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Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott: Challenge The Status Quo

Elliott Wants to Change the Way People Think of W.Va.

Photo by Scott McCloskey Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott delivers his annual State of the City address last year at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack.

WHEELING — As with cities many times its size, Wheeling counts Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP and Williams Lea Tag among its employers, Uber ridesharing as one of its services — and a homeless population among its challenges.

“We are trying to make Wheeling a place that offers those same quality of life amenities that you get living in San Francisco or New York, or wherever your office is,” Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott said immediately after completing his second State of the City address on Tuesday. “People have preconceived ideas about what West Virginia has. We have to challenge those ideas.”

Tuesday, Elliott outlined a plan that could bring up to $45 million worth of new development to the northern portion of downtown during the next few years. This would include a $20 million apartment tower inside the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel building on Market Street, a $10 million parking garage on the opposite side of Market Street, and a public safety building on Market Street or Main Street which officials said could cost up to $15 million.

All three of these projects are linked in some way. Elliott said tax increment financing revenue generated from the work at the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel building would provide some funding for the parking garage, while creating both the apartment complex and the public safety building.

The parking structure would be needed because the safety complex would cover one of the existing surface parking lots. The new garage would hold as many as 550 vehicles, according to Elliott.

“What is clear to me is that the status quo cannot be defended if we are to keep public safety as one of our shared community priorities,” Elliott said of the public safety building, which would be funded through a levy to be placed on the November ballot.

“We must stay one step ahead of the crimes, disasters and accidents that always seek our weakest lines of defense. We must be proactive,” Elliott said.

Even before these new projects take place, the heart of the city buzzes with activity daily. From the ongoing renovations at the former Gerrero Music building, to the craft beer brewing in Center Wheeling, to the busy employees at the headquarters of The Health Plan, the Friendly City seems to be moving forward.

However, there are also homeless encampments along Wheeling Creek, and panhandlers are regularly seen near the Fort Henry Bridge and near Interstate 70’s Oglebay Park exit. Earlier this year, two homeless encampments were torn down. Elliott and City Manager Robert Herron said both incidents were mistakes. Elliott said he looks forward to working with groups such as Project HOPE, the Greater Wheeling Coalition for the Homeless and Youth Services System to address the homeless problem.

“The city has to be a partner, but the city is not ideally suited to be the service provider,” Elliott said. “We have to facilitate that conversation.”

In the theme of transforming Wheeling into a more progressive city, Elliott said this calls for, “taking off our drivers’ gloves and putting on our pedestrians’ shoes.” He said this calls for allowing two-way traffic on Main and Market streets in the downtown area.

“Walkability matters. Cities across the country are converting one-way streets back to their original two-way configuration; almost none are doing the opposite,” Elliott said. “The implication is clear: you want people to drive to your downtown, not through your downtown.”

Elliott also said Wheeling continues working to improve its “outdated recycling program.” According to the city’s website, Wheeling now collects magazines, newspapers, aluminum, steel and tin from households for recycling once every two weeks.

There is no mention of plastic, cardboard or glass. In the past, city officials have said plastic presents challenges because they can’t get much return from it due to its light weight.

“I know several folks who have moved here. When they find out how limited our recycling program is, it’s disappointing to them,” Elliott said.

Elliott and city council members also are asking for residents to approve a pay raise for the positions of mayor and city council, which would go into effect for those elected to serve in 2020. The matter will go before voters May 8.

“As we gather in March 2018, the state of the city of Wheeling is strong — and getting stronger every day,” Elliott added.

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