FAYETTEVILLE, W.Va. — The Fayette County Commission voted Aug. 6 not to endorse a proposed housing and indoor‑farm project in Mount Hope brought forward by HousedUp Incorporated and partners, saying the proposal needs more community engagement and coordination with local health officials.

James Britt, who identified himself as part of the HousedUp team, presented plans to convert a multi‑story building at 100 Bluestone Road into a mixed use facility combining efficiency apartments, on‑site service offices and an indoor farming operation intended to provide employment and fresh food. “Our project overview for this is to combine housing, service providers, and employment opportunities all in one building,” Britt said during the presentation.

The commission asked detailed questions about funding, operating costs, tenant selection, supporting services and public outreach. Britt said the project had secured a $50,000 ARC INSPIRE planning grant and was applying for a Federal Home Loan Bank affordable housing grant due the next day; he said the project faced a roughly $70,000 shortfall on acquisition costs because of the building’s mixed‑use status under the grant rules.

Commissioners requested more information and legal review, and the body moved into executive session to discuss the proposal and a related purchase agreement. After returning from the closed session, a commissioner moved to not support the project at that time; the motion passed on a voice vote. Commissioners advised the applicant to meet with Terry Harlin, director of the Fayette County Health Department, hold town meetings in Mount Hope and return with more documentation and community engagement.

Why it matters: The project would target people exiting recovery residences who lack exit plans and would aim to pair transitional housing with workforce opportunities; county officials said they need stronger local partnerships, clearer operational plans and broader community input before committing county support or funds. The applicant was instructed to follow up with the health department and to organize public forums and meetings with other county stakeholders if they wish to seek future county support.

Next steps for the applicant noted in the meeting: additional town meetings in Mount Hope, coordination with the county health director and county service providers, and submission of further financial and legal documentation for commission review.