Garland "Boo" Humphries spoke during July's Community Gathering, held at the Historic Masonic Theatre.

July's Community Gathering Boasts New Renovations for Local Buildings By Jennifer Bailey Staff Writer Clifton Forge, VA (July 17, 2025)— In a very informative Community Gathering this evening, Clifton Forge residents were treated to several innovating new ideas for the town, particularly when it comes to the buildings downtown. Area resident and Clifton Forge businessman, Garland "Boo" Humphries, gave a lengthy presentation which included a brief history of his own business, Highlands Realty, as well as some local projects he's completed and buildings he's purchased. Humphries bought the building which ultimately became Highlands Realty in 2001, then sold the building in 2004, before repurchasing it in 2007 where it has remained firmly planted at 433 East Ridgeway Street. Locals have likely noticed the many renovations of the building since the '07 purchase, which includes a paint job and new roof. Humphries also spoke about a building in an alley in Clifton Forge that he painted, free of charge, just as a way of beautifying our small town. "Boo" also purchased the building located at 501 E. Ridgeway Street, once home to Country Garden Florist. Humphries plans for the building include a new awning, fresh paint in the color of "Evergreen Fog," and potentially including several small businesses inside akin to what the "5 Sides" building is becoming downstairs. Town Manager Chuck Unroe also spoke during the meeting, highlighting Clifton Forge's involvement in a new pilot project called "BAD Buildings." The "BAD Buildings" project was founded by West Virginia University, with "BAD" being an acronym for "Brownfields, Abandoned, Dilapidated." According to their site, "The WVU BAD (Brownfields, Abandoned, Dilapidated) Buildings Program is a statewide initiative of the Northern WV Brownfields Assistance Center to provide communities with a step-by-step process, technical assistance, and site analysis tools to develop or enhance local abandoned and dilapidated buildings revitalization efforts." "Karen Weber, who is our local representative for the DEQ [Department of Environmental Quality], launched a pilot program in Virginia to extend this inventory to Virginia," Unroe stated tonight. "and she was looking for some towns or localities that would be run to become a part of her pilot program, and she spent some time in Clifton Forge with us looking around about four months ago —three or four months ago— and she felt like that Clifton Forge would be a good fit for the program, so she got the ball rolling and got things started, and we signed up, and we are now officially a part of the pilot program for Virginia, but affiliated with the West Virginia University 'BAD Building Inventory Program.'" Karen Weber is slated to speak at next Community Gathering scheduled for August 21st at 6:30 p.m. The following month's meeting has also been scheduled for September 18th at 6:30 p.m.

* * * * *