http://www.nis.wvu.edu/spirit/10-26-00/oct26sp2.pdf
The Mountaineer Spirit, West Virginia University
MORGANTOWN October 26, 2002, Page 8
Charles Pointe - An artist's rendering of Charles Pointe, one of the largest planned community investments in state history. WVU is a non-financial partner in the project.
An estimated $750 million investment over the next seven-10 years will create thousands of jobs and be home to hundreds of families in a new master-planned community in Bridgeport, local officials and developers announced Wednesday.
The new community – one of the largest planned community investments in West Virginia’s history – will be known as Charles Pointe and will be located on approximately 2,000 acres along Interstate 79 in Harrison County.
Initial partners in the development include Genesis Partners, a Bridgeport company; the city of Bridgeport; The Humphrey Companies out of Columbia, Md.; and WVU.
A $9 million, 10,000-square-foot conference center owned by the City of Bridgeport and a high-end hotel to be constructed and operated by Humphrey are among the first investments slated for development.
Construction is slated to begin in mid-2001, and will be close to the FBI interchange along I-79.
Genesis President James A. Corton and wife Jennifer Compton Corton formed Genesis Partners to coordinate investment activities around Charles Pointe.
"We are committed to creating a lifestyle for this next millenium that will have a positive impact on job creation, housing, tourism and recreation for our state," James Corton said.
Bridgeport Mayor L. J. Timms said it is expected that the 2,000 acres at Charles Pointe will become a part of the city of Bridgeport as the development grows. The city will be instrumental in assisting with infrastructure and other needs.
Over 250 "technology smart" homes will be built there, along with trails and parks. There will also be an 18-hole championship public golf course as well as retail shopping and entertainment centers.
WVU’s involvement, President David Hardesty noted, is to define strategies which will promote the development and growth in research and commercial applications in new technologies, bio technologies, biometrics, forensics, health sciences and other disciplines.
"Education, training and research are critical for the success of any community, and WVU stands ready to assist the fortunate occupants of Charles Pointe as they grow, learn and stimulate the economy," Hardesty said, noting WVU’s mission as the state’s flagship land-grant university.
Initial investment in Charles Pointe exceeds $2 million.
Other partners in the development include Baker Engineering of Pittsburgh, Pa.; Baker Associates of Alexandria, Va.; Weber McGinn of Washington, D.C.; and PKF, a market research firm.
Charles Pointe is named for Charles E. "Jim" Compton, the father of Jennifer Compton-Corton. She discussed her father’s legacy at the announcement saying, "For most of the last century, he has been engaged in nearly every part of our state’s life. From the invention of the coal auger to his leadership in establishing the School of Nutrition at WVU, Jim Compton was always a step ahead of the rest of us. It is my honor to share his vision of a place where families can live, work and play. A place that we call Charles Pointe."
