Social Security office secure

Charles Owens

Jul. 12, 2008 (McClatchy-Tribune Regional News delivered by Newstex) -- BLUEFIELD -- The Social Security office in Bluefield won't be moving from its current location on Cumberland Road after all.

Jim Bailey, a member of the city Board of Directors, ended months of speculation Friday regarding whether the Social Security office will be relocated to downtown Bluefield, and what impact the proposed move would have on the city's weekly flea market.

Bailey said the U.S. General Services Administration has signed a new five-year contract to remain at its existing site on Cumberland Road at the Bluefield Plaza Shopping Center. Since the federal office won't be moving, Bailey said it was his opinion as a single board member that the popular downtown flea market also shouldn't be moved.

"In my opinion, they stay where they are," Bailey said of the flea market. "We still have to address the issue of repairing the (parking) building. The cost of repair for that building as you found out yesterday is just horrendous. But there won't be any movement in my opinion. I don't see any reason to. We need the flea market. A lot of people depend upon the flea market. It is a part of their livelihood and weekly entertainment. I don't want to hear people say there is another thing that Bluefield has lost."

Bailey said he would like to see the flea market expand on sunny days to include vendors across downtown Bluefield, and Chicory Square.

Tom Lilly, a member of the limited liability company that owns the shopping center, also confirmed Friday that Social Security won't be moving. Lilly said Social Security will remain at the Bluefield Plaza Shopping Center with some minor renovations for additions.

"A couple of weeks ago they sent me the supplemental lease to renew the lease," Lilly said. "There are some minor things they want us to do."

Lilly said keeping the Social Security office on Cumberland Road will save tax payers "a lot of money." Lilly said lawmakers from both West Virginia and Virginia also support keeping the Social Security office at its existing location.

Gina Blyther Gilliam, a regional public affairs officer with the U.S. General Services Administration, also confirmed the decision Friday.

"Yes, this is correct," Gilliam said. "The federal government elected to exercise a five year renewal option under the terms of the lease, continuing occupancy through October 31, 2013."

City Manager Mark Henne said Friday he was unaware of a decision by the GSA to keep Social Security on Cumberland Road. Henne said no one has contacted the city to advise the city of the GSA's decision.

Bailey said there isn't enough federal money available to build a new Social Security building.

"We had heard through the grapevine sometime ago," Bailey said. "After my last trip to Washington in April for King Coal Highway money, we were told there is just no money with the war and everything that is going on to undertake a project like that."

Bailey said he decided to make the announcement Friday to "dispel any myth or any rumor or any uncertainty about what is going to happen downtown."

Bailey said the board is still committed to bringing some type of government facility or economic development project to downtown Bluefield that will create new foot traffic and bring new business back to Bluefield.

"I don't have any specifics," Bailey said. "I was with Mike Vinciguerra last night, and we went to War to Truman Chafin's birthday party. And what we said is we need something from a state or federal level to provide us with some type of resource building in downtown Bluefield."

-- Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

Newstex ID: KRTB-0353-26617942