In 2022, the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection awarded St. Albans over $500,000 to help clear dilapidated structures throughout the city. Earlier this month, the city was awarded $182,000 more to continue those efforts.
Mayor Scott James tells Eyewitness News that 42 structures have come down since he’s been in office, and more are soon to follow. The city has a program where all property owners have to pay is the dump fee and St. Albans will take care of the demolition of a dilapidated structure. James said the goal is to have the remaining dilapidated buildings on the list removed in the next fiscal year.