Governor Manchin has awarded a $525,000 Economic Stimulus grant to the West Side Main Street program’s streetscape project.  The funding will launch a multi-phase initiative with the goal of renovating streetscapes along the program’s Washington Street West corridor.

West Side Main Street (WSMS), which launched on the west side of Charleston in 2005 as a program of West Virginia State University Extension Service, has partnered with the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority on the five-phase streetscape project.

“We are excited to see this project funded and to begin renovations,” says Pat McGill, Director of West Side Main Street.  “We’ll begin along Washington Street from Beatrice Avenue, moving toward Maryland Avenue over the next few years.”

Sidewalks and crosswalks will be replaced, utility lines relocated, and street furniture and landscaping will be accomplished.  The project’s master plan will complete the streetscape along the corridor over the next five years.
 

Other components of the first phase of the project include new concrete curbs, ADA accessible ramps, ADA compliant crosswalks and pedestrian scale street lights.  Brick pavements, benches, flower pots, seat walls, and additional landscaping and sidewalk enlargements are also part of the long-range plan.
 

For the most part, added McGill, streetscape projects haven’t been accomplished along Washington Street West in nearly two decades.  WSMS will apply for additional funding as the project moves into later phases.
 

The 20% match for the federal funding is provided by the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority, which will serve as the fiscal agent for the project.  For more information, contact Pat McGill, WSMS Director, at 304.720.3161.