Community development project finally commences in downtown Thomas
PRESS RELEASE
Woodlands Development and Lending celebrates breaking ground for Thomas’ TAProom project
THOMAS, W. Va., August 28, 2026/ Woodlands Development & Lending will officially mark the start of construction on the TAProom Building with a groundbreaking ceremony on September 4th at noon. The event will take place in Thomas on Spruce Street between the Mountain Top Senior Center and a private residence. This $4.3M project will provide high quality workforce housing apartments and ground-floor commercial spaces.
In 2012 – with support from New Historic Thomas and the Tucker County Development Authority — Woodlands bought and demolished the dilapidated building historically known as the TAPRoom. After the purchase, the organization held several stakeholder meetings, that resulted in a plan to create apartments and a coworking space. This building will not only provide housing but also a decentralized, flexible workspace to support the substantial remote, entrepreneurial, and freelance workforce that exists in the community. The apartments will provide workforce housing for individuals and small families employed in Thomas and Tucker County.
Woodlands alongside project architect Omar Hakeem/TBD Studio is excited to work with the City of Thomas to extend affordable housing options in Tucker County.
The project was made possible by funding from Tucker County Development Authority, WV Affordable Housing Fund, the West Virginia Housing Development Fund, Congressionally Directed Spending through Senator Capito’s office, Fahe, WV Brownfields, conventional loans, U.S EPA, and AML-ER.
WoodlandsDevelopment and Lending works to develop affordable housing, drive downtown development, increase community capacity, and provide affordable small business support and lending services to the communities in our service area. Woodlands Development and Lending is an Elkins, WV basedCommunity HousingDevelopment Organization (CHDO) and Financial Institution (CDFI) that serves Randolph, Barbour, and Tucker Counties.
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