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Fairmont explores downtown building potential

Times West Virginian photo by Tammy Shriver The City Center Building located at 200 Fairmont Ave. is currently vacant.
Times West Virginian photo by Tammy Shriver
The City Center Building located at 200 Fairmont Ave. is currently vacant.

FAIRMONT, W.Va. — People took a closer look at the old fire station and several other development-ready buildings in downtown Fairmont Wednesday as part of Main Street Fairmont’s Downtown Developers’ Tour.

The two-day event, based at the Gatherings at 216 Monroe St., continues today.

As part of the activities, participants split up into groups Wednesday and traveled to different structures within the city’s historic district for guided tours. In addition to the old firehouse, the facilities available to tour included the Spadafore, Dunbar School, the old Cook Hospital, the Masonic Temple, Hatter Ben’s, the Deveny building, the YMCA and the Jacob Hutchinson building.

Artist's concept from The Times West Virginian The City Center building was constructed in 1940. Its historical use was as a post office and a federal building. The recommended uses are for a museum, fine arts performance, gallery space, or a mixed-use community center. Conceptual designs are used for illustrations purposes only. The local historic preservation review commission and/or the State Historic Preservation Office must approve any alterations to buildings within the historic district.
Artist’s concept from The Times West Virginian
The City Center building was constructed in 1940. Its historical use was as a post office and a federal building. The recommended uses are for a museum, fine arts performance, gallery space, or a mixed-use community center. 

Attendees were given a guidebook with information about these buildings and photographs as they were yesterday and stand today, as well as renderings of potential plans for the future. Besides the structures included on the tour, the booklet — created through a partnership between The Thrasher Group, Main Street Fairmont and the City of Fairmont Planning Department — also features the City Center building.

After the tour, individuals had the chance to chat with local officials from the city and county to get further details and ask more questions about the facilities that interested them.

Fairmont City Planner Kathy Wyrosdick led the tours of the old fire station on Monroe Street.

According to the guidebook, this three-story building, constructed in 1912, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and was the home of the fire department, offices and retail in the past, and was most recently used for storage. Officials would like to see the venue become a home of the arts and entertainment in the future.

“It’s a great building,” Wyrosdick said…

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