By Stephen Smoot
In recent years, Shinnston has seen an uptick in business expansion, events and attractions drawing tourists into the City, and more community support and involvement from high school students to seniors,
And Shinnston Mayor Patrick Kovalck says that the improvements are only getting started.
Much of the foundation for the City government’s plans came into place over the past year. Kovalck shared that an essential part of the City’s recent success has been city manager Tori Drainer. She replaced the outgoing Chad Edwards on an interim basis and earned promotion to permanent status.
In her first full year as City Manager, she has spearheaded a number of initiatives while capably administering City government.
“She’s been perfect for Shinnston,” he stated, adding that “She’s been excellent in her position as City Manager.” He also said that living in the City gives her “skin in the game” to do the best that she can for the City, its residents, and its businesses.
Improvements in the City and its government have borne fruit. Kovalck said he loves to brag about Pike Street, pointing out that it has a slate of new businesses, including a bakery and a pet grooming place. “Very few buildings have open shops,” he noted.
“Our Pike Street, I’d put against any main street in West Virginia for our population size,” he said, stating that many of the businesses “are side jobs” for residents employed in other full time jobs. Many downtown businesses exist not because owners expect to become millionaires, but because they are giving back to the community and supporting fellow entrepreneurs in the process.
Improving downtown also means addressing structures that create not only eyesores, but also poses as dangers to the area. Dilapidated buildings can attract criminal activity and also serve as attractive nuisances to children who could get seriously hurt. Drainer has done much to identify and move toward the removal or, if feasible, repair of such buildings.
Those that can be repaired and repurposed could help to serve the Mayor’s major goal for 2025. He shared that “my main goal for ‘25 is to add housing to our downtown area.”
One path to added housing could come from utilizing vacant lots to construct new homes. The City could also consider annexing some areas as well.
Adding quality housing downtown was inspired by trends seen in cities of all sizes across the nation. The Mayor explained that “in the next 10 to 15 years, I’m feeling a resurgence of people wanting to live in downtowns, being local.” He went on to say that people seem to have tired of sterile big box shopping and want a return to a more intimate “in town” lifestyle where they can walk a few blocks and get most of what they need on a daily basis.
“All we can do is make Shinnston as hospitable to businesses and residences as we can.”
Much work has been done to clear away obstacles to a more cohesive and welcoming downtown by a number of groups. City government can, and in Shinnston’s case, does articulate and outline a vision of success. The support, however, of a number of community groups from youth to seniors and every age in between working hand in hand with city officials have stepped up and made big contributions to Shinnston’s future.
Mayor Kovalck assumed office last summer after a round of municipal elections.