By Evan Bevins, Parkersburg News and Sentinel
PARKERSBURG — A new initiative by the City of Parkersburg’s Planning & Development Department aims to make it easier for people to build houses on vacant lots.
The Neighborhood Infill Supported Development program offers five pre-approved building plans and additional support to streamline the approval process and “encourage small-scale, community-focused housing development,” according to a release from the department.
“Revitalizing our neighborhoods requires practical, incremental steps,” said Ryan Barber, development director. “This initiative makes it easier for builders, investors and homebuyers to take part in that transformation, helping to expand housing options and breathe new life into underutilized spaces.”
The program includes a catalog of five “modest, high-quality home designs,” including four single-family dwellings and one two-family structure, the release said. Because the city has already reviewed and approved the plans, it speeds up the permitting and inspection process, Barber said.