It’s different than expected.
Instead of finding it fascinating, it looks like it hurts. Like it doesn’t want to go anywhere after resting in place for more than a century along 22nd Street in Center Wheeling.
Following the three-month asbestos removal process, the gradual, $8 million demolition of the Ohio Valley Medical Center and its six buildings began a month ago and already the two parts of the Nurse’s Residence and the Hillcrest building have been leveled. Wheeling City manager Bob Herron said he believes the South Building is the next structure to be razed, followed by the East Building, the Education and Administration Building, and then, finally, the West Tower.
“That’s what has been discussed, but if the demolition company (F.R. Beinke Wrecking of New Jersey) has changed the order, that’s up to them. It’s their project,” Herron explained. “It seems to be going pretty smoothly so far, and it’s quite the process to watch. It’s the biggest demolition in the city’s history and that’s why it’s will continue for the next seven months.
“After that, the Earth will be moved for the ($75-$90 million) new regional cancer center that WVU Health Systems will build,” he said. “I’m not sure how long the Earth moving for the new facility will take, but I know WVU-HS will be ready when the demolition is completed. The center will be very important to this region.”
Officials with WVU-Health System teamed up with the City of Wheeling, the Ohio County Commission, and WVU Medicine to take control of the former OVMC campus in October 2023. The city and county contributed $2 million each to the $8 million demolition, and the project is expected to extend into August.
“That’s the timeline, but I think it appears as if they are going a little faster than expected,” Herron said. “I’m sure it’s difficult for the former employees to watch the process, especially if they worked there for an extended period of time. The hospital meant a lot to a lot of people who worked there, who were born there, and who were treated there. I’m sure a lot of lives were saved on that campus.
“When the campus was shut down, the City of Wheeling did everything possible to keep it an active place,” the city manager said. “In the end, though, this is the best option and now, more lives will be saved.”
The majority of Wheeling Council vote in June 2020 to acquire the campus from MPT, or Medical Properties Trust, in exchange for paying back property taxes and other fees that were due. The process began in early 2020 when Herron inquired about the City purchasing the former Ohio Valley Professional Center.
“That when the people at MPT suggested we take the whole thing,” recalled Wheeling Council member Dave Palmer (Ward 6). “So, the Professional Center is now our police headquarters and that was long overdue, and after marketing the buildings (on the OVMC campus) for a couple years, here we are, and I think the cancer center is going to be great addition to that area of Center Wheeling.”
