Building continues

Great views from the top floors

WVU downtown campus just a couple of blocks away

The snow has finally melted, the sun has come out, and temperatures have finally warmed hopefully for the summer!  Snow, rain, hot, and cold have not stopped the work on the Central Place Apartments.  Six stories of steel are in place and work continues!  We will be opening in May of 2015 -- less than a year away.  We will start leasing in the fall.  Check out the views!  There are so many benefits of living here--close to downtown classes, shops, and transportation (bus, PRT, rail trail), onsite staff who will provide support and programs for residents, and a large community room downstairs where you can hang out and get a free meal once a week.

Campus Ministry Center just across the street

View from the top floor, WVU downtown campus on the right

Taking shape

Central Place apartments are quickly taking shape on site.  It is exciting to see the daily progress.  Central place will feature 234 beds primarily 2 - bed/2 - bath apartments renting for $1200 a month per unit.  There will be a few 1-bed 1-bath units renting for $795 a month per unit.  Located in the complex will be Harless Center program spaces, staff, and offices.  Harless Center will oversee the leasing of all apartments, provide resident mentors on each floor, and provide regular programming to residents and WVU students that focuses on the intersection of one's faith, academics, and life to help students grown deeper in their own walk of faith.  Students of all background will be welcomed into this unique living-learning community.  

We continue to lift up our prayers of gratitude for all the persons who are helping to make this dream a reality -- our board of directors, the developer, architects, students, and congregation members.  We also pray for those who labor daily to build the complex and center.  May God look over them in their work.

View of Central Place apartments' construction from porch of
WVU Campus Ministry Center

Views of Central Place Apartments from
First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown

Hopes for Harless Center

When I first learned of the concept of Harless Center approximately seven (7) years ago, I became very excited and engaged because of my experience as an attorney in Morgantown over the last forty-four (44) years.  Harless Center will provide housing for two hundred thirty-four (234) West Virginia University students to help them maintain their moral compass while they go through their college years.  

We have found that so many students who had a good moral compass and were well-grounded when they arrived at WVU, succumbed to drugs, alcohol, or other destructive behavior leading to academic failure within a year or two after arriving on campus.  I have personally represented many students in municipal or magistrate court.  Their parents would always tell me that they did not know what happened to them after arriving at WVU since they did not engage in any of these behaviors in high school. 

Even if the students are not residents of Harless Center, there will be programming most days of the week where they can find a peer group that will support their beliefs and keep them away from risk-taking activities and behaviors that will jeopardize their college career.  This project will provide a safe haven for thousands of WVU students for years to come.  There is nothing similar on campus at this time.  It cannot built soon enough.

Ward Stone, Harless Center Board of Directors

Work on site continues

Warmer weather brings new growth

As the weather attempts to break towards higher temperatures and extended daylight, lots of new growth is occurring at the site for Central Place and the Harless Center.  As you can see from the pictures, there has been a lot happening since the ground thawed and the work crews could get out on a regular basis.  The site is prepped, the foundations are done, and steel is being erected.  The building is starting to take shape and we're all excited about the potential for the ministry that can take place here in the near future.

The structure shown is oriented towards the rear of the lot (next to Unity Manor) and the foundation extends towards First Presbyterian Church and the new playground.  If you get a chance to stop by and take a look in person, do it soon!

To borrow a quote used in the latest student worship service, "Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it."

Fellowship Spaces Developing at Harless Center

Work is continuing on site despite the cold, the snow, the rain, and the chilling temperatures this winter.  In addition, planning continues on the programs and spaces inside the building.

Currently, we are designing the fellowship spaces at Harless Center.  Here, we will eat together, talk together, and hang out together.  We will watch movies, hear speakers, make cookies, and play board games and video games.  The fireplace will warm us up after a day in the snow!  We will use our large commercial kitchen for our meals together, and it will be available other student needs throughout the week.

Lee Mullet, Harless Center Board of Directors

Loss of Honorary Campaign Chair

The board of directors of Harless Center, Inc (Morgantown,WV) join with the state of West Virginia and the Presbytery of WV in mourning the loss of Mr. James H. "Buck" Harless earlier this week.  Mr. Harless served not only as the lead donor to the project and honorary chair of the “Raising the Roof” campaign, but also as an advisor to the board of directors warmly welcoming members into his office to provide counsel and support. Harless Center at Central place is a faith-based student housing project under development in Morgantown, WV for WVU students.  

Mr. Harless was committed to supporting the welfare and spiritual development of college students as evidenced in his commitment not only to the Harless Center project, but also to the Westminster Foundation of WV an organization supporting Presbyterian Campus Ministry throughout the state.  The board of directors will work diligently to make Harless Center at Central Place a lasting tribute to Mr. Harless.

Read more:

http://www.statejournal.com/story/24347458/businessman