The city of Beckley may one day own the deed to the former WJLS building located along Main Street in uptown Beckley.
During a special workshop meeting of the Beckley Common Council on Tuesday, January 18, Raleigh County businessman and president of Harper Rentals, Matthew Bickey, officially offered the property as a donation to the city of Beckley.
“The thought first crossed my mind back in May,” Bickey said of his decision to make the offer, adding that it’s in his best financial interest to let the building go.
“The issue is, it’s been for rent or for sale since 2016 or 17,” Bickey said. “I am talking specifically the space where WJLS was, and it’s been no takers ever for rent on that space.”
The 13,389 sq. ft. building contains four storefronts, with an additional space available that once housed a barbershop,” Bickey said. Two of those storefronts are currently vacant. It also contains the large office space where WJLS had been located.
He explained that the roof on the building is leaking, and that estimates to have the roof replaced range from $120,000-$160,000. It would take 4-6 months to have the roof replaced due to supply chain issues.
“So, with that in mind, I just started thinking maybe we should proceed to gift the building to the city with the knowledge that it does need a roof,” Bickey said.
“The building is older so there may be some other issues,” he added, noting that he has had problems with freezing pipes in the winter, but is countering that this year with space heaters.
The building is currently drawing $2,930 each month from two renters, which makes the property “cash positive,” Bickey continued. Utility bills, due to the vacancies, amount to $590 a month, however, renters pay their own individually metered power bills.
The building is insured for $750,000 cash value, Bickey noted. He believes the fully rented market value on the building would be around $629,000.
In response to a question from Councilmember Tom Sopher about the danger of the roof, Bickey responded “we haven’t had any structural compromises. It’s just got a lot of leaks in it.”
“The thing is, there are significant enough leaks that it would, you know, be worrisome–water falling onto a computer or something like that,” Bickey said.
Councilmember Cody Reedy questioned Bickey on the WJLS towers that are still located on top of the building.
Bickey stated that part of the property transfer agreement with the city would be allowing those towers/devices to stay, since they are still being used by WJLS.
It would “take a small fortune” to relocate those towers to the Bickey and Bair Building, where WJLS is now housed, he said.
Additionally, he said that the building is structurally sound, constructed out of “old school” sheetrock, with supporting structures.
Another option for Bickey, if the city decides not to take the property, would be demolition, which has been estimated to only cost $68,000.
“I don’t want to do that, but if we are forced to keep it, I am not putting that roof on,” Bickey said. To finance the cost for roof replacement, it would total about $900 a month.
“So, I mean we would have to explore other options,” he said.
Beckley Mayor Rob Rappold added that local business incubators may have an interest in helping finance small business start-ups in the old WJLS building should the city acquire it.
“This is not dissimilar to what we are doing with…Fruits of Labor,” Rappold said.
The city agreed to purchase the old Zen’s building along Neville Street last summer and lease it to Fruits of Labor CEO Tammy Jordan. Back in June, Rappold referred to that agreement as a way to promote downtown economic revitalization.
“These people are industrious. They are smart and, a lot of times, they just need that little boost to help them defray the start-up expenses,” Rappold said, adding that the Country Roads Angel Network has already loaned $410,000 to several different Beckley area businesses to help them get started.
“So, that’s all in the back of my mind,” Rappold said. “I think it’s a chance for the city to do something meaningful to keep downtown and that great portion of Main Street vibrant and position it for the future.”
No vote is allowed to take place during a workshop meeting, although councilmembers, including Sopher, Sherrie Hunter and Robert Dunlap, expressed their appreciation of the Bickey family and of the possibility of a property transfer. City Attorney William File stated that the transfer of the property will need to go through an ordinance, complete with two readings and a public hearing to make the transfer official.
The matter will continue to be discussed at future common council meetings.
