A.J. HAMMOND wasted no time jumping into the efforts to revitalize downtown Morgantown. As president of the Main Street Morgantown board and as relationship manager at Citizens Bank, he is inspired by the community’s momentum. “We have so much opportunity here, so much that hasn’t even been tapped into over the years,” he says. Hammond has taken a particular interest in the historic buildings downtown and the old, stately homes of South Park. He and a friend are restoring one on Grandview Avenue that captured their attention and his imagination. After he investigated the home’s history, he was inspired to create an Instagram account, @historicmorgantown , through which he shares the historical accounts of familiar and unfamiliar structures in town.
“Every chance that we get to restore an old building, we should. And if we start, then maybe other people will follow,” he says. “We have no shortage of
A.J. HAMMOND
buildings with charm and character, and each one is an opportunity to protect and preserve the history that we already have downtown.”
Rarely does dirt fly in Morgantown without BRIAN GALLAGHER knowing where it’s supposed to land. As an attorney with Steptoe & Johnson, Gallagher has shepherded some of the area’s biggest real estate deals and economic development projects. He’s a people connector with a wealth of knowledge, and his expertise in everything from land acquisition to tax incentives keeps projects moving. He remembers his first big project—the Glenmark Centre—fondly. “I was involved from day one buying the property. The Nesselroads and Adrians have been great clients and friends, and I owe them a lot of credit for my success.” He’s also proud of his work with the Lynch family on University Town Centre and WestRidge and the Adrians on the Morgantown Industrial Park. Gallagher credits Steptoe & Johnson with giving him his start. “I’m blessed to be surrounded by a very talented and selfless group,” he says. “And this community is filled with extraordinarily talented people and an energy that is pretty unique for the size of the town. It’s very satisfying to contribute to it.”
BRIAN GALLAGHER
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