(Photo by Brett Dunlap) West Virginia University at Parkersburg Board of Governors Chairman Steve Hardman, Vienna City Attorney Russ Skogstad and Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp appeared before the Wood County Commission on Monday where the county approved the annexation of around 118 acres of land to the City of Vienna to create a road and other development on the site of the former Ohio Valley University where WVUP is creating a new Innovation and Technology Center.

PARKERSBURG — The Wood County Commission approved the annexation of land from the county to the City of Vienna as part of a plan to create a road to access West Virginia University at Parkersburg’s new Innovation and Technology Center and the proposed site for the new Vienna Elementary School.

Representatives from WVUP, the City of Vienna, Wood County Economic Development, Wood County Schools and others attended the meeting Monday where the commission unanimously approved the annexation of around 118 acres of property that was once owned by Ohio Valley University.

“I think everyone in the neighborhood knows what is going on,” Commission President Blair Couch said.

OVU shut its doors in December 2021, amid financial and academic struggles. The WVUP Foundation announced in the Summer of 2023 it was purchasing the 225.22-acre property for $4.6 million as part of a $10 million gift from The Ross Foundation.

Renovations are currently happening at the former OVU Stott’s Administration Building to turn it into the new Innovation and Technology Center.

Officials have appeared before the commission before outlining a plan where a new road would be built at the end of 12th Street between Lowes and Sam’s Club in Vienna that would connect to the campus. The road they are proposing would allow future housing, mixed use, retail and more in that area as well as be accessible by the local bus system.

Vienna City Attorney Russ Skogstad said the original request was for around 99 acres, but once they went through and looked at all the parcels and reviewed other aspects associated with the property, the total number of acres comes out to be closer to 118 the city would like to annex. All of the paperwork reflects that change, he added.

“The benefit is this is property that can be developed and will have the benefit of being developed with a number of houses in the city which means the roads will be up to code,” Skogstad said adding the area would also fall under the jurisdiction of the Vienna Police Department and other utility services would be done by the city.

“I think the value of the property would go up just by being in the city,” Skogstad added.

The City of Vienna approved the annexation earlier this month.

Commissioners asked about the plans to build a new elementary school on the site.

Superintendent Christie Willis, who was present, told them the proposed site was on the site of OVU’s baseball, softball and soccer fields.

“We still have to check the land and do our due diligence,” she said.

Vienna Mayor Randy Rapp said they are working with the state to see what kind of assistance can be provided in building the road. He described 12th Street as “a nice wide street and it is not narrow” like other nearby streets.

“We feel we are in good shape right there,” he said, adding it was a 70-foot right-of-way through there.

After the commission gave their approval, WVUP President Torie Jackson, who attended the meeting remotely, said the annexation of the property will allow for a better process to proceed with road and utility expansion and development of the campus for the Innovation and Technology Center.

“We believe this project embraces the purpose of a community college as a true community partner who can help address issues regarding housing and child care in Wood County, as well as adding to the economic growth of our area,” she said.

Rapp said this is a great opportunity for the city. Vienna has not seen the population declines that other parts of the state have seen over the last 20 years.

“We obviously want all the people we can get,” he said. “With this new development coming, I believe we will exceed the population we have had in the past.

“It just presents many opportunities for us and the new jobs when the Innovation and Technology Center gets developed, I think those will be the kind of jobs that will be so helpful. With all the technology coming, it will just add to the mix of Vienna.”

Willis said the proposed road to the site from 12th Street was critical in school officials considering the site for the elementary school as they were looking at another location near Jackson Park.

“Now that this road will be there that makes this property very attractive and to be connected to WVUP would be wonderful for Wood County Schools to continue to build that relationship,” she said.

Lindsey Piersol, Director of Wood County Economic Development, said the Innovation and Technology Center was originally quoted as a $10 million project and it is going to end up exceeding that with residential and commercial development opportunities in the area as well as having a new elementary school up there.

“I think it will open up a world of opportunities,” she said. “When all of this comes together it will be a generational change for all of Wood County and we are really excited to see it come to fruition.”