By FRED PACE
The Herald-Dispatch
HUNTINGTON, W.Va. — Ground was broken on phase one of the Barboursville retail development project known as Tanyard Station late Monday morning, with officials revealing the first four tenants of the planned shopping center.
(Herald-Dispatch photo by Ryan Fischer)
Tanyard Station is being built on the site of the historic CSX railroad yard, along the Mud River and Tanyard Branch Creek in Barboursville. It will be near the intersection of U.S. 60 and Big Ben Bowen Highway.
The four announced tenants were Aldi, a discount grocer; Sheetz, gas station and convenience store; Longhorn Steakhouse; and Menard’s home improvement store.
Nick Ruffner, a public relations manager with Sheetz, said its new location will be built at the main entrance of Tanyard Station and will be the sixth in Cabell County.
“The new Sheetz location will be approximately 5,000 square feet,” he said. “Construction is expected to begin on the new store in the summer of 2018, with an opening projected for the following winter.”
Menards, a family-owned company that started in 1958, acquired approximately 20 acres of land in the development, according to spokesman Jeff Abbott.
“Although no official timeline has been established just yet, if all goes as planned, Menards hopes to build a new home improvement store in Tanyard Station at some point in the future,” Abbott said.
Brent Roswall, a native of Barboursville and co-owner of Interstate Realty of Bristol, Tennessee, the developer of the project, says Tanyard Station will provide a significant economic boost to the region and bring hundreds of additional jobs, as well as $9 million in public infrastructure improvements to Cabell County.
“I grew up on Wentz Hollow, just off Little Seven Mile around, about three miles from this site,” Roswall said. “Every day, going to Barboursville High School, I traveled by the historic CSX property along the Mud River and Tanyard Branch Creek. I had no idea at that early age that I would later become a retail developer and have the opportunity to transform this vacant property into a regional shopping center. I’m pleased Tanyard Station will be a catalyst for economic development in the region. It’s a way of paying back the community where I grew up.”
Village of Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum said the development’s presence will also solidify Barboursville as a regional retail destination.
“A rising tide lifts all boats, so this is also going to be good for Huntington, Milton and the entire county,” Tatum said. “We are excited to break ground on this 51.3-acre site, which will become one of Cabell County’s largest retail developments.”
Bear Contracting, of Bridgeport, West Virginia, was awarded the construction contract in late September after submitting a low bid of $9,485,000, according to the Tanyard Station public improvements bid tabulation released by the Cabell County Commission.
Work under the contract includes site preparation and public improvements on and off site, including but not limited to erosion and sediment control, clearing and grading, storm drainage, utility construction, road construction, paving, curbing, directional signage and traffic markings.
“We are very excited a West Virginia company got the job,” Roswall said.
Roswall previously said he anticipates that Bear Contracting will begin working this month and will be under construction for approximately one year. He said phase one tenants should open by the fall of 2018 and the main anchor tenants will open by fall of 2019.
“We will have some businesses open up at that time, and then it will be another year before some others open up,” he said. “It’s going to be a two- to three-year project.”
Last year, Cabell County commissioners adopted a resolution authorizing and directing the reimbursement of certain expenses incurred by the county commission or developer prior to issuance of not more than $9 million tax increment revenue bonds, proceeds of which will be used to finance the costs of improvements associated with the Tanyard Station project.
“This new retail development is great news for Cabell County,” said Cabell County Commission President Bob Bailey. “The best part is all the much-needed jobs it will create.”
West Virginia Gov. Jim Justice said Monday’s announcement is “great news” for the state.
The projected cost of the Tanyard Station project is estimated at $100 million, with $9 million of that total being for the road and traffic upgrades.
Roswall said the development site is the largest undeveloped retail tract of land remaining in Barboursville that will accommodate big box retail for tenants.
“With Tanyard Station’s first four major tenants now secured, Interstate Development is in active pursuit of additional retail commitments,” Roswall said.
Follow reporter Fred Pace at Facebook.com/FredPaceHD and via Twitter at @FredPaceHD.
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