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MORGANTOWN - During its most recent regular meeting, the Morgantown Land Reuse & Preservation Agency approved the receipt of six parcels through its property donation program.
Five of the parcels were donated by the estate of Harold Berthy. They include four parcels in the Greenmont neighborhood, three of which are along Brockway Avenue.
Two of the Brockway properties sit adjacent to one another across from the Brockway Avenue intersection with Arlington Street. Combined, the parcels cover 4,100 square feet. As of the 2026 tax year, the vacant parcels, listed as 611 and 619 Brockway Ave., had appraised values of $42,100 and $44,700.
It was recommended that the agency accept and hold the parcels for future consideration as part of its ongoing efforts in lower Greenmont.
The donation also includes a vacant 930-square-foot parcel near the intersection of Pennsylvania and Brockway avenues appraised at $16,800.
Likewise, it was recommended the agency accept and hold the parcel "because of its location, nonconforming status, difficulties associated with potential development at the site, and its proximity to the proposed greenspace and area of interest in the lower Greenmont neighborhood."
Moving a short distance to Clark Street, the agency accepted a 1,580-square-foot parcel listed as 565 Clark St. The site previously housed a single-family dwelling that was demolished earlier this year. It was recommended that the parcel, appraised at $40,500 be accepted and placed in the agency's side lot program, which aims to place parcels challenged by size, location and/or zoning regulations under the ownership and care of a neighboring property owner.
The final property donated by the Berthy estate is located at 1996 Listravia Ave. in Sabraton.
The roughly 1,600-square-foot property was last appraised at $7,300.
It was recommended that the agency accept and hold the property as it is adjacent to a maintained right of way, may be difficult to develop given the small lot size, and not adjacent to an owner-occupied dwelling.
Per the recommendation of city staff, "Holding the property could be beneficial in the case of future improvements to the right of way or adjacent ‘Welcome to Morgantown’ sign/gateway located nearby along WV 7.”
In addition to the Berthy properties, the agency took receipt of a 2,096 parcel at 341 Reay Alley donated by Jonathan Ames.
In return, the city was asked to waive vacant structure fees associated with the property. The site previously held a single-family structure which was demolished earlier this year.
Given the nature of the small, non-conforming lot and potential difficulties in redeveloping a lot of that size, it was recommended that the parcel be accepted by the agency and placed in its side lot program with the condition that no additional liens, encumbrances or defects are identified upon the completion of a title opinion.
The county parcel viewer lists the appraised value of the land at $52,300.