MORGANTOWN – “We need some collaborative wins,” former Morgantown Mayor Ron Dulaney said in November 2020.
Dulaney’s comments were an expression of optimism as Morgantown City Council, the Monongalia County Commission and WVU signed collaboration agreements in support of the Monongalia County Development Authority’s vision of turning 10 acres of old homes used as student rentals along Richwood Avenue into a vibrant mix of new housing and retail space.
Now nearly six years into the project, with no development in place and questions mounting about both the financing of the project and the relationship between the MCDA and David Biafora, the project’s master developer, the long-term goal of a collaborative win has been temporarily replaced with a short-term desire for answers.
To that end, the Monongalia County Commission has reached out to the various stakeholders for a work session to be held following the commission’s upcoming Wednesday meeting.
It’s expected the meeting will be held in executive session.
“This meeting is to bring all key stakeholders together in the same room at the same time to discuss the East End Development Project, identify and address any outstanding issues, and explore opportunities to move the project forward in a collaborative manner,” Commissioner Sean Sikora said in the email invitation.
In addition to the county commission and staff, Morgantown City Manager Jamie Miller has been invited; as has Russ Rogerson and Rocky Gianola representing MCDA; Biafora and Mark Kepple representing the developer; and Robert Shuman.
Asked about the purpose of the meeting, Commission President Tom Bloom said a primary goal is to get the MCDA and Biafora in a room together.
Last month, Rogerson, president and CEO of the MCDA, said the agreement between the development authority and Biafora had expired and the parties were making “a good faith effort” to get an extension in place, noting, “There’s a lot of moving parts.”
In terms of financing, the 2020 purchase of the Richwood redevelopment property for $11.8 million has strained the development authority for years.
In February 2024, it was noted the MCDA had been in a “very precarious financial position for the past year or more.”
Months later, the city and county put up a combined $1 million to be held in reserve as the backstop for a refinancing package being sought by the MCDA.
In June, Rogerson confirmed that the $1 million reserve is currently being utilized to make loan payments while further refinancing is sought.
Meanwhile James Giuliani, the individual from whom the property was purchased, has said he’s still owed more than $2 million and he intends to enforce the Oct. 1 deadline for payment.
The county commission isn’t the only group seeking clarity on where the project stands.
Next week’s work session follows an executive session meeting earlier this week between Morgantown City Council and Rogerson.
“I look forward to engaging more in the Richwood project and hope that through partnership and transparency we can get this project back on track,” Deputy Mayor Mark Downs said. “But time is working against us.”
