The Economy Inn at 1954 Seventh St., Parkersburg, is seen in this November 2022 photo. The structure has been demolished, and the Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority has four offers to purchase the property for amounts ranging from $75,000 to $150,000. (File Photo)

PARKERSBURG — A total of four bidders have made offers on the former site of a Seventh Street hotel now owned by the Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority.

Their proposals, along with a number of other requests to purchase land from or donate property to the authority, are on the agenda for Tuesday’s meeting. It will convene after the regular Parkersburg City Council meeting at 7:30 p.m. in council chambers on the second floor of the Municipal Building.

The authority, which is made up of all nine council members, voted 5-2 with two members absent on May 28 to postpone action on the application from Monster’s Bent Barbell gym owner Clayton Workman to purchase the property at 1954 Seventh St. for $75,000 to expand his nearby business. Some residents spoke against the proposal, saying that price was too low for a site the city spent more than $800,000 on acquiring and clearing.

Workman said Friday he had not seen specifics on the other offers, but his bid remained the same. He proposes a new 8,000-square-foot building and estimates a total cost to acquire and develop the property of $200,000 to $250,000.

“We’re just trying to let the gym grow and help the community out,” Workman said. In reference to questions people raised about his offer, he added, “everybody knows how the process works.”

Some of the questions about a possible sale were in reference to past discussions about the location being a potential site for a replacement for the city’s fire station 3 at 13th and Liberty streets.

But no decision on a location has been announced, and council recently approved a budget revision allocating $210,000 for land acquisition and architectural and engineering services for the station.

During the May 28 meeting, City Planner Connor LaVelle said an adjacent property owner had also expressed interest in the Seventh Street site. After the meeting, city officials said the property had not been aggressively marketed but was publicly listed with other URA property for which people could make offers.

One of the new applicants is Aaron Read, a former councilman who owns Strong Tower Contracting, Read Properties and 1933 and 1947 Seventh St. His application offers $125,000 for the property and estimates a total of $1.35 million spent over three to five years developing an expansion of Strong Tower’s operations, townhouses and warehousing and storage units.

“Our organization is growing … and we want to invest in Parkersburg,” Read said, adding that the proposal could benefit the city by addressing its affordable housing shortage and contributing to economic growth.

Another bid of $125,000 was received from Douglas and Sherry West of West Development LLC. Their application says they would maintain the property as a green space while marketing it as a commercial property, with a focus on national restaurant chains. West is a licensed Realtor and they own other rental property in the city.

John Bosley Jr., co-owner of multiple area businesses including J.C. Bosley Construction Inc., submitted a bid of $150,000 for the property, which he said he would market for a restaurant, gas station or commercial establishment.

West and Bosley did not immediately return calls seeking comment Friday afternoon.

The URA agenda also includes another item from the May 28 meeting, with Virginia resident Vladimir Guevara again offering to purchase 702 13th St. The authority rejected his offer of $2,100 on a 5-2 vote at the previous meeting, but he has raised his offer to $5,000 and told members he will live with a relative until he rehabilitates the structure there, for which he expects to spend approximately $30,000.

Two bids have been received that include a 3,150-square-foot vacant lot at 910 29th St.

Shawn Miller offered $1,000 for the property to be used as a yard extension. Levin Fordyce offered $5,000 for three parcels that include that site and 912 29th St., with plans to develop “two or three duplexes” on the property, with approximately $480,000 budgeted for the project.

Other new items on the agenda include:

* An application by Clarence A. Wires Jr. and Ruth E. Mitchell to purchase a 3,000-square-foot vacant lot at 1118 Lynn St. to use as a yard extension for their adjacent property.

* An application from Paige Adams to purchase a 2,000-square-foot vacant lot at 1110 E. 12th St. for $200 to use as a yard extension.

* An application from Omar Guevara Osinaga to purchase a 3,700-square-foot vacant lot at 813 16th St. for $2,000 and build a 24-by-40-foot home there with required off-street parking.

* An application from Jeffery Burge, of Alaro LLC, to purchase a 5,400-square-foot vacant lot at 1335 Latrobe St. for $400 to use for a yard extension and off-street parking.

* Applications from Lamar Oil & Gas to donate a vacant 5,000-square-foot lot at 910 15th St. and a 3,700-square-foot vacant lot at 604 John St. to the authority.

* An application from Westwood Land Company to donate a 3,600-square-foot vacant lot at 1900 Market St.

* An application from Richard Sams and Martha Cochran to donate a 4,200-square-foot property at 1303 Highland Ave. The house on the site was recommended for demolition by the city’s Building Enforcement Agency.

* An application from Marlon and Ruth Williams to donate a 3,105-square-foot property at 416 12th St. It was also recommended for demolition by the BEA.

The regular council agenda includes the following items:

* The final reading of an ordinance mandating that police and firefighter holiday pay cover a full shift, even if it doesn’t all fall on the calendar date of the holiday and that they will be compensated at the rate of time-and-a-half on the next paycheck instead of receiving time off, whether they worked the holiday or it was on their scheduled day off. City officials say this will comply with changes in state law, but the president of International Association of Firefighters Local 91 has argued that paying those who work and those who are off the same amount results in those who were off earning more. He also said the holiday pay should be on top of their regular rate.

* The final reading of an ordinance making the fire inspector an appointed, 40-hour-a-week position paid at the same rate as the firefighter’s rank.

* The final reading of an ordinance authorizing budgeted pay increases of 4.2% for firefighters, like other non-civil service, unelected municipal employees, and $6,000 a year for police officers.

* The final reading of an ordinance authorizing the finance director to conduct an online auction.

* A resolution reappointing Mike Evans to the Parkersburg Utility Board.

* A resolution authorizing American Legion Post 15 to hold its annual Fourth of July carnival at City Park in 2025, 2026 and 2027.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com