(Photo by Evan Bevins) Megan Adornetto, a historic preservationist with Designing Local, reads responses to questions posed about the former G.C. Murphy building during a discussion at the Downtown PKB offices following a tour of the building Tuesday.

PARKERSBURG — Apartments, retail, a bowling alley and even a trampoline park were among the suggestions offered for what could go in the former G.C. Murphy building by people who toured it this week.

The City of Parkersburg’s Urban Renewal Authority accepted the donation of the building at 714 Market St. in December 2023 from C&S LLC. Requests for proposals were sought and a few prospective developers toured it but no concrete proposals were submitted, city Development Director Ryan Barber said.

So on Tuesday, the city, in partnership with Downtown PKB, opened the doors to the 70,000-square-foot space to seek input from members of the community as to what they thought the facility could and should be.

People could walk through all three levels of the building, which in more recent years housed office space for Highmark West Virginia. Then, about two dozen folks gathered in the Downtown PKB office down the street to share their thoughts and impressions.

Vienna resident Ginger Miller said she came partly out of nostalgia, recalling visiting G.C. Murphy as a child.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg residents Steve and Angie Schofield walk on the second floor of the former G.C. Murphy building on Market Street in Parkersburg Tuesday. The city opened the building for tours to get input from community members on potential uses for it.

“It was full of merchandise and clothes so you didn’t see all of this,” she said.

Although she lives in Vienna, her family owns Curtis Miller Insurance in Parkersburg.

“I want the City of Parkersburg to thrive,” she said.

Her daughter, Lexi Miller, said she’s excited for the future of the downtown area.

“We want to make coming downtown an event again,” she said.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Vienna City Councilwoman Tami Rhodes, left, speaks with Jasmine Metcalf, an urban planner with Designing Local, in the former G.C. Murphy building on Market Street in Parkersburg during a community visioning session Tuesday.

Parkersburg City Councilwoman Wendy Tuck said the building is so big it would almost have to accommodate multiple uses.

“It’s amazing,” she said. “My first thought is, how could it be income-producing, right? Like for it to be developed, it’s got to have a way of paying for itself.

“I hope people can put their heads together and come up with some good ideas,” Tuck said.

Parkersburg residents Steve and Angie Schofield came in part because a company Steve works for had done some design work related to the building in the past.

“I think it’s wise,” he said of the approach the city is taking. “Why not? Word of mouth is strong in this part of the world.”

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg City Councilwoman Wendy Tuck, left, chats with city Development Department financial compliance officer Lisa Cullum, center, and Karen Swain, neighborhood planner, in the basement of the former G.C. Murphy building in downtown Parkersburg during an open tour of the city-owned facility.

The tour and discussion were facilitated by representatives of Designing Local, a Columbus-based architectural firm that has contracted with the Main Street West Virginia program, with which Downtown PKB is affiliated.

“I think the best takeaway is people getting to rethink what this space could be,” said Jasmine Metcalf, urban planner with Designing Local. “We’re really trying to think about how this is going to serve downtown Parkersburg.”

On the wall of one of the first floor spaces, the firm posted questions:

* What do you envision in this space?

* What businesses are missing downtown?

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Cables hang from the ceiling on the first floor of the former G.C. Murphy building in downtown Parkersburg during a community visioning session Tuesday.

* What activities are missing in downtown?

* Why do people come downtown?

Attendees shared answers on sticky notes, including:

* “Bowling alley, arcade, indoor skating rink, ice skating rink”

* “Venues for special events for 100+ people, shopping, gym, workout facilities”

(Photo by Evan Bevins) After self-guided tours of the former G.C. Murphy building on Market Street in downtown Parkersburg on Tuesday, participants gathered at the Downtown PKB office to discuss their thoughts.

* “Living spaces (apartments and condos), more shopping, food markets”

* “Don’t come down much, (just) to eat or to pay taxes”

Downtown PKB Executive Director Amanda Stevens said she appreciated the turnout.

“I was thrilled to see that that many people cared enough to actually come out and take part in the discussion and the tour,” she said.

The public’s input will be compiled and included in a summary that can be provided to prospective developers, Stevens said. Many grants and other funding sources require public input, so Tuesday’s activities will be beneficial in that regard as well, she said.

Barber said the city does not intend to own the building forever and is seeking “a successful partnership with a real estate developer.”

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Some fixtures remain on the second floor of the former G.C. Murphy building in downtown Parkersburg.

(Photo by Evan Bevins) Parkersburg resident Sue Ellen Waybright writes a response to a question about the former G.C. Murphy building in downtown Parkersburg during a tour of the building on Tuesday.