×
X logo

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox.

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)

You may opt-out anytime by clicking "unsubscribe" from the newsletter or from your account.

Wheeling Leaders Prep For Streetscape Project

Tentative plans call for renovation

Photo by Scott McCloskey City of Wheeling leaders and the West Virginia Division of Highways have reached a tentative agreement for a major streetscaping project encompassing Main and Market streets between 10th and 16th streets, including all cross streets.

CHARLESTON — Plans for a major streetscaping project in downtown Wheeling, including new sidewalks, could be finalized soon, city officials say.

On Monday, city council members, Mayor Glenn Elliott and City Manager Robert Herron met in Charleston with the state Division of Highways officials about the project, and reached a tentative agreement.

“The officials we met with today from highways indicted it is a ‘go’ project,” Herron said, noting DOH officials presented a draft agreement for the project that’s associated with The Health Plan’s $16 million, 53,000 square-foot, four-story headquarters that’s being constructed for 375 employees in the 1100 block of Main and Market streets.

The company is also working on the former Horne’s building, into which it already has moved about 80 more employees.

Next, city council and the DOH must finalize the streetscaping agreement, Herron said.

The project “includes all new sidewalks in the downtown, from 10th to 16th streets, to Market and Main streets,” Elliott said.

The project also includes 12th and 14th streets, Herron added. Plans also includes street repaving within that area.

Herron previously said the multi-million dollar project will be funded with a combination of state funds and revenue from a tax increment financing bond issue. Tax increment financing is a tool that allows local governments to borrow money for development projects in a defined district, on the promise they will repay the debt with the proceeds from future gains in property tax revenue within that district.

Elliott said the improvements promote several objectives of the city, including making downtown more walkable and making it more attractive to investors who may consider relocating their businesses to Wheeling.

“People want to invest in downtown, and want it to look as attractive as possible,” he said. “We think this will stimulate investment.”

Some of Wheeling’s elected officials and city staff were in Charleston for the West Virginia Municipal League’s Mid-Winter Conference on Sunday, and for the league’s Municipal Lobby Day at the Capitol on Monday.

With hundreds of workers from The Health Plan expected downtown by the end of this year, additional amenities such as restaurants and housing are expected, as well.

NEWSLETTER

Today's breaking news and more in your inbox

I'm interested in (please check all that apply)
Are you a paying subscriber to the newspaper? *

COMMENTS

Starting at $4.73/week.

Subscribe Today