MARTINSBURG, W.Va. — As the Monument Company works to transform an historic woolen mill in downtown Martinsburg into apartments, Martinsburg City Manager Andy Blake talked about a major part of the storm water project that the Monument company is taking on:

He says the sewer line project will take some time:

In December, Manager Blake laid out the details of the storm water project and how it can relieve some of the city’s storm water concerns:

Blake was asked who will be paying for the storm water project, which he estimated would cost about $5 million.

During that appearance, Blake talked about why the city has to comply with the EPA’s clean water standards or face fines:

 

Martinsburg Mayor Kevin Knowles talked about the efforts that are leading to the revitalization of the former Interwoven Mill and Perfection Garment Company sites, which span around 8 acres in downtown Martinsburg:

The two said the Monument Company will be offering the new apartment space up to tenants soon:

Back in 2021, the state of West Virginia’s official Website laid out details regarding the project, which has been estimated to cost between $80 and $100 million dollars by the time it’s finished.

“The resulting project will be a mixed-use, historically-sensitive development of approximately 370,000 square feet to deliver in three phases. Over time, this $80 million project will yield over 5,000 square feet of new commercial space and approximately 387 market-rate residential units in the urban core of Martinsburg.”
That announcement credited Mayor Knowles with saying, “For many years, these garment mills drove Martinsburg’s economy. But times change, and these long-vacant sites have been trouble spots for Martinsburg that the City Council, staff, and I have worked hard to address.”
“The City is pleased to work with a development team of Monument’s experience and capacity to revitalize these important sites in our community,” Knowles is quoted as saying. “This project will be transformative. I thank Monument for its investment and City Council, Martinsburg’s staff, and our many partners for making this project happen.”

Another announcement from the City of Martinsburg talked about the work that began in 2021.

Site of the former Interwoven Mills in Martinsburg (Photo: City of Martinsburg)

 

“The project will occur in three phases, delivering approximately 5,000 square feet of new commercial space and 387 market-rate units in the urban core of Martinsburg.”

The Interwoven Mill Property comprises approximately 7.2 acres of former industrial lands, including multiple buildings, midway between Interstate 81 and Martinsburg’s historic downtown, according to the initial announcement. “This privately owned property is a redevelopment priority in the City of Martinsburg, which has worked diligently with the owner to conduct appropriate environmental assessments, site feasibility studies, and cost estimates in order to catalyze and plan for appropriate future uses of the site.”

The city released details of the project and the history of the property.

Mayor Kevin Knowles and City Manager Andy Blake were recent guests on Panhandle Live, heard weekday mornings on the Panhandle News Network.