Share your thoughts and concerns on local growth with theStubblefield Institute for Civil Political Communications at Shepherd University. Read the Full Story >>
housing
Housing Construction Grows In Jefferson County
When The Observer looked at Jefferson County home construction trends in May of 2021, the County’s Office of Impact Fees reported that 149 residential building permits had been issued countywide during the first three months of 2021. The numbers for the full year were even more impressive, as numbers for single family and townhouse construction were double the annual rate seen in the past decade. Read the Full Story >>
Census Numbers Drive Redistricting
According to the 2020 Census results, West Virginia is a lot less crowded than it was a decade ago. With an overall drop of over 59,000 residents since 2010 (a 3.3% decrease), the state’s population decline stands out even from the other two states to lose population over the past decade, Mississippi (down 0.2%) and Illinois (down 0.1%). However, the story is a bit different in the Eastern Panhandle. Read the Full Story >>
Zoning Changes Coming to Kearneysville
On April 15, Jefferson Orchards Inc. (JOI), applied to the Jefferson County Commission to change the zoning designation for the old Miller Orchard and a second, adjacent property located to the northeast of Kearneysville. The two parcels (240+ acres) are currently in the rural zone. Read the Full Story >>
Expecting Change
Many of us can remember being told by our parents to carry some change in our pockets to call home when we were ready for a pick up — at least until we were old enough to get a driver’s license (and a job to pay for gas). Read the Full Story >>
Housing Trends Indicate Growth In Jefferson County
Jefferson County has seen a steady pace of new home construction since the recovery after the 2008 recession. Permit numbers for the first few months of 2021 indicate a significant increase in construction may be coming. Read the Full Story >>
Affordable Housing Through a Different Lens
Since the 1980s, housing has ballooned in square footage. For growing families, the standard 2,200-square-foot house may be a necessity for now. However, that range is pricing many locals out of affordable options. That’s where tiny home communities can offer unique housing solutions. Read the Full Story >>
First Cohousing Community in WV Takes Shape in Shepherdstown
Shepherd Village, the first cohousing community development in West Virginia, is continuing to make progress, and ground will hopefully be broken sometime in 2017. Read the Full Story >>