2008: CAPITOL MUSIC HALL
Downtown Still Waits For the DevelopmentBy CASEY JUNKINS
Article Photos
WHEELING - As 2008 began, City Manager Robert Herron and former Mayor Nick Sparachane said they had an aggressive plan to re-open the Capitol Music Hall and revitalize downtown Wheeling.
As the year comes to a close, Herron and current Mayor Andy McKenzie are still trying to implement the changes they believe will lead to a rebirth of the city's downtown business district.
The downtown, overall, continues to deteriorate. A recent walk on Main and Market streets revealed more than 40 unoccupied store fronts. The Capitol Music Hall, downtown's most marketable attraction, also remains closed.
Tax Increment Financing and the Wheeling 2020 Plan
Herron and Sparachane's original plans for redeveloping downtown included using $2.5 million in Tax Increment Financing to renovate the Capitol, which has remained closed since May 2007 when owner LiveNation learned of multiple fire code violations at the venue. Plans also called for using $2.5 million in TIF dollars to purchase and demolish a series of buildings in the 1100 block of Main and Market streets.
On May 9, Herron and Sparachane unveiled the Wheeling 2020 plan for the future of the city's downtown. The city, along with the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Regional Economic Development Partnership and the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corp., paid $70,000 - $17,500 per agency - for the downtown development plan formulated by Pittsburgh-based EPD Consultants.
The plan includes specific recommendations for future development in four main zones throughout the downtown - "Music Row," "Lower Main," "Riverside" and "Creekside."
Music Row encompasses areas of Main Street from the Wheeling Suspension Bridge at 10th Street to the Heritage Port Business Center. Because the zone includes the Capitol, development recommendations for this area focus on music and entertainment, as well as boutique retail shops and office space.
Lower Main includes the area of Main Street from the Heritage Port Business Center to the the Robert C. Byrd Intermodal Transportation Center. The plan calls for business in this zone to focus on office space as well as retail and restaurant development.
Riverside includes all of Water Street from 11th Street to WesBanco Arena. Officials would like to create a corridor for pedestrians with facades that would promote a more active sidewalk environment along Heritage Port.
Creekside consists of the area surrounding Wheeling Creek from its mouth at the Ohio River to Market Street. Ideas for this zone include room for back office development, work lofts for artists and entrepreneurs, and room for a possible hotel in the area currently used as a parking lot between WesBanco Arena and the creek.
The Wheeling 2020 plan also calls for the construction of brick street surfaces at several intersections along Main, Market and Water streets, as well as large music notes on downtown sidewalks.
Current city officials have not been clear about when, or even if, the Wheeling 2020 plan will be implemented.
Capitol Feasibility Study
In May, WHNAC Executive Director Hydie Friend announced she had hired Economic Research Associates of Washington, D.C., to conduct a market feasibility study for the Capitol.
Friend previously said a group of "interested parties," including WNHAC, RED, the Wheeling CVB and the city, had been working to see how they can re-open the 1928 theater. The primary concern with the Capitol is whether it can be a profitable venture for any potential buyer.
The city of Wheeling currently has $2.5 million in TIF money available to upgrade the Capitol; however, the money cannot be used to purchase the structure. The TIF application states the city would use $2.1 million to address life safety codes and $400,000 to build a new roof.
But due to the current state of the economy, McKenzie has said the city does not intend to issue more TIF debt in the near future.
Market Street Plaza
Installing new sidewalks with metered parking, new brick patios and a new fountain are some of the improvements city officials are looking to make to the Market Street Plaza.
The plaza - which is officially classified as a municipal park - runs along the west side of Market Street between 10th and 11th streets in downtown Wheeling. About a decade ago, the plaza was frequently filled will bustling activity. Folks would carry bags of merchandise out of Stone & Thomas and would stop for snacks and treats at some of the nearby specialty shops. Other residents would just enjoy walking through the park.
Though foot traffic in the plaza has taken a dip in recent years, city Development Specialist Kurt Zende believes the area can be revitalized. He recently said action on the plaza plan could be taken by the city's development committee in the near future.
The 1100 Block of
Main and Market streets
McKenzie recently confirmed that the city issued $715,000 in TIF bonds to fund the purchase of the former Rite Aid building, former G.C. Murphy building and former River City Dance Works buildings in the 1100 block of Main and Market streets.
While city officials explore development options for these buildings, they have taken steps to begin cleaning up the structures to make them more appealing to potential tenants.
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TexasDoc
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01-22-09 10:03 AM
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I grew up in Wheeling duriing the 60's & 70's, and enjoyed so many aspects of the town. After being away for about 25 years, it came as quite a depressing shock to see what has happened to downtown. Especially the music hall. Tough to believe the community would let so much go. Wheeling really is a beautiful place folks. Just live in NYC, Chicago, LA & Texas and you will realize how nice a region the Ohio Valley really is.
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gliderider
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01-01-09 7:26 PM
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nothing like the last hopes of a city that is doomed................:)
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PHANTOM
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12-29-08 3:50 PM
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What happened to the $65,000 study that was paid for by the National Heritage Corp? A group of us wants to start a non-profit but are continually told to hold off for the "phantom group" to do something. If we sold seats for the Capitol, we could buy her.
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EllisWyatt
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12-28-08 2:13 PM
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I will offer you a "consult" at no charge: 1. Weed out political corruption. 2. Place strict limits on public housing. 3. Crack down on crime. 4. Align city spending with population/tax revenues. 5. Fight Charleston to lower corporate taxes and eliminate B&O. 6. Make Workers Comp simple and make it cheaper. 7. Push for Tort Reform. 8. Pass an Open Shop law. 9. Do away with Prevailing Wage projects. 10. Invest in infastructure. 11. Stop trying to be all things to all people. Play to your strengths. 12. Spend whatever money is necessary to attact a Fortune 500 HQ to Wheeling. This will give Wheeling street cred and, combined with other reforms, will attact other companies. 13. Make land available for industrial/office parks ala Southpointe. Offer tax breaks, reduced rents, etc. 14. Invest in education. Create real jobs to keep intelligent people in WV. There. My "study" cost you nothing but time.
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Thoughtful
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12-27-08 10:37 PM
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Hope gives way to vision which gives way to action which gives way to success. If you think you can, you will, if you believe you cannot, you will not. Wheeling is Wheeling. Fifty years from now it will be a thriving, growing area of this country. Let us begin now to build for the future.
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SphinxRising58
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12-27-08 5:12 PM
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nikjr88: I like you way of thinking, as I have been saying that myself for many years. You cannot offer a one trick pony & expect people to keep comming to watch it. Look at that other former theatre on Market street, they are making it work because they do variety insteadof the same thing all the time.
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SphinxRising58
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12-27-08 5:08 PM
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wheelingizded: What happened to Wheeling was cast in stone for a variety of reasons: * Many of the local steel mills & coal mines closing. * Various factorys closing or moving elewhere. * Stores relocating to the Ohio Valley Mall, or just closing up for a variety of reasons. All these facors & many more all contributed to the slow decline of Wheeling as a bustling city like I recall it as a child in the 60s when around the hgolidays streets was so packed, you almost needed a bull dozer to get down the street from all the people out & about.
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billybob
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12-27-08 5:00 PM
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Wheeling can't even pay for the civic center and they think they can handle the Capitol? We need another big paying yokel paid to oversee the Capitol if these pipe nightmares go true. Management can not seem to care to keep money paying concepts in the civic center but they and city manager just get their paycheck for almost nothing. City manager ideas only come to try to keep heat off of him. Smoke and mirrors. Anyone want to buy the highpricelands? I sure hope that area doesn't come back and haunt us! Off subject I see we are wining in Afghan front. Same with Iraq. Hope Israel can handle their little spat. Hamas needs more of their own medicine. We need an answer man in the middle east. I vote we send the big boy himself. Rush! If we did that I don't know what his sheep would do without him hear! All sheep know is ditto. And the big wind goes to the bank with the big bucks and no dog in the race so to speak. I wonder how much bushite bash at camp cost us this holiday? Havanicenewyea
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nikjr88
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12-27-08 3:22 PM
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I think the Capitol would do well if they offer different talents besides country music. Why, not have comedians like they have had in the past? Too small for big talent, what about Larry the Cable guy, Seinfeld,and Gilbert Gottfried, they are big names. Take a look at Jeff Dunham, he has performed at smaller places than the Capitol. Why not offer different musicical talents? The Capitol had Three Doors Down perform and they sold out 2 nights. Why not have children's entertainers Diego or Dora? You have to have creative people to come up with ideas to appeal to everyone, not just country music loving people. I think it would be good for the city if it was ran correctly and appealed to everyone.
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JustAnotherLowWageWorker
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12-27-08 12:36 PM
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You want to make Wheeling more appealing to prospective businesses? Lower taxes! Otherwise, this is just a crappy pipe dream.
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kaiserhund
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12-27-08 9:29 AM
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Let's face it. The Capitol is too small to attract today's big name talent, and still be affordable for the average citizen of Wheeling. A new larger facility is needed. The city has to be marketed to out of town businesses or Wheeling will be an old nasty run dowwn city forever.
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kaiserhund
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12-27-08 9:28 AM
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Let's face it. The Capitol is too small to attract today's big name talent, and still be affordable for the average citizen of Wheeling. A new larger facility is needed. The city has to be marketed to out of town businesses or Wheeling will be an old nasty run dowwn city forever.
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Bartender
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12-27-08 8:23 AM
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"If at the end of four years downtown Wheeling looks the way it does today, we will be a failure," McKenzie said of himself and the six other City Council members ... Let's just hold them to their word. If they fail; elect someone else.
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joesr66
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12-27-08 8:14 AM
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All we have heard is talk and studys and that is as far as it goes. The first thing is to get all these so called property owners together and have a talk with them and tell them they have a 30 day time limit to start and fix up there store fronts and make them rentable. If not then the city makes there move to take over and fix them and slap a lein on the property, If it takes the Council members to make ordance to do it fine. This is the only way it going to come to past. Forget about the good old boys who owns these bulding. As far as the Capital the Fine Art Center at Wheeling Park is going to be it for Wheeling cause you dragged your feet to long.
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Michele
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12-27-08 7:54 AM
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Let's give them a chance. Maybe the new Mayor can do some good. Can't hurt!! We have waited this long. Maybe some volunteering to get the job done wouldn't hurt either...like let's take back our town so to speak. If some of these construction places and other companies could come together, we could fix it. Just like when a disaster strikes (god forbid) people come together, This maybe away to get the Capital fixed. Just an idea...
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wheelingizded
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12-27-08 4:21 AM
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Seems like every few years some "official" comes up with a plan to "save" downtown. This is just a way for those "officials" to line their pockets. 17,500 per consultant from Pittsburgh, sounds like an awful lot of money for news that downtown has a lot of empty storefronts. If they really cared about downtown something would have been done before they lost all the businesses. Sad, Wheeling has a lot of great history. "They" should look at some way to use that to make Wheeling interesting for future businesses.
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