Downtown Demolition Ramps Up at Future Health Plan Site in Wheeling
Company has four weeks to clear site
WHEELING — Crew members with Edgco Inc. began demolition Friday of the last remaining buildings on the site of The Health Plan’s future downtown Wheeling headquarters.
The not-for-profit managed care organization announced its move from St. Clairsville to Wheeling in December. The demolition is a sign of progress for the construction of an estimated $16 million facility, which is scheduled for completion by the second quarter of 2017.
Tim Edge of Edgco Inc. said the company has four weeks to clear the site, but said it likely won’t take that long.
As part of the development process, the city of Wheeling purchased both remaining buildings, located between Main and Market streets, from Panda Chinese Kitchen and Vocelli Pizza. An estimated $650,000 went toward acquisition, as well as relocating both businesses and the cost of demolition. The money was generated from a $9.67 million tax increment financing bond issued in March.
In this process, the city also acquired two buildings that sit across from to the Health Plan site, at 1107 and 1109 Main St. The former will also be demolished at some point, while the latter will be held for economic development. The total cost was an estimated $315,000.
The Mills Group has been responsible for designing the new headquarters. At a city planning commission meeting in March, architect Victor Greco said the building is expected to be 53,000 square feet, four stories tall, and occupy 1.3 acres of land. A considerable amount of green space, complete with an amphitheater, will decorate the campus.
Clients will have access to a connected parking lot, offering 25 spaces.
An estimated 350 people will work at the new facility.
This has prompted both enthusiasm and concern on the city’s behalf. Namely, the city has sought to address where these people will park. Former Mayor Andy McKenzie formed an ad hoc city parking committee in April to discuss this and general downtown parking woes, but the committee announced a hiatus soon after in May.
A sizable streetscaping and paving project, estimated at $7.2 million, will accompany the Health Plan development. The West Virginia Division of Highways will partner with the city to repave Main and Market streets from the Fort Henry Bridge to 16th Street in summer 2017. New traffic signals, sidewalks and landscaping will improve the appearance of downtown’s main thoroughfare.
Health Plan CEO James Pennington had said the company asked state officials to consider such infrastructure upgrades, and said leaders in Charleston committed when it learned The Health Plan was preparing to move.
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