The Nenni Building in Matewan, West Virginia was operated by the Nenni Family for over 100 years until the buildings were purchased by Coalfield Development in 2013. Originally three separate buildings, the project consists of the historic restoration, rehabilitation, and adaptive reuse of the buildings. The renovations were approached in two phases
To preserve and restore the historically significant structures, the project consisted of adapting them to a new use of commercial space on the ground level and upper story lodging facilities to serve the Southern West Virginia coalfield region’s burgeoning tourism industry, specifically the Hatfield McCoy Recreational Trail System. With shell space on the ground level, and lodging areas on the second level, the interior renovations of the project were carefully considered. The interior objective was to prolong the historic components of the building by maximizing its authenticity, however, still creating a fresh, new space for future occupants. The exterior of the aged building is composed of brick, which will be cleaned and repointed. The original decorative cornices on the buildings have been removed over time, and these will be reconstructed as part of the project. It is paramount that the project maintains the integrity of the buildings; therefore, replaced elements will be as consistent as possible with that of the original units.
Situated on Mate Street in Matewan, WV, the site is located within the Matewan Historic District, deemed a National Historic Landmark through the United States Department of the Interior National Park Service. The site allows both locals and visitors to reflect upon not only the history of the building, but the history of the entire town of Matewan.