Over the past thirty years the City of Morgantown has been experiencing a residential transformation. The expansion of West Virginia University enrollment has placed significant pressure on the existing housing market. Despite the large number of apartment complexes that have been developed outside the city limits within the past thirty years, the demand for housing near campus continues. As student housing demand increases, neighborhoods near the traditional student housing sections have been experiencing the encroachment of student rental housing. Many streets in such areas as Wiles Hill/Highland Park, Woodburn, Evansdale, Jerome Park, and Greenmont have all experienced a transformation from predominantly single family owner-occupied living to as much as 20% to 50% student rental living. This change has altered the complexion and make-up of the city. As a result, some neighborhoods have lost their family-oriented character, have reduced in value, and have deteriorated in terms of quality and character.
In response to this crisis, The Fairmont/Morgantown Housing Authority (FMHA) created the Morgantown Homeownership Preservation Initiative in 2005. This program facilitates the purchase, rehabilitation and resale of dwellings in targeted areas, in an effort to increase the mix of owner-occupied housing and to improve housing quality. Properties are acquired on the open market by the Housing Authority, who then improves the property. These properties are then sold to persons committed to maintaining the property as owner occupied. There are no buyer restrictions, houses are resold on the open market. The property must be maintained as owner occupied and must not be leased at any time. A Deed Restriction will be placed on the property to ensure owner-occupancy:
The property described in and conveyed by this deed is and shall be subject to and encumbered by the following condition, covenant and restriction which condition, covenant and or/restriction shall run with the land and be binding upon the Grantee(s) and his/her/their/its successors for so long as the grantor or its successors shall continue in existence. Neither the Grantee(s) nor his/her/their/its successors and assigns shall use the property described in and conveyed by this deed, or any part or portion thereof, for any purpose other than owner-occupied, single-family residential purposes and only one (1) owner-occupied, single family residential dwelling shall be constructed, located or situate on such property.
Stable neighborhoods encourage strong and safe communities. Sound and healthy neighborhoods offer a sense of belonging, community identity and increased security. Promoting homeownership through owner occupancy is a key way to keep Morgantown’s neighborhoods healthy, strong and a place to call home.
Email for more information regarding the Morgantown Homeownership Preservation Initiative.
Fairmont Housing Authority
103 12th Street - P.O. Box 2738
Fairmont, WV 26555-2738
Phone: 304-363-0860 Fax: 304-366-0469
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Morgantown Housing Authority
278 B Spruce Street
Morgantown, WV 26505
Phone: 1-304-296-2948
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