Vandalia Heritage Foundation

Programs: Thomas revitalization initiative - since its inception in 1998, vandalia has focused a significant amount of resources toward revitalizing the historic mountain community of thomas, wv with a population under 1,000. Some original structures remain from thomas' 1900's "hey day" as a mining and railroad town--featuring many immigrant-owned businesses--many of which were vacant when vandalia first became involved in an ongoing effort to preserve, stabilize and restore the 1902 cottrill's opera house. Subsequently, vandalia identified three key historic buildings needing attention, two located in the historic commercial district facing the blackwater river and trail, and one of the area's most prominent examples of early 1900's commercial structures, the buxton & landstreet building (originally the mine company store). Following 15+ years of investment that enabled vandalia to preserve, renovate and adaptively reuse these properties as mixed use rentals, spurring additional (outside and local) investment, vandalia has experienced cycles of full occupancy vs. Vacancy. While vandalia has strived to keep rental space affordable for small businesses and residents, these properties still have debt, and are assessed local real estate taxes even while they support vandalia's charitable purpose mission and some tenants have been other non-profits. While thomas is now thriving as a small arts community and its revitalization continues, vandalia must be agile to avoid a reverse effect in a seasonal, fragile economy based on cultural heritage tourism and performing and visual arts. Vandalia continues to invest in maintenance, improvements and alterations to its own properties, and has continued to expand arts-based community and economic development through the buxton & landstreet gallery and studios, providing spaces where artists can teach courses in various disciplines and hone their own craft. The gallery offers a retail venue for artisans to showcase their work. Artisan studios (initially renovated by vandalia in 2004-05) in another property have been converted into affordable residential studios, attracting artists and others as "live-work" space. The thomas revitalization initiative continues with vandalia making plans for additional (re)investment in the local area.

wheeling neighborhood revitalization - this combines three distinct neighborhoods and historic property portfolios in wheeling: 1) north wheeling, home to victorian wheeling landmarks, acquired in 2008; 2) 12th street, home to churchfield (five victorian apartment buildings acquired in 2001; and 3) east wheeling, specifically 15th and wood streets, where vhf undertook a neighborhood stabilization project (nsp) in partnership with its sister non-profit, vandalia redevelopment corp. The first two areas were blocks of originally single family residences on main/market and 12th streets were converted to primarily multi-family rental residences, two with limited commercial space. Two save america's treasures properties formerly used as tour houses by a predecessor non-profit were renovated and one converted back to single family, while the other serves as vandalia's wheeling office and rental apartments. Where possible, vandalia has encouraged additional investment by residents who wanted to acquire properties and convert them back to single family use. Churchfield represents vandalia's first affordable housing project, which entailed preserving and rehabilitating 23 affordable rental units. In east wheeling, vandalia manages and leases two new historically compatible in-fill, 12-unit apartment buildings constructed by vrc, which have 20-year affordability restrictions, and is also currently renovating two adjacent historic buildings as part of its nsp plan. This will create five additional (affordable) units, further stabilizing this formerly blighted historic neighborhood that now features a city-owned soccer field complex across the street. Vandalia continues to maintain the wheeling properties in the face of ongoing economic challenges, keeping its commitment to preserve wheeling's historic neighborhoods and provide quality affordable housing.

cnri (fairmont) and grafton b&o redevelopment - in 2001, vhf established its community & neighborhood revitalization initiative (cnri) to aid the historic fleming-watson neighborhood which contained architecturally and historically important housing stock, but had suffered from absentee owners and poor conversions to apartment buildings. Through cnri, vandalia acquired multiple single and multi-family properties and renovated one as its headquarters, housing a preservation resource center therein. Additionally, vandalia constructed two new single family residences and acquired another "at risk" property, all of which it rents as single family residences with options for home ownership. In grafton, vandalia commenced yet another phase of improving the former b&o railroad station, which includes a usda-funded kitchen project intended to increase economic viability of the 1909 train depot and provide new opportunities for rural small businesses. This project, along with the preserved and mothballed former willard hotel adjacent to the train station, represents a pivotal historic landmark and hope for better economic times in this small railroad community. The grafton b&o redevelopment represents vandalia's first and often most challenging preservation initiative some 17 years later.

various other development programs