Associated Press Published

Demolition to Clear Way for Teacher Housing in McDowell County

The former Best Furniture building in downtown Welch will be the site of Renaissance Village.

Demolition will start soon on two buildings to clear the way for new apartments for teachers in a blighted southern West Virginia community.

A news release says the Best Furniture and Katzen buildings in downtown Welch will be torn down starting Thursday.

The new space will house the Renaissance Village apartment complex, which will primarily be intended for teachers.

The apartments are a key component of the Reconnecting McDowell partnership. That project led by the American Federation of Teachers and its many partners aims to improve opportunities in impoverished McDowell County.

The 30-unit Renaissance Village will include rental apartments, a common area for residents and street-level retail establishments, like a coffee shop.

The news release says the project will be the first multistory construction in Welch in 50 years.