The Woodlands: A Jobs Gateway

The Woodlands, located on Beckley's east side, consists of two business/industrial/technology parks with well over 1,000 acres of developable property; government facilities; recreational facilities and a site for educational operations. A total of $26.8 million is currently available for projects located within the Woodlands.

Pinecrest Business & Technology Park

The first section of the Beckley Bypass was finished in 2004. The road, when completed, will link I-64 with Corridor L. The first section created a divided highway access road into Pinecrest Park which provides immediate access to the interstate system.

Raleigh County Memorial Airport Industrial Park

The Airport Authority has secured funding to develop approximately 325 additional acres at the Park. Contracts have been awarded and construction will begin in 2005.

Beckley Higher Education Center

This state-of-the-art facility will house most public higher education offerings in the Beckley area. The Center will be located between exits 124 and 125 of I-64. Site preparation is nearing completion on the 33 acre parcel and construction documents have been developed for the 67,000 square foot facility.

Neville Street Project

More than $2.5 million has been secured to renovate six buildings in downtown Beckley. These structures front on Neville Street and the backs form the front yard of the Robert C. Byrd Federal Building. Final architectural design for the Covey and Thrifty buildings are being evaluated and construction documents should be ready by mid-June.

Beckley Inter-modal Gateway (BIG Project)

Plans for the BIG project include construction of a three-level underground parking facility at the former Lewis Chevrolet site. The site will also include a new city hall, city bus service, a cultural center to seat 400 and a farmers market.

Beckley Beltway

The business community supports construction of a road known as the Beckley Beltway to connect I-77 near Tamarack to I-64 at the Piney Bridge. Funding is being pursued.

Coalfields Expressway

Construction is underway for the first section of the expressway. Beginning at Sophia, Raleigh County, West Virginia, the road will extend to Pound, Wise County, Virginia.

Arts Center

Remodeling design plans are being finalized for the Memorial Building to be used to house the Arts Association.

Connected Technologies Corridors

Plans are being developed to construct a 20,000 square foot technology building at Pinecrest Park in which to house high technology operations. This project is part of the I-64 Technology Corridor initiative, a component of the Connected Technologies Corridors.

Cranberry Plaza

Cranberry Plaza is under construction and announcements have been made for location of the following retail operations.

• Lowe's-Beckley became the largest in the state when it expanded to Cranberry Creek


• Sam's Club opened for business during the holiday season 2004.


• Goody's grand opening was held in spring 2005.
  
• Bellacino's restaurant
  
• E. B. Games
  
• Simply A Dollar
  
• Shoe Carnival
  
• Household Financial
  
• Hallmark
  
• Maurice's Ladies and Men's Clothing
  
• Chick-Fil-A
  
• Logan's Roadhouse
  
• O'Charley's restaurant
  
• Starbucks
  
• DFW (Designer Furniture Warehouse)
  
• Pet Supplies Plus
  
• Mountains of Memories
  
• Birkenstock
  
• Radio Shack
  
• Uniforms Plus
  
• Fashion Bug
  
• Cheap Thrills
  
• Kohl's
  
• Marquee Cinemas is a 14-screen, megaplex movie theater
  

Wal-Mart

Wal-Mart opened a second store in the Beckley area in May 2005. The new facility, a 207,000 square foot building, is located in MacArthur.

Harper Road

The two newest additions to Harper Road development include:

• Ruby Tuesdays
  
• Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites