Revitalization
The fountain in Pullman Square. Photo by Huntington Area CVB.
The sense of acceptance and community that is driving Hun-
tington’s recovery efforts easily lends itself to creative placemak-
ing and rebranding. Huntington is not just a place for those in
recovery to seek shelter from the storm but a city committed
to inclusivity where everyone is welcome and encouraged to
make it a destination—or even a home. The sense of openness
can be seen and felt throughout the city, especially in the bus-
tling downtown where revitalization efforts have transformed
vacant storefronts and empty buildings into a diverse collec-
tion of shops, restaurants and entertainment establishments.
According to the West Virginia Secretary of State’s Office,
464 new businesses opened in Cabell County in 2018, a
7.5 percent increase. While the City of Huntington’s three
primary sources of business revenue—business and occupation
taxes, sales tax and city service fees—generated $27.1 million
in fiscal year (FY) 2016 and $27.9 million in the last FY, it is
currently on pace to surpass $28.3 million in the current FY,
demonstrating continued growth.
Huntington’s hub of independently owned shops and restau-
rants has created spaces for people to connect, socialize or
conduct business and is driving people to spend more time
downtown. Developing a unique restaurant culture not only
serves as a tourism hook for Huntington but an advantage for
other industries as well.
“As a chamber, we are cutting more ribbons now,” says
Bill Bissett, president and CEO of the Huntington Regional
Chamber of Commerce. “Commerce tends to happen over a
meal, over a drink, over dinner. Having that muscle of a very
strong restaurant culture helps us with economic development.”
The uptick in the number of small, locally owned businesses
has renewed interest in living and working downtown, par-
ticularly for young people. While this transition has opened
doors for renovation and remodeling opportunities in housing,
it has also spurred the renovation of office spaces and profes-
sional buildings.
“Buildings downtown quickly move from empty storefronts
to viable spaces for business,” says Bissett. “We see some of
these wonderful older buildings become new modern offices
while still retaining that original character. Remodeling a
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building is a risk but a risk that is taken by someone who
believes in the reward, the long-term commitment and the
city. Younger leadership in our business community is bor-
rowing money, taking risks and believing there is long-term
opportunity here.”
Margaret Mary Layne, CEO of Layne Consulting LLC and
former Huntington city planner, says she first started noticing
this exciting energy about a decade ago.
“About 10 years ago, there began to be a new energy in Hun-
tington that was pretty exciting to me as a Baby Boomer,” she
says. “I saw young people stepping up, identifying things they
wanted to work on and getting involved.”
Layne believes the most exciting attribute of the young people
assuming leadership and moving into downtown Huntington is
their interest in the social well-being of the community. “We are
in a huge time of transition, and we have this group of people
coming up that seems to be working for something that is not
just money,” she says. “They want to work for something that
makes their community better.”
Many of these young people are products of Marshall
University, an undeniable economic driver for Huntington.
The university’s new pharmacy school building and graduate
student housing complex are under construction on the Joan
C. Edwards School of Medicine campus near CHH, which
will be a significant enhancement to the Fairfield community.
The academic building will be three floors and include state-
of-the-art studio classrooms, and the complementary graduate
student housing will be four floors with 200 units.
“These new buildings will provide a fantastic environment
for learning, living and service right next to an already exist-
ing center of contemporary patient care,” says Gayle Brazeau,
Ph.D., dean of the pharmacy school. “Our students and faculty
will be able to work more closely with the Fairfield community
through cultural and educational events, and the addition of
more students and faculty and staff members will support
current and new businesses in the area.”
A rendering of the new graduate
student housing complex.
Photo by Marshall University
School of Pharmacy.
While Marshall has always been an economic engine for the
region, Bissett believes there has been a more concerted effort
under President Jerome Gilbert’s administration.
“Not every region has a Division I university in its back-
yard,” says Bissett. “Under the leadership of President Gilbert
and his staff, we’re seeing a much bigger focus on being a
business incubator and a thought leader in entrepreneurship.”
The visual reminders of revitalization in Huntington are
everywhere with the renovation of the Big Sandy Superstore