A vacant lot at 1301 Avery St. is seen Wednesday. The Parkersburg Urban Renewal Authority took no action Tuesday on an offer to buy the property for $8,088.88. (Photo by Evan Bevins)

PARKERSBURG — The city’s Urban Renewal Authority took no action on an offer to purchase the former site of a church for just under $8,100, with members citing the city’s investment of approximately $139,000.

The authority, consisting of all nine Parkersburg City Council members, voted in 2024 to acquire 1301 Avery St. via eminent domain for $25,000. The building at the site was a former church that stood for nearly 120 years and had fallen into disrepair. According to a memo with the meeting agenda, the city spent $114,000 to demolish the structure.

Parkersburg resident Ray Vannoy said the bid of $8,088.88 by Robert Shaffer was not enough. He noted Shaffer’s proposal to have the site rezoned and market it for a business to purchase.

“Why don’t we do that instead of us taking a $126,000 loss?” he said.

Shaffer pointed out that he’s the only person to make an offer on the property.

“I don’t think anybody’s going to pay $125,000 for that lot,” he said.

Some council members felt the offer was too low, including Councilman Chris Rexroad, who said, “$135,000 is an awful lot for an $8,000 bid.”

URA Chairwoman Sharon Kuhl said the city’s Development Department and Wood County Economic Development could help the city market the property.

No one made a motion to take action on the bid.

The authority voted 8-0, with Councilman Mike Reynolds absent, to approve the sale of a lot at 1107 Pike St. to Jason Cottrille for $500.

Officials said the lot floods and doesn’t have much value for redevelopment.

“Typically, I would like to recoup a little more on the investment, but since it is a property adjacent owner and the amount of time he has maintained the property, I would be in favor to accept his bid,” Councilman Andrew Borkowski said.

Kuhl commended Cottrille for maintaining the lot, even though he didn’t own it.

“I know you mowed that,” she said. “I know you cleaned it up from what it was. … Thank you for saving the city a little bit of money.”

At the start of the meeting, Kuhl outlined priorities she’d like the authority to pursue in 2026, including working together for the betterment of the city, concentrating on the corridor from Seventh Street to downtown and deciding whether to continue under a URA format or consider switching to a land reuse agency.

Fourth, she said, “I would like for URA to work this year on building two new houses in the City of Parkersburg.”

Members unanimously voted to go into a closed executive session, with Kuhl citing the open meeting law exemption regarding the purchase, sale or lease of property. No decision was made, she said afterward, and the authority voted to adjourn.

Staff Reporter Brett Dunlap contributed to this story.

Evan Bevins can be reached at ebevins@newsandsentinel.com.