By: Lydia Crawley
The Parsons Advocate
Bryce Koukopoulos from Woodlands Development Group provided an update on the status of a proposed three story combined residential and commercial building to be build next to the Veterans Memorial in Parsons. The update was provided to the City Parsons City Council October 7th.
“We are close,” Koukopoulos said.
According to Koukopoulos, Woodlands is scheduled to attend the West Virginia Housing Development Board Meeting in November to obtain approval on the project. Koukopoulos anticipates that approval will be granted because Woodlands and the Board have been working together for two years already on the project.
Once approval from the WV Housing Development Board is achieved in November, Woodlands can close on the Home Program Loan they received from the Board.
All other financing, Koukopoulos said, is complete and ready to be utilized for the project. The Home Program Loan is “the last piece.” The project, according to Koukopoulos, combines six forms of financing.
Koukopoulos said as soon as Woodlands receives the notice to proceed, site work can begin on the project.
“December isn’t the greatest time to get a green light, as you know,” Koukopoulos said.
There are some up sides to the situation, however. Firstly, digging frozen ground isn’t bad, as long as it is done before freeze thaw and the rain, Koukopoulos said and secondly, there should be enough time to address the crumbling wall next to the Veterans Memorial before it becomes a larger issue.
“Its not the Spring start that we were hoping for,” Koukopoulos said. “Its not the Summer start that we were hoping for, I will be honest with you, but at Woodlands, we have learned to be patient, play the long game, stay in our lane and move the project forward and we are getting there.”
With approval for the project anticipated for November and closing soon after, Woodlands is meeting with contractors and bidding out the project, according to Koukopoulos. Woodlands anticipates breaking ground as soon after receiving the go ahead in November, as possible, weather permitting, Koukopoulos said, likely sometime in December.
The Woodlands Parsons Project is slated to be a three story, multi use building with two stories of housing with the first story (story two of the building) to be handicapped accessible with handicapped housing and access from ground floor at the rear of the building on the hillside. The building will have a total of eight housing units of one and two bedroom workforce housing and commercial space on the first floor. Parking will be available on a lot Woodlands is renting from the City on the corner of Second Street.
Housing preference will be given to local primary residents and veterans.
