WVU Parkersburg presents Innovation Technology Center rollout; classrooms due Aug. 18, community opening in October

WVU Parkersburg representatives updated the Vienna City Council on the Innovation Technology Center (ITC), saying classroom instruction for computer science and computer information courses is due to begin by Aug. 18 and a public grand opening has been pushed to October to allow for final groundwork.

The presenters said the window-and-door renovation for the complex totaled $1,200,000, covering roughly 460 windows and 32 exterior doors; stained-glass windows in the chapel will be retained. "The window project itself was $1,200,000 and that's been expansive but also very needed for the facility," said a presenter representing the ITC project.

The project team described a mixed-use campus plan that includes a future Vienna Elementary site, proposed commercial space with verbal letters of intent from potential users, and surrounding residential development. Renderings shown to council suggested between about 50 and as many as 75 single-family homes around the ITC, with townhomes and multi-tenant buildings also anticipated.

Child care and workforce connections were highlighted. "Bright Beginnings day care with community resources is the partner that we have," the presenters said; that operator will be able to expand from roughly 60 current slots to 120–130 at the ITC if it chooses. Presenters also said WVU Medicine Camden Clark has been engaged on employee childcare placements.

On utilities and access, presenters recounted an early estimate of roughly $12 million to extend water and sewer from the Vienna Utility Board to the hilltop. "We realized that Parkersburg Utility Board runs right around Encompass Health," a project speaker said, and the team negotiated a plan in which Parkersburg Utility Board would provide water and sewer service to the new homes at an estimated cost of about $1,000,000. The team expects to apply for Department of Highways industrial access road grant dollars and hopes to put the Innovation Drive road work out to bid in September.

Financing and next steps: the college foundation will take a three-year loan to finish work while the capital campaign continues; the presenters said some roofs were replaced using $700,000 obtained via the Water Development Authority and noted an industrial manufacturing partner has signed paperwork and may announce publicly soon.

Presenters offered to provide the council copies of the presentation and promotional clips, and raised one near-term maintenance question: a quoted estimate of about $25,000 to remove the old Ohio Valley University logo from the city's water tower and restore or replace that surface. The presenters asked the council to consider the logo removal over time.

The council praised the project team's progress and asked for copies of materials and timetable updates; staff and the presenters agreed to follow up with a preliminary engineering report on water and sewer, and to return with further details about housing price points and road-bid timing.

Next procedural step: project team will provide preliminary engineering numbers for water/sewer and the council expects to receive follow-up materials and consider zoning and permitting items in upcoming meetings.