West Virginia Northern Community College Greenspace, Parking Lot Taking Shape

WHEELING - A large lot operated by West Virginia Northern Community College -- getting upgraded into an open greenspace and parking area behind the school's B&O Building in downtown Wheeling -- is beginning to take shape.

Crews with Savage Construction of Wheeling have been working at the site, located between Chapline and Market streets near a closed-off section of 18th Street, since early December. The project was approved during a recent Wheeling Planning Commission meeting, according to Wheeling Economic and Community Development Department Assistant Director Tom Connelly. He said that, in addition to the parking lot and greenspace, a stormwater management retention pond is being created for the community college as part of the plans.

Connelly said what was once a small section of 18th Street behind the school was permanently enclosed as part of the project.

"It's private now," he said. "It's owned by the community college and it's just an access drive to their parking lots."

Gabe Hays, director of landscape architecture and planning for the Wallace Pancher Group, who participated in the Nov. 10 virtual meeting, said the look of the WVNCC lot will be compatible with what people will see in downtown Wheeling's streetscape plans. Wallace Pancher also is working on that project.

"We've done a lot of design here in a way that is consistent with a lot of the downtown projects we're doing, including the Streetscape," Hays commented.

The community college also made upgrades to a second parking lot operated by the school located at the corner of 16th and Main Streets earlier this year.

City officials have praised the effort put into the design for the parking lot improvement plans, noting that the designs not only met code but also exceeded the city's standards and will be a welcome addition to the downtown once completed.

Staff writer Eric Ayres contributed to this story.