By Angelee Wiley, May 12, 2015

FAIRMONT — Keep it simple.

That was the message from U.S.?Rep. David McKinley when he visited the Main Street Fairmont office Monday to discuss historic preservation and ways to get the downtown area back on its feet.

“You have to keep it simple. If a developer or owner feels it’s going to be too complicated, they have a tendency just to stop. So we’ve got to find a way of doing things (and) to be able to simplify,” said McKinley, R-W.Va. “The easier (it is), the more likely it’s going to happen, and that can be in funding, too.”

Kate Greene, the executive director of Main Street Fairmont, hosted the discussion and mentioned Main Street’s efforts to bring more residents and businesses to the area.

Main Street Fairmont has been working for 20 years to preserve Fairmont and bring the downtown area back to life.

“When this organization first started, we weren’t anywhere near where we are today,” Greene said. “The boards and directors over the 20 years have added another layer of success and progress. In 2015 we’re in an interesting place because there is actually an abundance of interest being downtown.”

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