The Highlands Looks To Fill Vacancies This Summer
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As the temperatures rise this summer, the Ohio County Development Authority hopes to present vacant spaces there as hot properties to prospective tenants.
Tops on the availability list are two larger properties -- the West Liberty University space at The Highlands Center, and the building that housed the former AT&T call center.
Attention in the coming weeks is likely to focus on those buildings, while in past months activity at The Highlands Sports Complex has been the focal point.
"The summer is slow at the Sports Complex after school lets out," said Ohio County Commissioner Randy Wharton, also OCDA president. "It's when people are on vacation. They are trying to get landscaping done.
"We are working on getting new tenants, and formulating tenant buildout."
He acknowledged there is a need to "backfill the ATT space," though the building isn't completely vacant yet.
AT&T revealed last month it was moving its call center operations out of the building, and that remaining employees would be working from home.
"There had been some interest in the building prior to their announcement, but they haven't vacated yet," Wharton said. "They are expected to be there until June 30, and may stay a little longer. We're working with them until we can get somebody in and transition."
There also have been some inquiries for the former WLU space, he continued.
"Our people are working through the inquiries to find fit," Wharton said.
He explained that a "back office" or administrative offices would probably be the best tenant for the former WLU space, but that the OCDA is willing to consider most any option.
The OCDA also continues to consider a proposed master plan to transform the look of The Highlands. That master plan has been put forth by the Bohler company in Pittsburgh.
The plan includes proposed changes to entryway signage, construction of a gathering spot, landscaping and placement of both pedestrian and bicycle paths.
"A lot of the things in that report we already knew (needed changed), and a lot was new to us," Wharton said. "We're taking a look at that and we'll see how we want to move forward."