A municipal planning commission gave the green light to a proposal that could ban certain businesses in Charleston's East End.
The zoning plan was originally proposed by East End Main Street, an organization that aims to revitalize its namesake.
It's targeting businesses they call "undesirable", which include everything from gambling establishments to gun stores.
"We consider ourselves the gateway to the capital city of West Virginia," said Ric Cavender, the executive director of East End Main Street. "Every step possible should be taken to ensure its future success."
Over the past ten years, public and private investors have pumped more than $250 million into renewing East End.
And Cavender said he wants to ensure nothing backtracks that progress.
People who live and work in the East End said they feel strongly about whatever businesses line their streets.
"If I had children, I wouldn't want there to be a pawn shop or obviously a porn shop around," said Cullen Naumoff, who lives in East End.
Another East End resident, William Driscoll, said he supports Cavender's efforts because "undesirable" businesses only brings trouble.
"With all the kids around, I don't think we need those problems on the East End. Charleston has enough problems without that," Driscoll said.
While Saianya Rose said that the city should do more to clean up Charleston, she explained that pawn or adult establishments could rake in revenue.
"It is what it is, it's a business," said Rose, who works in Charleston.
Current city rules have already kept the likes of adult stores and pawn shops away from the East End.
Cavender mentioned that he just wants to seal the deal with an approved zoning plan.
The proposal will now be reviewed again by the Charleston Urban Renewal Authority before it goes to a subcommittee of City Council.
Sources tell WOWK that the City Council itself could make a decision on the proposal as early as September.
In the meantime, East End councilman Marc Weintraub has already drafted a bill to back revitalization efforts in the district.
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