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Look Realistically At Old Buildings

Mayor Glenn Elliott is right that if the city of Wheeling is going to insist other property owners keep their buildings in decent condition, it has an obligation to do so itself.

That does not necessarily mandate that nearly $1 million be used to repair some city-owned structures that are in deplorable condition, however.

In question is the future of six city-owned structures. Two are in the 1100 block of Main Street, directly across the street from the new building being constructed to house The Health Plan’s headquarters. Four others are in the 1400 block of Market Street.

Elliott has suggested part of the nearly $1 million carried over from the fiscal year that ended June 30 could be used to begin repairing the six buildings.

That would not affect the rear of 1433 Market Street, in such unstable condition that it probably will have to be demolished.

All six buildings appear to have been neglected badly, to the point that, according to the mayor, previous owners placed buckets on upper floors to keep water from leaky roofs from soaking through to lower floors. Clearly, new roofs would be needed on all six buildings.

That would be just a start in repairing them to the point they could be usable.

Wheeling has become known as a preservationist town, where many Victorian-era structures have been restored to their former beauty and utility.

But the question that needs to be asked about the six buildings in question is whether spending an enormous amount of taxpayers’ money on them is the wisest use of the funds.

If there was realistic development potential in the structures, why has no one in the private sector stepped forward to buy and repair them?

Perhaps the buildings can fit into an urban renewal strategy for downtown Wheeling. But before launching an expensive repair project, how that would happen needs to be made clear. City officials should look into that aspect of the proposal before making any decisions.

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