The Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp., known locally as Sunnyside Up, is seeking proposals for the purchase and development of approximately two acres of prime Morgantown riverfront property – between 4th and 6th Streets along Beechurst Avenue in Sunnyside – for a mixed-use residential development for four-season residents.

The proposal was released today (Jan.13) following the Board’s monthly meeting.

“This site, adjacent to the riverfront, is one of the best and most progressive development opportunities to come our way in years,” said Sunnyside Up Executive Director Frank Scafella. “With river views and convenience to a variety of employment, shopping, dining and transportation options, this is prime land for mixed-use, year-round living — and an exciting and unprecedented opportunity to shape the future of Morgantown and help keep our young professionals, retirees, faculty families and others in the area within walking distance of the WVU campus and the downtown.”

Scafella said this concept of four-season housing would be new to Sunnyside, but there are many large and small cities countrywide that have been successful in implementing this type of urban mixed-use development, citing Columbus, Ohio, and State College, Pennslyvania, as examples of university towns that are successfully replacing older residential/rental neighborhoods with upscale year-round housing options.

“Up until now, this type of development has not been considered for Sunnyside,” Scafella said. “Developers have jumped at the opportunity to ‘go big’ with single student-oriented housing, some of which has become very upscale and urbane in amenities provided, but without the explicit aim of accommodating faculty, young professionals or retirees.”

Target Area

As preparation for the four-season housing proposed in its RFP, Sunnyside Up recently commissioned A.J. Schwartz of Environmental Planning & Design, Pittsburgh, to do a market analysis of residential housing in Greater Morgantown (see sunnysideupwv.org under Comp. Plan & Reports) and found that this type of urban housing will attract the demographics of faculty, young professionals and retirees. Four-season housing of this type will also go a long way toward making Sunnyside a mixed residential and urbane community.

“What the market analysis shows is that young professionals and families are living predominantly in the Suncrest and Glenmark areas, primarily because they can’t find accommodations they want near the campus or downtown.” Scafella said. “But, if offered and available, young professionals and faculty would be attracted to living in Sunnyside, particularly because of the riverfront, the Caperton rail trail, closeness to the University campus, the downtown shopping and restaurant establishments, health care facilities, transportation options, and many other nearby conveniences. The RFP plan will also create a better balance between student rentals and four-season residential housing, thus helping to diversify and stabilize the Sunnyside community and downtown Morgantown.”

Scafella said the current site consists of 20 parcels with various buildings on the property all under the control of a single owner who is on board with re-visioning the Sunnyside neighborhood.

“While substantial reinvestment in Sunnyside has taken place and significant revitalization is under way, the orientation of the Sunnyside neighborhood has continued on a single student-oriented path, due in part to WVU’s continuing growth in enrollment and the outpacing of housing demand versus supply,” he said. “Now, with student housing at a premium, there is a strong preference for residential housing for single families, retirees and young professionals in the neighborhoods adjacent to WVU’s campuses. So that is the path we’re going down with this request for proposals.”

Interested developers are invited to access the RFP at sunnysideupwv.org. The Market Analysis and the Comprehensive Revitalization Plan for Sunnyside are also available there.

Sunnyside Up was formed in 2002 as the Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp. It is a collaborative nonprofit aimed at spearheading revitalization of the City’s various near-campus neighborhoods. CNRC’s mission is to assist or engage in developing, designing, financing and implementing urban land use plans designed to eliminate blight, improve conditions, and prevent future deterioration in the neighborhoods surrounding the West Virginia University campus.

-CNRC-

01-13-16

CONTACT: Frank Scafella, Campus Neighborhoods Revitalization Corp., Sunnyside Up
304.290.3128