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IMAGINE CHARLESTON
A New Program Hopes To Revitalize And Improve Charleston, Especially Downtown

Reported by: Send eMail Ashley Smith
Videographer: Matt Durrett
Web Producer: Ashley Smith
Reported: Feb. 9, 2012 6:21 PM EST
Updated: Feb. 10, 2012 12:19 PM EST

EYEWITNESS ONLINE WEBCAST VIDEO
C L I C K   T O   P L A Y
Charleston , Kanawha County , West Virginia

Imagine Charleston: Your dream. Our future. A program aimed to improve downtown Charleston is underway. The idea behind the program is to form a vision which will help make up the city’s comprehensive plan. In addition to new ideas, that plan will include improvements to the Ramada Inn formerly known as the Charleston House.

“At one time this was THE place to be as far as a hotel,” said Senior Vice President of BBL Carlton Keith McClanahan.

Keith McClanahan is the Senior Vice President of BBL Carlton, the company in charge of revitalizing this hotel. They’ve already completed the second floor to use as offices. The 12th floor will house four condominiums, there will be three suites per floor, a brand new family oriented sports bar, and remodeled guest rooms and banquet halls along with a new look to the front.

“Pretty much this entire hotel will transform itself into something back to its glory days,” said McClanahan.

“We want to put Charleston on the map!” said MSI-KKG Principal Craig Gossman.

Craig Gossman and his planning and design consulting firm will work with the city over the next year or so to look at ways to bring more people to Charleston and also to make it a better place to live, work, and have fun. They say that all starts with improving the downtown.

“It's the heart and soul of the community and some communities have done a better job with that than others,” said Gossman, “I think some of the great strengths with Charleston is it's already got a terrific running start.”

Along with the hotel, improvements are in the works at the Civic Center, the Holiday Inn and Marriott Courtyard & Suites. The city says the sky’s the limit from here and they want to hear your ideas!

“You have to chart somewhat of a dream, somewhat of a vision of what your downtown should be if you're ever going to set any goals so you arrive at a place where the future is good for everybody but especially the young,” said Charleston Mayor Danny Jones.



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