Photo by Casey Junkins City officials are hoping to preserve the Absure Tower, at the corner of 12th and Main streets.

WHEELING –City leaders hope historic preservation tax credits will help save the vacant nine-story structure at the corner of 12th and Main streets, which once housed the National Bank of West Virginia, but most recently took the name Absure Tower.

With the demand for downtown Wheeling housing apparent with the successful Boury Lofts on Main Street, as well as the planned $20 million project at the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel Corp. building on Market Street, there is a possibility of creating loft-style apartments at the building. Still, now that it is more than 100 years old — and after some of the upper floors sustained water damage in late 2016 — city leaders know time is running short to save the structure.

“It has some magnificent facade features and some stunning views of the city, but it is in need of a full-scale rehabilitation from top to bottom,” Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott said of the building.

“The biggest obstacle right now though is time. Each month it sits vacant and unattended makes its ultimate rehabilitation less likely.”

“From talking to experts, I’m told it may make sense to build new building next to this one and then the two structures could share an elevator and staircase,” Vice Mayor Chad Thalman added, “It’s a unique building which I would like to see saved.”

According to the Ohio County Public Library, contractors built the structure in 1915 to serve as the Wheeling branch of the National Bank of West Virginia. Through the years, it has been known as the Klos Tower, the Medical Tower, the W.M. Marsh Building and the Absure Tower.

Ohio County Circuit Judge David Sims is the president of Absure Tower LLC. His company purchased the building in 1999 for $288,553. According to the Ohio County Clerk’s Office, Sims’ firm sold the building to “The Richardson Doyle Building LLC” on June 10, 2016 for $165,000. This is the last recorded transaction of the property.

“I have not spoken to the building’s current owner, who does not live locally. From the city’s perspective, I am troubled to see a building of this size and significance sitting vacant and unattended for any stretch of time, especially during some extremely cold stretches of weather,” Elliott said.

Real estate agents marketing the property for sale said the owner did not wish to comment on the matter.

After serving as the headquarters of a local radio station for several years, the building is now vacant. Attached to its door facing Main Street is a notice of violation of the city’s recently approved sidewalk snow removal requirement, dated Jan. 2.

The mandate applies to those who own buildings on Water, Main, Market and Chapline streets from 10th to 23rd streets. Also applies to Zane Street on Wheeling Island and most of National Road in Elm Grove. It requires removal of snow and ice from the sidewalk within 24 hours of accumulation. Owners who fail to remove the precipitation will likely see city employees show up to clean the sidewalk, with city officials then sending them a bill for $175 per labor hour.

“At 144 feet tall with a unique facade and a commanding location at 12th and Main Streets, this building helps define downtown Wheeling. It is as worthy as any for redevelopment, but it’s not without ample challenges,” Elliott said.

Elliott and Thalman said the success of the 73-unit Boury Lofts complex at the corner of 16th and Main streets, along with its current waiting list of approximately 50, demonstrates the demand for housing in downtown Wheeling. The market may grow with the new headquarters of The Health Plan in the 1100 block, as well as as employers such as WesBanco Inc., Williams Lea Tag, Ohio Valley Medical Center and Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe, along with various smaller legal and financial firms in the area.

Recently, officials with Louisville, Ohio-based Coon Restoration and Sealants confirmed plans to spend about $20 million renovating the former Wheeling-Pitt headquarters into an apartment complex of about 100 market-rate units. Assuming the developer ultimately qualifies for the 25 percent state credit, along with the accompanying 20 percent federal credit, the investor could receive credits of $9 million for the $20 million spent.