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The strip mall will have five units that will be leased for around $2,000 per unit and will include front-door parking with easy access in and out of the plaza, said Francis McGuire of McGuire Realty, who bought the property of the former Young WomenÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Christian Association (YWCA) in 2008. One unit on the end will have a drive-through for a food establishment.

McGuire said during a phone interview with The Herald-Dispatch Wednesday that he hopes the others will be a mix of regular retail and possible office space.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe want a good mix ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥” each tenant will add to the traffic pattern for the tenant next door,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� McGuire said. ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œA medical office would draw people in that may want to eat their sandwiches at the restaurant or pick up a telephone or something of that nature.ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥�

According to McGuire, there are currently no tenants contracted for the strip mall; however, he is currently in talks with several businesses.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWe are talking to a lot of different types of businesses,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� he said.

Construction is expected to start in the first half of 2025, McGuire said. Bids are expected to go out in the next 30 days after a re-drafting of floor plans and drawings is complete. McGuire said the construction should last six months.

ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥œWith this much growth in the city, and with all the new activity that is proposed and taking place, we think Huntington is a great place to be right now. We are willing to invest in the development of the city,ÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥� he said.

McGuire bought the property in 2008, after HuntingtonÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s YWCA had operated at the property for nearly 70 years, according to The Herald-DispatchÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Lost Huntington article in 2020. McGuire said he purchased the property for a specific user who pulled out in 2009. He rented the building out for some time until it fell into disrepair.

The building became a hub for people who are unhoused and drug use, McGuire said. The outbuilding behind the former YWCA became victim to a fire in 2019 that caused damage to the structure and disrupted its electrical service. McGuire decided to tear the structures down in 2022.

McGuire said after the demolition, he discovered a need for modern office space and retail facilities downtown from market information he received and developed.

McGuire said the strip mall is in a good location and will give people who work or live downtown another place to go for lunch and other retail needs.

McGuire said the project is expected to cost approximately $4 million. The design for the strip mall is from Edward Tucker Architects.

The strip mall will be one of several projects of new development in Downtown Huntington such as the Prichard Hotel renovation project and Marshall UniversityÃÛÁÄÖ±²¥™s Institute for Cyber Security.