It’s no secret that Weirton, and for that matter much of our area, is in need of housing investment.

Every comprehensive study or development plan of Weirton for the last 15 to 20 years has cited a lack of proper and available housing, not only for current residents but any potential future residents. Speaking with several local Realtors in recent years, many have cited the issue of either not having enough housing stock to market, or when they do have something it’s sold quickly (sometimes before they even have a chance to post it.)

There have been some efforts in recent years, such as the executive-style apartments making up the top floor of the Park Drive development. I’ve been told by several reliable sources all of those units are filled.

A couple of years back, officials with the Frontier Group floated the idea of constructing new housing units on part of its property in the city’s north end – particularly running up County Road.

Wednesday evening, the Weirton Planning Commission heard about a proposal for a new development. It’s relatively small in scale, and won’t meet every need, of course, but it could be of some help if it all goes through.

The College of St. Joseph the Worker (yes, that College of St. Joseph the Worker) plans to construct 11 houses on property it now owns along Culler Road. The site once was home to Liberty Elementary.

An official with the college, along with a representative of Triad Engineering, on hand for Wednesday’s meeting, which also included attendance from six neighboring residents, noted plans are for $300,000 to $400,000 houses – which addressed one of the questions and concerns from the residents. A few asked whether these would be HUD-eligible housing.

I understand people want to know how a new development is going to affect their own property. Other questions focused on concerns of parking and traffic, with developers explaining their idea is to include space for two off-street parking spaces for each house, with the street to be built as part of the development including a cul-de-sac. Members of the Planning Commission asked whether the homes would have garages.

A few comments on social media about the project also have focused on the parking and types of housing, with others asking about whether they would have to connect to the city’s water and sanitary systems. Yes, of course, they will have to connect. They will be legally obligated to connect to all utilities the same as any other development, and the city’s Water, Sanitary, Public Works, Code departments, and more, will all be involved in the review of this project as it moves along.

A few have also pointed out the city should be focused on its water issues. Valid point, but the city also isn’t the entity planning this housing development.

Here is the thing that needs to be emphasized – these are all still preliminary plans. Wednesday’s action by the Planning Commission was the first step in approving the plats – in other words the proposal of dividing up the property in question.

This doesn’t give the final go-ahead for the project. There are going to be more meetings, including the possibility of a workshop, which all are open to the public. Residents living nearby, or for that matter anyone who is interested, can come to the meetings and voice their opinion on the project.

If you’re unable to make it to the meetings, I know city officials have accepted written comments to include with the record.

On top of that, developers said they plan on building two houses per year once the project is under way, with much of the construction performed by students from the College of St. Joseph as part of their educational curriculum. They will be supervised by trained, licensed, and certified individuals in each field of construction. This isn’t going to be an overnight thing. There will be time to raise concerns and for changes to be made.

Weirton needs housing. This project is going to take at least five to six years before it’s complete. There may be other projects brought forth in the meantime. The bottom line is, will it be beneficial for the city as a whole?

(Howell, a resident of Colliers, is managing editor of The Weirton Daily Times, and can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com or followed on Twitter/X @CHowellWDT)