Submitted graphic A rendering of the Five Rivers Building presenting a detailed visualization of the project upon completion.

PARSONS — Construction of the Five Rivers Building, which will feature new apartments and a commercial space, is set to start after a groundbreaking ceremony this week.

Woodlands Development & Lending officially marked the start of construction on the Five Rivers Building with a groundbreaking ceremony held Monday, June 1. Located “in the heart of Parsons” on Main Street by the traffic light, the new building will provide eight “high-quality, affordable” housing apartments and one large commercial space, Woodlands said in a press release.

According to the release, Executive Director of Woodlands Dave Clark expressed his enthusiasm in bringing the project to reality as envisioned by the Parsons community, noting that Woodlands was honored to help make that vision reality.

“Woodlands is excited to work alongside the City of Parsons to extend affordable housing options in Tucker County,” the release states. “Project partners Citizens Bank of West Virginia, Invest Appalachia and the City of Parsons have been critical in getting us this far, and Project Architect Bryson VanNostrand from VanNostrand Architects will be overseeing construction along with Woodlands.”

Joining Woodlands at the groundbreaking was Parsons City recorder Richard L. Lemons, CEO of Tucker Community Foundation David “Coop” Cooper, Parsons City Council member Michael Rosenau, Tucker County Commissioner Melissa D. Jones, Project Architect Bryson VanNostrand and Todd Gunter, the Director of Economic Development for U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito. Other local officials, project partners and community members joined in the ceremony as well, the release stated.

Woodlands said in its release that the project was made possible by funding from WV Affordable Housing Fund, WV Department of Environmental Protection, the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, WV Downtown Appalachia: Revitalizing Recreational Economies (DARRE) and the Northern Brownfields Assistance Center.

“I want to be very clear that this is not the federal government’s money,” Todd Gunter, representing Capito, said, emphasizing that this project was made possible because of the community. “This is not Senator Capito’s money, but this is your money. And we work hard to ensure that we put it into your community.”

Woodlands Development and Lending said in its release that the company works to develop affordable housing, drive downtown development, increase community capacity and provide affordable small business support and lending services to the communities in its service area. Woodlands Development and Lending is an Elkins based Community Housing Development Organization (CHDO) and Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves Randolph, Barbour and Tucker Counties.

Submitted photo.
Parsons City Council members, Woodlands Development & Lending leadership and partners participated in the groundbreaking shovel event marking the start of construction.