Gilmer County now has a new housing development thanks to several local residents who want their community to have more housing options. Ground has been broken on the Rivers View Subdivision near Duck Run on Route Five just outside of Glenville. The groundbreaking ceremony took place on Friday afternoon, June 6, 2008. “This will provide more choices for quality affordable housing especially for those who commute thirty to sixty miles from other counties to their jobs in Glenville including Glenville State College and FCI Gilmer. The public-private partnership will result in more quality affordable housing being built, increase the number of residents in the area, and improve the county’s economy,” said Glenville State College President Peter Barr.

Project Manager Tom Ratliff says the subdivision will include twenty single family homes and two four-unit buildings of town houses. “We have partnered with New Horizon Homes of Summersville for the homes in the subdivision. We closed on the first house this morning, and two more lots were sold, so three homes will be going up in the next six to eight weeks,” said Ratliff.

The project turned from a dream into reality thanks to the members of the Gilmer Housing Partners. Local residents Ike Morris and Bob Jones and Rockwell Resources (Mack Worl, Craig Worl, and Marci Kirchberg) together donated the twenty-three acres of land for the project. Nine 25-thousand dollar donations were contributed by Morris, Jones, and Rockwell Resources as well as Terry Butcher, Peter and Betsy Barr, Ron and Gina Stalnaker, Greg Smith, Dr. John Westfall, and Shelly DeMarino and Doug Morris. The funds are being used as a ‘safety net’ investment for the project. “Where else would nine donations of money be given by people who know the only profit they’ll make on their investments is the improvement of their community. This shows the true spirit of folks in Glenville, Gilmer County, and West Virginia,” said Barr.

“This is a wonderful day for the future of Gilmer County. This project is very important because this community needs more housing,” said Ike Morris.

Several people attended the groundbreaking ceremony including representatives from the West Virginia Housing Department and Governor Joe Manchin’s office. For more information on the River View Subdivision, contact Ratliff at (304) 462-7361 x7524.