This rendering by the Desmone architecture firm and Tipping Point developers shows a proposed restaurant within the 1400 Market Street development. (Image Provided)

WHEELING — Work to revitalize the 1400 block of Market Street is progressing, and so are efforts by developers to build lasting relationships in the community.

The Desmone architecture firm and real estate developer Tipping Point, both of Pittsburgh, announced Friday they have partnered with three Wheeling nonprofits “to maximize community impact” as the Market Street project continues.

Desmone and Tipping Point have entered a memorandum of understanding with three community organizations — the YWCA of Wheeling, Helping Heroes and Grow Ohio Valley. These partnerships “aim to establish a framework of collaboration at the development in both the residential and commercial portions, maximizing proactive impacts on the community,” according to their released statement.

“It is common for certain kinds of developers to enter into these kinds of partnerships,” explained Betsy Sweeny, historic preservation program manager for Wheeling Heritage. “Both (Desmone and Tipping Point) are very rooted in the community development phase, rather than thinking ‘let’s just make money.’ This is truly a program to spark additional development and vibrancy downtown.

“They are all about working on projects that result in a major transformation in the community,” she added. “And an effort is being made to make certain the projects are in line with needs and what the community wants.”

Additionally, the partnership shows community involvement by the developers, and this unlocks financial incentives for them, Sweeny continued. They will be eligible for funding through the New Market Tax Credit Program, which provides money toward projects demonstrated to have “a tangible benefit to the community.”

As part of the partnership, the YWCA will share information and resources on affordable housing and job creation within the development with those seeking low-income residences. The YWCA will display job postings for building maintenance positions, as well as job opportunities in restaurant and coffee shop areas that result from construction.

“We are thrilled that local developers saving historic landmarks in town think about the community they are building in,” said Lori Jones, executive director of YWCA Wheeling.

“It is imperative to the success of the community that we care about our neighbors, what they may be going through and how we can help each other. The fact that Desmone and Tipping Point are ahead of the game by partnering first is a huge step into the success of the business.”

The developer’s partnership with Helping Heroes, meanwhile, will focus on their providing affordable housing units within the development for low-income veterans, according to the released statement.

“Helping Heroes views projects like this as extremely valuable because they add to the housing inventory and expand employment options for the veterans we serve,” said R.J. Konkoleski, Helping Heroes CEO. “On a broader scale, these investments are revitalizing downtown in a way that benefits residents of the entire Ohio Valley with more choices for living, shopping, and dining. We applaud the work of Wheeling Heritage and the developers in creating positive, sustainable, economic impact while preserving the city’s important historic structures.”

Additionally, Grow Ohio Valley has agreed to assist future food service tenants with finding local food sources, said executive director Jason Koegler.

“They are expecting to bring in a restaurant or food-related tenant, and we are committed to supporting that tenant with local produce and connecting them with the Ohio Valley Food Hub and local farms in the Ohio Valley,” he said. “We are very excited.

“The Ohio Valley food hub is breaking ground this summer. These are the partnerships we need to establish to give people that access point so they don’t have to rely on other (out of the area food) companies.”

Sweeny noted that recent efforts at the 1400 block of Market Street have focussed on stabilizing and remediating the building.

“It was full of debris and pigeons,” she said. “It was in quite a state of disrepair.”

Desmone and Tipping Point on Friday also released renderings of what a proposed restaurant area and a future coffee shop spot could look like in the building.

Sweeny noted the development is currently looking for first-floor tenants.

“Once we’re there, things should move pretty rapidly,” she said. “But it’s important to see progress is happening, and we’re interested in getting the right tenant.”