BARBOURSVILLE ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” While an ongoing closure at the regionÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Target store has inconvenienced shoppers, it has also led to safety concerns in Barboursville.
One resident in the Meadowcreek subdivison, just outside Barboursville village limits, said she has some concerns regarding the hill slip behind the Target at the Merritt Creek Farm shopping center in Barboursville.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œInitially we were alarmed, but as we learn more about it, weÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™re very calm,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ said Delores Esque, who lives at 5 Meadow Creek.
Esque said a friend who is an engineer looked at the property behind her home, which is not directly behind Target, and told her it was unlikely her home would be affected by the landslide.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œI still have some concern for those that live closer to the slide,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she added.
Esque said Thursday she has not received any communications about potential evacuation from her home.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe havenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™t heard about anything like that,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ she said.
The slip happened after a main line water break behind the store last week. Target issued a statement Feb. 2 saying the ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œstore is undergoing construction to fix an issue with the storeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s foundation.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
West Virginia American Water issued a statement Thursday.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe had a water main break that occurred on Friday behind Target in Barboursville. The water main break was caused by a hill slip and impacted approximately 9 customers in the shopping center. The break was repaired and the precautionary boil water advisory for those customers was lifted on Saturday evening around 6 p.m.,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ the statement reads. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œAll customers have been back in water service since Friday evening. Our crews assessed that the hill slip occurred following continual settling in the shopping center area behind Target.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
The site had a previous hill slip in late September 2001, according to West Virginia Supreme Court by one of the contractors against the shopping center developer.
The court documents stated, ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIn late September 2001, there was a failure of an engineered fill slope at the southeast corner of the area known as the Target store. In September and October 2001, fill was placed in the area known as ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥˜Shops A,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™ which was on the western portion of Merritt Creek, in a different location than the Target store. The Shops A buildings, in late 2002, began showing damage due to settlement.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
In this case, the stateÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s high court reversed a summary judgment against the general contracting firm.
The Herald-Dispatch reported in July 2001, Target Corp. bought $2.2 million worth of property from Thundering Herd Development, the company responsible for building the shopping center along U.S. 60.
According to property transfers recorded at the Cabell County Courthouse, Target Corp. entered into a deed agreement for almost 11 acres with the Bristol, Tennessee, based developer, which changed its name from Interstate Development Corp. for the project.
Additional reporting in August 2001 said some Meadowcreek subdivision residents were upset about trees that were cut down near the development.
Barboursville Mayor Chris Tatum said Thursday afternoon that everyone involved in fixing the slip and utilities is cooperating.
ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œOur mission is now eliminating any safety issues,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥ he said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œIÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™m sure Target and its engineers will see to it that no home is in harmÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s way. We will continue to be good neighbors to facilitate the storeÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s reopening as soon as possible.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥
Target officials have not returned several messages this week seeking an update. The shopping centerÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s developer has also not responded to messages seeking comment.
Fred Pace is the business reporter for HD ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥. Follow him at and via Twitter @FredPaceHD.
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