More than 600 new homes planned in Putnam County amid rapid growth and housing shortage

by SHELBY BURROUGH

Tue, January 14, 2025 at 5:40 PM

Updated Wed, January 15, 2025 at 8:24 AM

The Putnam County Development Authority has received $5 million to cover the costs of infrastructure for more than 600 new homes. (WCHS)

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HURRICANE, W.Va (WCHS) — The Putnam County Development Authority has received $5 million to cover the costs of infrastructure for the development of more than 600 new residences as the county faces a housing shortage.

According to Advantage Valley's three-year housing survey, by 2028, the county is expected to need 1,800 rental units and 2,700 for-sale units.

"Right now, we know of 150 for-sale units, single family homes and then maybe about 400 or so apartment town homes being sold," PCDA executive director Morganne Tenney said.

The PCDA has partnered with a firm making an investment of $35 million for the residential developments as new companies pledge investments in West Virginia.

"The hardest part of any economic development is finding the land. We just don't have a lot of property left, so we were lucky that we engaged with private landowners who were willing to sell and want housing on their properties," Tenney said. "Putnam County was the region's only growing county before several announcements were made. One of the most notable is Nucor, which is only about 20 minutes away from Putnam County. Even Jackson County and Berkshire Hathaway's announcement."

Exact locations have not been determined, but a majority of homes are to be built in Hurricane, and the rest in Fraziers Bottom.

Hurricane residents said they're looking forward to what this investment will bring to the area. Mary Zigmond has lived in Hurricane for more than 20 years and has owned a business in town for seven of those years.

"I feel like we have the best of both worlds. We have a small community where we're self-sufficient right here, but yet we could be at Charleston, or Huntington in 30 to 40 minutes," Zigmond told Eyewitness News. "I'm always excited for the future. I can only say that there's probably great things coming for us. Even just going down Teays Valley Road has changed so much with a lot of new businesses, a lot of renovation of older buildings."

Zigmond said she plans to stay to be part of the future of Hurricane.

"I think when people do come here, they will see how great the people are here and the resources that we have," she said.

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Since this project is just beginning, an exact timeline has not yet been established, but officials are hopeful to start construction by the end of 2025.