Woods George Apartments Reopen in Philippi

by Ana Lucía Ubalde

The Woods-George building in the heart of Historic Philippi, WV has been granted a new life; one that will allow access to affordable, high-quality housing and improved commercial space.

Built in 1901 by John Hopkins Woods and William T. George, two prominent Philippi lawyers, this historic building is now a Philippi landmark. After operating as the Citizens National Bank for 40 years, as law offices, and as the county’s surveyor’s office, the building was sold in 1942. At that time it became home to the Barbour County Board of Education and several auxiliary classrooms for Philippi High School until it was sold again and converted into apartment units. With the community still in great need of quality affordable housing, the apartments were retained and renovated and are now ready to welcome tenants.

Although it had suffered from deferred maintenance for many years, the structure of the stately old building remained intact. This is why we were able,  to give Woods-George a fresh start; one that honors the stories already embedded in its walls. Once a place that contributed to the town’s education and community life, the building carries memories that shaped Philippi. The restoration preserved its characteristic brick-exposed façade, honoring a style that distinguishes the Historic Business District.

The Woods-George building now features five high-quality workforce housing units along with a commercial space. The first floor consists of a 565 square foot ADA-compliant one-bedroom apartment and a commercial space. The upper floors have been remodeled into two-bedroom apartments averaging 700 sq ft each. The rear units offer access to a deck while the front units feature stunning views up and down Philippi’s Main Street. Located in the heart of downtown Philippi, across from the Philippi Public Library, the building is conveniently close to several other amenities.

The building is a contributing structure within Philippi’s Downtown Historic District in the National Register of Historic Places, and the developer and sponsor anticipate that the project will qualify for $396,000 in state historic rehabilitation tax credits worth approximately $314,000 in equity.

Financing the rehabilitation of the Woods George Building was provided by multiple sources. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh awarded the project a  Voluntary Housing Grant award in 2022 through project sponsor Freedom Bank. The West Virginia Housing Development Fund granted the project $150,000 in Affordable Housing Program dollars. The project funding also included West Virginia Historic Tax Credits, and a grant from both the Governor’s Office and a Congressionally Delegated Spending award.

This alignment of community, state, and federal support speaks to the importance of our downtown business districts, the value of our historic structures, and the deep desire within for the Barbour County and Philippi community to travel a path towards positive growth and economic development.