Conceptual renderings of four revitalized historic buildings in the 1400 block of Market Street show a bustling downtown scene around renovated and repurposed spaces there. The construction phase of the project could begin as early as March of this year. (Image Provided)

WHEELING — Construction on the long-awaited renovation of the historic buildings in the 1400 block of Market Street in downtown Wheeling is expected to begin as early as March.

Members of Wheeling City Council on Tuesday night unanimously approved a resolution approving a multi-year contract for a Section 108 Loan with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for the project.

City leaders previously approved legislation related to the Section 108 Loan, and the resolution that was passed Tuesday evening reflected some tweaks to the contract as recommended by the federal agency.

“Council approved a similar resolution for the Section 108 Loan, which is a $2 million grant for the 1400 Market Street Project,” Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron explained. “In reviewing the documents, HUD came up with some additional recommendations. Therefore they wanted an amended agenda, and those recommendations are included in this amended resolution.”

The city acquired four commercial buildings in the 1400 block of Market Street several years ago with the intention of working with a private entity to revitalize the block of historic buildings in the heart of the downtown area.

In recent years, the city has been working with Pittsburgh-based Desmone Architects and development consultants Tipping Point on the project. Chip Desmone, CEO of the architectural firm of the same name, created Standard Cigar Works LLC as the development entity that now has ownership of 1400 Market Street buildings.

While language in the resolution regarding the Section 108 Loan has been amended, the plan to redevelop the buildings has remained the same. The development will include the creation of a physical location for the Ohio Valley Food and Innovation Hub at the site.

“The project itself hasn’t changed,” Herron said. “It is still on track, hopefully, to close all of its financing – mainly the New Market Tax Credits associated with that project – by the end of February. I think the allocation runs out in March. So between February and March, we should have everything in line for that project to begin construction.”

This Section 108 Loan is part of a capital stack of more than $8.5 million being assembled to renovate the buildings into space for the Ohio Valley Food and Innovation Hub, along with other uses for the upper floors. Officials envision a restaurant, retail space, apartment units and Airbnb units occupying the property in the future.

“The contractor has been identified and is ready to begin construction,” Herron said. “We’re just in the process of finalizing all of the financing associated with the project. The Section 108 Loan is a key piece of that. We’re just making sure that everything is in order that HUD needs for those loan/grant monies.”

Each of the four buildings in the 1400 block of Market Street have a rich history dating back to the early 1900s and late 1800s. According to Tipping Point’s research, the building located at 1425 Market St., more recently occupied by The Sportsmans Club, is the oldest of the four buildings. Constructed in the 1880s, the brick Victorian/Neo-Classical building has been home to many businesses over the decades, from saloons to various auto companies and even The Manhattan Hotel.

The other buildings also boast elements of classic architecture, from Victorian to Flemish-style designs. They have housed tenants ranging from bars and restaurants to apartment units, an adult book store, a clothing store, a merchant tailor, a custom home decor shop and more. Local lore boasts tales of a backdoor speakeasy and ties to organized crime decades ago behind the walls of the buildings in the 1400 block.

While the city is a partner in the redevelopment of the historic buildings, Standard Cigar Works LLC is the entity that will be moving forward with the renovation and working with the contractor during the construction phase of the revitalization project.

“It’s a private sector transaction,” Herron noted of the work that is expected to get underway this spring.