WVU to buy Sunnyside properties

As part of its 2020 Strategic Plan for the Future, West Virginia University intends to purchase 39 properties in the Sunnyside neighborhood to provide more adequate student housing.

The University will purchase the properties located on University Avenue, Grant Avenue, Jones Avenue, Quay Street, Third Street, Houston Avenue, Overhill Street, Highland Avenue and Wellen Avenue for nearly $15 million.

Paradigm Development Group LLC and RCL Holding LLC will sell the land to the University.

The Sunnyside neighborhood has become a notorious location for malicious furniture and dumpster fires and riots.

In a proposal submitted for approval to the West Virginia Legislature’s Joint Committee on Government and Finance and the WVU Board of Governors, University officials said they recognize the high demand for student housing and plan to utilize the land for such.

"The University recognizes that to support its 2020 Plan, safe and affordable student housing and related amenities will be critical for success of its educational and academic mission and that property for such housing and related amenities located within close distance to the University’s downtown campus will be in high demand and potentially unavailable," according to the proposal.

According to the proposal, "Paradigm approached the University to explore the University’s interest in acquiring the Property under various conditions, and the University, after analysis and consideration, believes that the Property is uniquely positioned to meet critical current and future needs of the University."

Earlier this month, the BOG approved a new plan to add a total of 1,555 beds to University housing, according to Corey Farris, Director of Housing and Interim Dean of Students.

Farris said the University plans to renovate and modernize current housing and create new facilities to better meet the needs of its students.

The project is estimated to be completed in 2035, he said.

"We’re creating new housing, all while we still have existing housing that needs to be renovated," he said. "In the end, it benefits our students."

"They will be living in modern, new spaces and some in spaces with modern updates.

Students have the choice to attend great colleges across the country. We want to have good facilities – not just academic, but for students to stay in as well. You need to have modern facilities all around."

University officials said they had no comment on the Sunnyside purchase but would release a statement later in the week.

The WVU BOG has scheduled a special meeting for today at 3 p.m. to discuss "approval to purchase and finance real property located within the City of Morgantown."