An OPEN LETTER to Kevin Duffin, owner/developer of the Flatiron Building …
Sir:
We feel your significant contribution to the future of downtown living in Wheeling has been somewhat overshadowed by other significant projects in the same area, and we wished to recognize the fact the Flatiron Building is a true sign of local involvement with the revitalization of the city. Not only have you added commerce to the district, but thanks to you there are more residents that have, for the past three years, patronized the restaurants and other businesses in the downtown.
With the forward progress taking place with the transformation of the former Wheeling-Pitt headquarters, and the recent purchase of the McLure, your efforts have been mentioned only slightly. We wanted to fix that.
Thank you, Mr. Duffin, for taking the chance on downtown Wheeling; for setting a fresh standard of belief in creating a new metropolitan district featuring residential and the restaurant and retail businesses that will support that particular population and many more. But perhaps local folks will appreciate it more if they realize the extent of renovations to the building that was no longer compliant to today’s building codes.
You had to gut the 125-year-old building of its ancient electrical systems, plumbing, and HVAC. You reconfigured the space on each floor for the loft apartments, put a new roof on the unique structure, and created a street-level storefront area where Table 304 operates today.
So, again Mr. Duffin, thank you for making such a significant investment into downtown Wheeling.
Sincerely,
Wheeling’s Future
