MOVING ALONG — Through the efforts of the Wellsburg Urban Renewal Authority, a dilapidated building at the corner of the city’s town square has undergone major renovations and will be occupied by a business this fall. The volunteer group will be holding its last summer block party, to raise funds and awareness of its projects, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the square and Charles Street. -- Warren ScottMOVING ALONG — Through the efforts of the Wellsburg Urban Renewal Authority, a dilapidated building at the corner of the city’s town square has undergone major renovations and will be occupied by a business this fall. The volunteer group will be holding its last summer block party, to raise funds and awareness of its projects, from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday at the square and Charles Street. -- Warren Scott

WELLSBURG — Attendees at the Wellsburg Urban Renewal Authority’s latest summer block party on Friday will be able to see the results of the volunteer group’s efforts to renovate one of three vacant buildings near the city’s town square.

Crews with Modex Contracting of Wellsburg have stabilized the three-story building at the square’s northeast corner, replaced its roof and have nearly completed the installation of new windows for the structure, with a new business slated to move in this fall.

Alex Weld, chairman of the volunteer board, said the Kookie Jar, a local baker of a wide assortment of soft cookies, has signed a lease agreement for the building’s first floor and is expected to occupy the space in November.

Weld said crews are installing drywall on the first floor and will be moving on to the upper floors, where two-bedroom apartments will be created.

She said crews recently bored under the Town Square to install electrical conduit needed to replace outdated wiring that had powered the building in the past.

The project was funded with $750,000 in federal money secured by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., and former U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin.

Weld said the board has applied for another $800,000 in federal funds to pursue renovations to the buildings that stand on each side of it and the application has received the support of Capito and U.S. Sen. Jim Justice, R-W.Va.

“We’re thankful that our two senators have seen the value of our projects,” she said.

Weld said if awarded, the funds are expected to cover costs for the two remaining buildings.

“The corner building was in much worse shape than the other two,” she said.

Located at 67 and 75 Seventh St. and 701 Charles St., the three buildings were purchased by the board for $100 in hopes of preserving the square, which has been a central part of the Wellsburg Applefest and other community events.

Vacant for many years, the three were deteriorating and at risk of being demolished, which would have removed a large part of the square’s perimeter.

Weld said rent from the first building will help to fund renovations to the other two buildings, which the board also hopes to fill with new businesses on the first floor and apartments on the upper floors.

To raise additional funds and awareness of its efforts to revitalize the city’s downtown business district, the group has been holding a series of summer block parties.

The last for the season will be held from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. Friday on the square and adjacent Charles Street.

The event will include live music, a beer tent and a handful of food trucks.

The latter is expected to include the Kookie Jar, a regular at the events since they began a few years ago; Angie’s Bakery; Smokeshow BBQ; Groovy Drinks and Taste of Abruzzo.

The monthly events are supported by more than 20 sponsors, with key sponsors being Drovers Inn; Carenbauer Distributing; Almost Heaven Dentistry; the Rivertown Inn; state Del. Jimmy Willis, R-Brooke; and state Sen. Ryan Weld, R-Wellsburg.

Alex Weld said the block parties, while not major fundraisers for the group’s efforts, play another important role.

“Our whole goal is to get more people into the downtown area of Wellsburg. We need to get more foot traffic and more eyes in the downtown,” she said.