What Will Downtown Wheeling Look Like Following All of the Construction?

It’s been nine years since Wheeling residents first heard the term “streetscape” from former mayor Andy McKenzie after he made a deal with former Gov. Earl Ray Tomblin for a $9.5 million project that would have paved the roads and fixed the sidewalks.

Nine years later, not only do the locals know what a streetscape is, they also know walkability, public safety, eco-friendly landscape, and historical integrity have been added since and increased the price tag to $32 million.

The Good News: The taxpayers of West Virginia are footing the bill. The entire bill.

The Bad News: Trinton Construction is expected to finish the project in the Fall of 2025.

“I think everyone who works or lives in downtown Wheeling is looking forward to the end of the streetscape just like we were looking forward to the end of the interstate projects. It’s been a big project that seemed at times like there was no end in sight,” Herron said. “But now that people are starting to see the progress along Main Street, it’s helped people understand.

“There’s still plenty of work that needs completed, so we’re not out of the woods yet,” the city manager added. “But once the streetscape is completed, we hope to see even more private investment than what we’re seeing right now. We have a new condominium building under construction, the Doris apartments have new residents, the new parking garage on Market Street is finished and open, and the corner of 10^th and Main Street will be cleared soon.”

Despite plenty of progress along Main and Market streets, questions do remain about what downtown Wheeling will offer consumers and potential residents alike at this time next year.

River City, Waterfront Hall, Elle & Jack’s, DiCarlo’s, the Vagabond Kitchen, Rachel’s on 16^th, Mugshots, Tito’s, Taqueria 304, the Panda Kitchen, and the Bridge Tavern & Grill feature different menus, and a number of local businesses like the SMART Centre, Two Times: Clothing and Collectibles, ThrIVe, Wheeling Office Supply, Wesbanco, United, Truist, the Victoria Theatre, and 7-Eleven drive customer traffic.

But the fact that three tall structures are 100 percent vacant at this time – Absure Tower on Main Street, the Wheeling-Pitt Building, and the McLure Hotel on Market Street – is cause for concern.

The McLure was condemned by the City of Wheeling for a number of code violations in late November, and the hotel and apartment buildings have attracted the attention of the Wheeling-Ohio County Health Department, as well.

“As far as the McLure Hotel, it’s all about the code violations and making the improvements so it can reopen the lodging and the apartments they have there,” Herron explained. “The sewer issue is a significant issue that involves the safety of every person inside the building. That’s why no one can stay or reside in any of the apartments.

“Our inspectors have seen the sewer line that needs fixed, and it’s bad. It definitely needs repaired before anything else,” he said. “It involves the health and safety of others, but it’s not beyond repair. It certainly could be brought back to life and we’re hopeful we’ll see that take place.”

The Absure Tower has been vacant for several years after housing a radio station and a pair of attorney offices for more than a decade.

The Wheeling-Pitt, a 12-story building located at 1134 Market Street, has been empty since RG Steel declared bankruptcy more than 10 years ago. Dr. John Johnson, also the owner of East Ohio Regional Hospital, entered into a partnership with Coon Restoration’s Steve Coon to transform the skyscraper into an apartment complex with more than one- and two-bedroom lofts.   

“Anytime you have large, vacant buildings, it’s a concern,” Herron insisted. “We have been in communication with the folks who are in charge of each of those buildings, and they have told us that they are working on making improvements. In the case of the hotel, the violations have to be satisfied before business can be conducted again.

“I remain very optimistic about the Wheeling-Pitt loft project because the building is being maintained, and there’s been a lot of preliminary work that’s been performed already. Everything as far as debris is out of it and it’s ready to be renovated,” he explained. “And the owner (Peter Koume) of Absure Tower has been working on his building and he’s in communication with the city. He’s invited me, the mayor, and council to see what he’s been doing so far on the first floor.”

Herron holds hope progress will be made with all three structures – and with several others – in 2025.

“We’ve seen a number of property owners in the downtown step up and make improvements in the past few years, and we believe that will continue because of the (building) improvement programs City Council has established,” he said. “Plus, the streetscape and the improvements that have been made as a part of that project have instigated the private sector to get more involved.

“No one expects our downtown to be what it once was, but we do believe there’s a lot of potential now with the new sidewalks, the new signalization, and the new streets,” he added. “It’s already easy to tell how attractive it will be once all the work is complete.”