Will Clay School Stand or Will It Fall? That Is the Question …

It is unknown at this time what will become of the dilapidated structure that once housed Clay School along 15^th Street in East Wheeling because yet another historic preservationist group communicated a wish to investigate the possibility of repurposing the three-story building that’s been vacant for three decades.

The building, closed by Ohio County Schools in 1992, is located across 15^th Street from the J.B. Chambers Recreation Park, a facility that features an all-purpose playing service and attracts hundreds of groups each year. Several dreams have been discussed by former owners of the property and by City officials, including a youth science and community center and senior housing.

At this time last year, however, Wheeling City Manager Bob Herron explained that the city was planning to demolish the blight to make room for new development. That plan, however, has been delayed by city officials.

“The Desmone Architects group that has adopted the buildings on the 1400 block in downtown took a look at Clay School about six weeks ago for a possible redevelopment project, so we commissioned a ($7,000) study to see if that building can be saved,” explained Herron, now in his 20^th year. “That has been completed but I have not received a report back yet so we do not know what the cost might be.

“But that caused a pause with the City’s demolition plan for Clay School based on the fact that we had a legitimate historic preservation developer interested in exploring what possibilities might exist because once it’s torn down, it’s gone for good,” he said. “Demolition remains a possibility. We just want to see what the report tells us about the chance to preserve the former school.”

That report, however, still had not been received by Herron as of this morning.

“We did have the structure inspected for asbestos so we now know exactly what will have to be done with those issues, and that means that if the plan to demolish the building moves forward, we are in the position to bid that project out,” the city manager explained. “The building is not in good shape and 95 percent of all of the inspections and reviews have been performed. We’re just waiting for the information to come back to us so we can move forward.

“There is potential for what could be constructed in that space if the final decision is to bring it down,” he said. “But there’s also potential for the building as it stands, and those topics have been discussed for a lot of years since the J.B. Chambers facility opened about 10 years ago now. We’re just waiting to see what is possible, and what is not.”

Meanwhile, protective fencing has been placed along the front façade of the former schoolhouse because bricks began falling from it several years ago. Many of the building’s windows have been shattered by vandals, and the structure’s roof is almost completely collapsed.

“We know the front façade has been compromised by the moisture that’s been seeping into the building for a number of years now and that’s why the fencing has been placed around it,” Herron said. “The plan was to demolish it and that still could very well take place. The last thing we want to see is an injury take place because of the condition of the building.

“The (athletic) complex has become very popular, and if the current structure or a new one could enhance the facility, that would be a very good thing for the East Wheeling neighborhood and for the people utilizing the facility,” he added. “It could add to the types of function that could be held on that field, too, and that would be great.”