Parkersburg Development Director Ryan Barber responds to questions from council during the Urban Renewal Authority meeting on Tuesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

PARKERSBURG — The Urban Renewal Authority met after an eventful Parkersburg City Council meeting in council chambers Tuesday night.

The URA sold two properties and approved an extension date for construction on a property that had been purchased Feb. 28, 2023.

The parcel on 915 26th St. was purchased by Dennis Workman in 2023 under a deal that included a revisionary clause should construction not be started within two years. Workman had requested an extension due to the status of his health, financial changes and foundation on the site that hadn’t been fully removed.

“COVID hit, and he had other health issues, and there were other problems with the property which we didn’t know about,” said Councilwoman Sharon Kuhl.

A two-year extension for the reversionary clause passed in unanimous vote.

Parkersburg resident Shawn Cox tells members on the Urban Renewal Authority he wishes to purchase 639 Madison Ave. as a yard extension on Tuesday. (Photo by Amber Phipps)

Jeff Morris with Land Shark Investments LLC asked the URA to purchase 800-802 Seventh St. for no less than $100,000. He said it was “the lowest he would accept.”

The fair market value of the property was priced at $55,000.

Kuhl said there are a lot of reasons the URA would purchase a property for more than the fair market value. She cited the potential the property has for incoming businesses, saying it would eliminate problems with drugs or homelessness in the area by supplying job opportunities for people nearby.

Kuhl had made a motion to purchase the property at the asking price but Councilman Andrew Borkowski made a motion to amend it to $55,000.

“I go back to this every time, what is best for the City of Parkersburg? What is best for the citizens of Parkersburg? And what is best for the safety of Parkersburg?” said Kuhl. “If we buy that property, we have to think about what businesses we can get there.”

Councilwoman Wendy Tuck said if the appraisers set the value at $55,000 then she was OK with honoring that amount.

Borkowski’s amendment won 5-2 with Kuhl and Councilman Zak Huffman against the motion and Councilman Dave McCrady and council President Mike Reynolds absent.

Morris declined the offer of $55,000.

The URA sold a parcel at 639 Madison Ave. to resident Shawn Cox for his bid price of $2,000. Cox told council he had already been maintaining the lot for the past few years and figured he might as well purchase it because of how much time and money he’s invested.

“I was planning on fencing it in,” he said, adding he’s paid to remove trees and maintain the area over the years.

The URA also sold a parcel at 4106 14th Ave. for the bid price of $3,000 to Brigette Williams and her husband.

The couple said they had been maintaining the land for a few years now and decided to purchase the property as a yard extension.

With no discussion from council, it was approved in a unanimous vote.

According to the URA planning report for the year, there were 31 properties acquired by the authority with 14 properties it owned approved for sale.

There were four properties donated to the URA in 2025.

Amber Phipps can be reached at aphipps@newsandsentinel.com