The Register-Herald, Beckley, West Virginia

Local News

February 4, 2010

Deadline for Tamarack land proposals March 19

By Mannix Porterfield

CHARLESTON — Developers face a March 19 deadline for making offers to lease, or potentially buy, 80 acres of land around Tamarack in Beckley.

And one key attraction the West Virginia Parkways Authority is using as a magnet for proposals is the planned Boy Scout center in Fayette County.

A special color-coded map is being drawn up by the authority’s engineer firm, HNTB, to help developers get a better idea of what the property entails.

“We’re highlighting the developable property around Tamarack to get a better look at what they’re going to be submitting proposals on,” turnpike manager Greg Barr told the board in Thursday’s meeting.

One page of the map is devoted to the scouting center, envisioned on property at Garden Grounds near Mount Hope.

“We want to make sure that the Boy Scouts adventure camp and all the investment taking place is highlighted for developers to see,” Barr said.

One idea is to entice a well known hotel company to build alongside Tamarack so the conference center gets more use.

In turn, that could boost Tamarack’s revenues, since once it becomes a break-even proposition, the facility can be turned over to the Department of Commerce.

With an anticipated swell of visitors prompted by the Boy Scout facility, Barr said there would be a dramatic need for more rooms and overnight stays, given the families and year-round events that would attract them.

“There’s going to be an increased hotel capacity in the Beckley area because of that,” he said.

“Hopefully, that will pique the developers’ interest.”

Barr intends to send mailings to at least 70 outfits from coast to coast in a proposal form drawn up by the Public Resources Advisory Group.

“The developing community is aware of what’s out there,” Barr said.

“Hopefully, there will even be a few more.”

Once proposals are in, a review committee will pore over them and produce a short list, after which the authority will conduct interviews.

“It’s about ready to break loose,” Barr said.

While the emphasis has been on leasing the 80 acres at Tamarack, Barr suggested a developer could wind up owning it.

“It could end up being a sale,” he said. “That’s still to be determined.”

— E-mail: mannix@register-herald.com

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