Sunnyside Up appoints student representative

A West Virginia University Student Government Association governor is now part of the Board of Directors for the Sunnyside Up Development Corporation.

Charlie Russell is now an ex-officio member on the board for Sunnyside Up. The group is a partnership between Morgantown and WVU with the goal of creating and implementing a plan to revitalize the neighborhood.

Although Russell cannot vote, he will provide a direct link from WVU students to Sunnyside Up. He said this coming fall when students move in, board members will be going door-to-door with handouts. These handouts and members of Sunnyside Up will help inform residents of upcoming plans and how to become involved.

Jim Hunt, executive director of Sunnyside Up, said if this year is successful the next step will be a full voting position for a student. He added when he started the project there was little student involvement, but it was one of his goals to include them.

The corporation has already been active in clean-up efforts and the construction of new apartment buildings, and will continue to revamp the Sunnyside area this year.

Russell is interested in involving more students in projects.

"I hope a student voice will show that students care and want to be involved in their college town," he said. "We can address any concerns students have, such as unsafe housing and landlord practices."

Hunt said Sunnyside Up's plans are not just to build apartments and clean the area up, but to change the attitudes of those who live there. With a restored and cleaned neighborhood, residents are more likely to take care of Sunnyside, Hunt said.

"It's the little things too, by this fall we will have every dumpster in Sunnyside repainted," Hunt said.

They have also worked to remove trash and graffiti from the neighborhood. Hunt said this summer is one of the most productive periods for the group. Their major project is the Tax Increment Financing project, which will revamp Grant Street from Campus Drive to Fourth Street. The $1.7 million project includes building new sidewalks, putting in new lighting, and cleaning the area.

Other projects include putting in new sidewalks on Beechurst, or "The Gateway" to Sunnyside and downtown Morgantown. There will also be improvements made to the rail trail in the Sunnyside area along with a few dozen "small-but-important" jobs with landlords and housing, Hunt said.