Wheeling Moving Forward With Major Demolition Project
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WHEELING -- City Council took action Tuesday to tear down and remove several dilapidated structures in neighborhoods throughout Wheeling in what officials described as the biggest demolition project of its kind in the city's history.
"This is the largest single demolition contract, citywide, that we've ever had," Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron said, noting there are more than a dozen deteriorating structures slated for removal. "We do have one large demolition in Warwood that is particularly expensive due to asbestos. This is a very large contract, it does reach all the way across the city in all the various neighborhoods."
Council members unanimously approved an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend city funds in the amount totaling $335,436 with Raze International Inc. of Shadyside for abatement and demolition, to be charged to the city's CIF Oil and Gas fund. Herron explained that for the first time, the city is using revenues from its oil and gas leases as the funding source for demolition projects this year.
City officials noted another company did submit a bid for the job, but its bid did not include asbestos abatement that will be required as part of the overall project.
Addresses of houses in Wheeling slated to be razed include: 536 Warwood Ave., 434 Highland Ave., 25 Pike St., 455-457 Kenny St., 833 Market St., 2736 Jacob St., 1003 Lind St., 1019 McColloch St., 407 N. Erie St., 33 S. Penn St., 430 S. Broadway St., 10 S. Frazier Ave. and 99 N. 23rd St.
According to the ordinance, the last address on the list -- 99 N. 23rd St., the former Warwood Presbyterian Church building -- will be razed after July 1 with the price locked at $120,065.
The funding source for demolition of that structure is yet to be determined, the ordinance stated.
In related action taken under another piece of legislation that was passed Tuesday, city council voted unanimously to approve an ordinance authorizing the city manager to spend $27,030 with Edgco Inc. of Lansing, Ohio, for abatement and demolition of 4411 Wood St. in South Wheeling.
Officials noted that this demolition was done on an emergency basis.
"This building was falling into another property," said Herron, noting that this was a larger, multi-family structure.
"These demolition contracts are another step towards removing blight from our neighborhoods and revitalizing our city, which has been a goal of this council," Wheeling Vice Mayor Chad Thalman said.
In other action Tuesday:
* Mayor Glenn Elliott noted that the Interstate 70 bridge work has entered its next phase, and new traffic patterns are in effect around the closed portion of the interstate in the westbound lanes just east of the Wheeling Tunnel.
"I want to thank all of our first responders for working to make what has been a pretty big impact on people's lives as minimal of a impact as possible," Elliott said. "There's no easy way to close down those sections of bridges and close down that traffic route without creating some negative impact. From what I can tell, things are going as smoothly as they could. This morning, I was out driving around to see the impact, and it didn't look like there was that much more noticeable traffic on Route 40 going over Wheeling Hill than on a typical day. So, I hope there are a lot of folks who are opting to use I-470 if they don't have to go into the downtown area.
"It's going to take a lot of patience. We've been spoiled, really, with some easy access into and out of town for many, many years, and that's going to change a little bit. We're going to have to allow ourselves a few extra minutes to go where we need to go for at least the next nine months, and then another nine to 10 months for the other side of that bridge."
* The mayor also mentioned that the State of the City 2020 is coming up and is scheduled to take place at noon on Tuesday, Feb. 25, at Wheeling Island Hotel-Casino-Racetrack. Information about the annual event and details about how to obtain tickets are available on the city's website.
* Herron mentioned that a subcontractor for Environmental Solutions took soil borings last Thursday as part of an ongoing effort to determine the feasibility of using property at the corner of 19th and Jacob streets for the city's proposed Public Safety Building to house the Wheeling Police Department and Wheeling Fire Department in a more modern facility. Soil samples will be analyzed, and there will be a determination regarding "if and what contaminants exist" at the site. Thereafter, a remediation plan will be formulated, and a cost estimate will be calculated.
* Resident Josh Riffle, who during previous council meetings has raised objections to the prayer traditionally delivered at the beginning of meetings, was escorted from the council chambers by Wheeling Police Chief Shawn Schwertfeger after he attempted to offer his own prayer at the beginning of the meeting and began setting up incense in the middle of the floor directly in front of the panel of council members as part of the prayer.
"You're not going to light it," the chief told Riffle, who said he would not light it, but continued setting up the incense.
"We're not going to disrupt, and we're not going to play games," Schwertfeger said, before removing Riffle from the meeting.