer planning grants, organization affiliation, and services. A few such organizations are such as; Neighborhood Housing Services, LISC, Enterprise Foundation, SEEDCo, and others. GOAL: Develop innovative and aggressive policies to increase revenues and contain costs.

1) Aggressively work with State legislators and other West Virginia cities to adopt state enabling legislation to authorize cities to create new revenue generators. (Long-term) a) Present the true costs of being a City to the state to show that a B&O tax cannot easily generate adequate revenues.

b) Have the State consider raising its income tax and sharing the extra revenues with cities.

c) Enhance existing efforts to have cities work together and develop policies for state consideration that are pro-city, such as the automatic annexation of unincorporated islands where a City has annexed around the site.

d) Work with the State to develop enabling legislation to grant cities more control over state highways within corporate boundaries.

2) Develop Innovative Local Regulations to Acquire Properties and/or Generate Income Streams. (Short to long-term) a) Take a more aggressive approach with eminent domain to acquire key buildings or sites from unreasonable or absentee owners.

b) Pursue special improvement districts, especially in the Downtown and other commer- cial areas targeted for redevelopment to generate an income stream for management, marketing, and facade improvements.

c) Develop a program of disincentives for deteriorated, nonrevenue generating buildings and sites to turn them into viable revenue-generating properties. Examples could include: threat of eminent domain, higher property taxes, more frequent building inspections and fines, higher fines, and City-imposed maintenance tied to liens charged to pay costs.

d) Enhance building and maintenance codes targeted toward absentee building owners. GOAL: Develop land use controls that are an effective tool for community improvement.

City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Page 193 Poggemeyer Design Group Chapter 12

1) Update the City Zoning Code in a manner consistent with the recommendation of this plan. (Short-term) These include areas such as: a) Sign regulations b) Parking Requirements c) Parking Landscaping d) Add a New Planned Unit Development Zoning District e) Update the Beckley Zoning Code with a light industrial/business park f) Add a New Commercial Corridor Overlay Zoning District g) Add Historic Preservation Historic Preservation Overlay Districts h) Add an Institutional Zoning District i) Add at Least One New Low-density Neo-traditional Residential District.

2) Develop subdivision regulations to help define minimum standards for infrastructure improvements. (Short-term) New subdivision activity is expected to increase in the future in association with key development initiatives discussed elsewhere (land next to the Cross-Town connector and industrial development near the Route 19 Bypass). In addition to zoning, many communities rely on subdivision regulations to make sure that public improvements constructed by developers (such as roadways and drainage systems) are built according to specific standards and preferred designs. As the City of Beckley does not have subdivi- sion regulations at the present time, a gap in needed regulatory tools is evident, and the City should proceed toward development of such regulations.

Page 194 City of Beckley Comprehensive Plan Poggemeyer Design Group P