Wheeling Approves 15th Facade Improvement Grant For Downtown Buildings

WHEELING -- Owners of 15 downtown Wheeling buildings have now received grants from the city to perform exterior renovations.

Wheeling City Council approved the latest two grants through its Facade Improvement Program on Tuesday, bringing the total amount awarded by the city through the program to $185,975, Mayor Glenn Elliott said.

“From the city's perspective, this is precisely the sort of incentive that we wanted to create to encourage private property owners to make investments in their own properties,” Elliott said. “Facade improvements in particular can serve to increase an area's overall property values and encourage other nearby property owners to pursue improvements of their own.”

The program, implemented in April of 2017, provides money -- up to $15,000 per structure -- and design assistance for projects to improve the exteriors of commercial buildings in downtown Wheeling's business district. Eight of the 15 projects have been completed, with city reimbursement totalling $95,469, while seven are still outstanding.

Meanwhile, investment by the private sector on facade work through the 15 projects comes to about $900,000, Elliott said. That figure doesn't include additional work on interiors, he said.

On Tuesday, council members voted to approve two resolutions for facade improvement grants: one $15,000 grant for 1054 Market St. and a $9,245 grant for the First Presbyterian Church, 1307 Chapline St.

“This building is one of, if not the oldest, building still standing in Wheeling,” said Nancy Prager, director of economic and community development, of the church.

The church was built between 1823 and 1825, is the oldest surviving church in Wheeling and is often cited as the oldest building still standing downtown, according to the Ohio County Library's website.

Now, the church plans to use the money for a fire escape on the Greek Revival-style building. The ground that the church was built on was donated by Noah Zane, son of Wheeling founder Ebenezer Zane, according to the library.

In addition, the company Innovative Endeavors, which owns 1054 Market St., plans to use the awarded money for a new roof.

“As work was being done on the interior, it was determined that the roof is in worse shape than originally thought,” Prager said of the Market Street building. “It is now necessary to stop all interior work until the roof is completed.”

Facade projects for all grants awarded from 2017 through January have been completed, except for a $15,000 grant for the Fort Henry Club building, 1324 Chapline St., awarded in June of 2017. The buildingís owners requested two extensions in the past two years, according to the city.

The project involves the most extensive work being pursued under the program and is “moving forward daily,” Elliott said. David H. McKinley of McKinley Architecture and Engineering, which owns the building, did not immediately return a request for comment Wednesday afternoon.

The city program can be used for commercial buildings in the Central Wheeling Business District, generally defined as the area between Interstate 70 and 23rd Street, bound by Chapline Street and Water Street.

Eligible improvements include exterior painting or surface treatment, decorative awnings, window and door modifications, outdoor patios and decks, storefront enhancements and architectural features, according to the city.

“The facade improvement program is an example of a successful public private partnership that has delivered noticeable and positive results in our business district,” Vice Mayor and Councilman Chad Thalman said.