New Behavioral Health Center Building Planned

WHEELING -- The last remaining tenant of the Ohio Valley Medical Center is looking to build a new health care facility and relocate its services to another location in downtown Wheeling.

This week, the Wheeling Planning Commission unanimously agreed to grant site plan approval for a project designed to construct a new addition for Northwood Behavioral Health Center onto its existing administrative office building on 19th Street.

Dan Grant, vice president of M&G Architects and Engineers, told members of the planning commission the addition will bring a variety of Northwood Health System's behavioral health services to a new, updated facility at 111 19th Street near Wood Street and Lane 16.

"Northwood Health Systems embarked on this project as accelerated by the recent closure of OVMC where they had been a long-standing tenant for many years," Grant said, noting that the new addition will be slightly larger in size than the Northwood Behavioral Health Services Center space at the former OVMC campus on Eoff Street.

The building wing where they were previously located was 27,360 square feet on two floors, and in order to accommodate the relocation of services offered at the OVMC location, Northwood is currently demolishing the existing warehouse space adjacent to the 19th Street location to make room for a new two-story building addition, Grant said. That building will be 24,800 square feet on the lot adjacent to the east of the existing two-story building.

The current Northwood building on 19th Street is located in an industrial area of town. The building houses offices that handle many of the administrative functions for all of Northwood Health System's branches, Grant said.

Plans call for the new addition to maintain the red brick facade similar to the existing building, but also bring a contemporary, residential feel to compliment the function of the additional services that are being relocated to the location. Fiber cement panels on the second floor of the structure will add a more warm and welcoming appearance, while the red brick ground floor exterior will give a nod to the industrial history of the site.

"We feel it will improve that corner on 19th and Wood streets," Grant said. "We're looking to start construction in August of this year. It's going to be a great service and an upgrade from what they're currently being able to offer."

The warehouse that stood near the corner of 19th and Wood streets was razed in recent weeks, Grant said.

According to the plans, new sidewalks will be constructed in a pedestrian-friendly setting, as will new access points to the property with a pull-through overhead canopy in a drop-off area, new Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant parking and a new main entrance to the entire facility opening into a new public lobby area.

The two-story addition will house the center's Crisis Stabilization Unit, outpatient therapy rooms, clinical spaces, offices, 16 bedrooms for "resident" patients, group therapy rooms, kitchen and laundry rooms and more.

Jeff Mauck, chairman of the Wheeling Planning Commission, noted that three variances will have to be approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals before the project can proceed. The project plans exceed the lot coverage size, do not meet parking specifications and do not meet setback requirements, Mauck noted.

If those variances are approved, officials indicated they support the project and would like to see it come to fruition.

"We certainly do need to have this type of service within our city," City Solicitor Rose Humway-Warmuth said.

"We're delighted to have upgraded behavioral health services," Planning Commission Member Martha Wright said.

Late last year, OVMC permanently closed its doors after serving the medical needs of the city of Wheeling and the Ohio Valley for many decades.

Currently, Wheeling City Council has been considering acquisition of the buildings on the OVMC campus, minus the Robert C. Byrd Adolescent Behavioral Health Services building on Eoff Street. Officials have noted the property is valued at approximately $40 million, and the current owner, Medical Properties Trust (MPT) of Wheeling-Alecto, is offering to transfer the property to the city for basically the price of any outstanding taxes and expenses associated with closing costs.

Members of Wheeling City Council were expected to meet this morning in executive session to discuss the possible purchase of the OVMC property.

According to the draft sales documents, Northwood Health System currently is the only tenant still leasing space at the campus. The ground floor and first floor of the building at 2121 Eoff St. is currently being leased by Northwood for its Behavioral Health Center, and if a decision is made by Wheeling Council to move forward with the acquisition , the city is expected to take over the remaining term of that lease.