The Sears store in the Huntington Shopping center closed in late 2019. It can be difficult to believe that it was that long ago and that it was only that long back. The shop had actually been an anchor at the mall because the shopping mall itself opened in early 1981.
Recently, the Cabell County Board of Education received an update on the brand-new Cabell County Career Technology Center prepared for the structure previously owned and inhabited by Sears. David Ferguson, job architect and principal with ZMM Architects and Engineers, stated his firm is working with trainers to identify what the brand-new school requires in regards to class space and other matters, but he expects the renovation task to be promoted for quote in March.Moving the Profession Innovation Center from a sloping area between Norway Avenue and Interstate 64 ought to be a win-win for both the school and the mall.For the school, it indicates a more accessible area and more than doubling in size, going from 111,000 square feet to 230,000 feet. The added space implies the possibility of more programs in ever-changing profession markets, Superintendent Ryan Saxe stated.”Eventually, we wish to have the ability to see things like plumbing offered, diesel mechanics provided, therefore having the ability to equip the center for that future expansion is likewise extremely crucial, “Saxe told the school board. “I think there’s going to be special chances to partner with services and
community companies in this space, so we’re simply really thrilled about what the future holds for profession technical education here in Cabell County and preparing a future labor force,”Saxe said.The change of the former Sears area must also be good for the shopping center. The Huntington Shopping mall is the
retail center of the Tri-State and a broader region. This time of year, it’s a destination for individuals who don’t mind traveling to delight in Christmas shopping. Big box stores work as the anchors for malls, but that part of the retail industry has struggled with the increase of online shopping. Having a brand-new and different people magnet on the shopping center residential or commercial property need to assist extend its life.An additional benefit for the school system is geography– not a lot for students but for planning new schools themselves. Given this area’s surface
and existing development, there are few readily available sites that are suitable for new schools thinking about contemporary requirements for space, security, availability and other considerations that didn’t exist 50 years ago. That’s one reason the new Meadows Elementary could not be built in the neighborhood it primarily serves.Site preparation and infrastructure expenses were high enough prior to this round of inflation. Now they are an additional barrier to constructing large schools on greenfield sites.Thus the non-traditional location for
the new Profession Technology Center. It’s a win-win for the school board and the shopping center, however more than that it looks like a win-win for the trainees and the communities where they will work and contribute
in the years to come.