Clarksburg Land Reuse Agency presses developer on Linden School timeline, approves work‑session planning

The Clarksburg Land Reuse Agency met Thursday and spent the bulk of its session reviewing its inventory of city‑owned parcels, pressing a developer on progress at the Linden School conversion and agreeing to schedule detailed work sessions to clarify monitoring and enforcement of land‑reuse agreements.

Jason, a city staff member who presented the agency’s current property inventory, said the list was pulled from the Harrison County IDX site under the agency’s name and highlighted both properties the agency still owns and parcels already transferred. “We have worked with several entities trying to unload some of these, but as far as what is currently in our records is presented to you in front of you,” Jason said, summarizing the status of holdings and a plan to allow neighboring owners first option when letters are sent.

Board members pressed staff about what conditions the Land Reuse Agency may impose on properties that statute requires be offered for sale. One committee member said, “In accordance to the statute…they need to submit what they're gonna be doing,” and other members noted limits on adding restrictions to statutorily mandated transfers. Staff and members agreed they can advise prospective buyers and flag problems but cannot unilaterally layer additional restrictive covenants onto statutorily required offers.

Much of the meeting focused on the Linden School parcel. Several members said the developer had been given a two‑year timeframe to reach a specified level of rehabilitation and warned that, if the deadline is missed, the agency has the right to repurchase the property. A committee member said, “If they don't do that, then we have a right to repurchase the property for $3,500,” and members requested staff attempt direct outreach to confirm the developer's current plans and financing. Jason volunteered to contact the owner of North Central Builders and report back to the board by email.

Members also discussed monitoring and enforcement: whether sales agreements include inspection rights or require building permits. Staff acknowledged inspection language was not included in the agreements reviewed and cautioned that recent staff turnover limited pre‑meeting document checks. To resolve those procedural gaps, members proposed a series of work sessions to build internal processes and clarify how the LRA should coordinate with the city on permitting, TIF use, demolition funding and other resources. The board ultimately moved and passed a motion to table final scheduling of those work sessions until the next meeting while recording the intention to hold preparatory brainstorming before any new council members take office.

Other updates included asbestos testing at the Golf Building, removal of roughly 200 tons (about 70 dump‑truck loads) of debris at the Linden School, and utility work: staff said Mon Power removed and later worked to restore meters and that the county commission approved a power pole to supply Stonewall Coffee and adjacent tenants. The board also confirmed the city currently assumes operational responsibility and liability for the YMCA building.

On historic‑resource questions, members suggested funding an archaeological survey to define reported Civil War trenches on a hillside parcel and estimated the study could run near $10,000; staff agreed to begin outreach to the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) about next steps.

The meeting concluded after the board approved tabling the work‑session scheduling item and receiving a texted update from the Linden School owner that interior stripping and debris removal are underway and that excavation for water and plumbing will follow. The board adjourned after the motions were completed; the agency expects follow‑up via email from staff on developer outreach and will revisit the scheduling decision at the next regular meeting.