Christopher Dacanay DECREPIT — The building at 637 Commercial St. in Mingo Junction, the roof of which has partially caved in, is one of three set to be torn down by the Jefferson County Land Bank next year. The six remaining parcels are subject to a market analysis and redevelopment plan being created for the village by CT Consultants.

MINGO JUNCTION — A virtual meeting Thursday saw village authorities informed about market conditions, in what was the latest step toward creating a redevelopment plan centered on six Commercial Street parcels.

Two planning team members from CT Consultants presented data — ranging from median household income to traffic counts — as part of market analysis and redevelopment planning for the .22-area in downtown Mingo Junction. Participating in the call, from the village’s end, were Mayor Judy Ruckman and Village Administrator Darrin Corrigan.

The village has contracted with CT Consultants to analyze and create a plan for the six parcels, which are occupied by three buildings — property addresses 637, 645 and 655 Commercial St. Those buildings are set to be demolished by the Jefferson County Land Bank next year, so the plan will identify suitable development pathways for the parcels once they’ve been cleared.

“Everything might not be a fit. There might be some things that are more improbable,” said CT Consultants Principal Jim Hockaday, who participated in the meeting. “So, in order to be efficient with this property, we need to look at what those opportunities could be and how the village could best position themselves to put it back into active use.”

Having begun in November, the planning process is scheduled to last five months, Hockaday said. The first step is acquiring market analysis data, after which planners will conduct a site visit and interview local stakeholders.

Planning is made possible through a $30,700 technical assistance grant awarded to Mingo Junction by the Mayor’s Partnership for Progress, an association of mayors that Ruckman has been a member of since January. The village selected CT Consultants from among the MPP’s list of qualified consultants to carry out its project, having worked with the village previously.

Also participating in the meeting was Sam Jurgena, senior project manager of grant services for the MPP.

During the meeting, Hockaday asked Ruckman and Corrigan to assist with developing a list of stakeholders in the village. Those individuals would be interviewed and help shape the plan.

“We’re going to go do interviews with stakeholders, see what everybody’s vision for (the parcels) is, figure out what those best opportunities and then maybe come back and refine those market pieces and try to get (the village) a market prospectus on the best opportunities they have.”

At the same time, CT Consultants expects to conduct a full review of the site itself, once demolition of the buildings has been completed. Jefferson County Land Bank Director Tabatha Glover previously estimated that demolition work would begin in February or March, with a request for bids going out in January.

For the project’s second phase, the village may also request that CT Consultants fulfill one of two optional tasks: Updating the village’s code enforcement and property maintenance code or creating an economic development toolkit.

An additional $16,300 would be needed to cover the optional task. The MPP will assess the village’s need for funding once the project’s current and first phase is complete.