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YWCA Women’s Re-Entry Facility a Step Closer to Groundbreaking

By Eric Ayres 3 min read

WHEELING - The Wheeling Planning Commission on Monday approved a revised site plan for YWCA Wheeling’s proposed new $7.2 million re-entry facility for women in Center Wheeling.

The site plan for the new facility, to be known as Cathy’s Haven, originally was approved in April 2025, but since then some of the funding has changed and some minor tweaks to the overall plan have taken place, according to Lori Jones, executive director of YWCA Wheeling.

"It still is proposed to be a 20-bed facility for women in recovery," Jones said, referring planning commission members to a rendering of the proposed building. "That is the corner of Chapline and 24th streets. It’s going to be a 26,000-square-foot facility."

Jones noted that the state historic preservation office has approved the project’s design, which is required since the site of the new construction is situated within the Centre Market Square Historic District. The exterior of the building is designed to blend into the historic neighborhood, officials noted.

The property is currently a vacant lot located between the U.S. Post Office and Carin’s Pub, and it is just south of Wheeling’s landmark Chapline Street Row of privately owned Victorian residences on the National Register of Historic Places.

"It definitely fits the character of the neighborhood, which is great," said Wheeling City Councilman Ben Seidler, a member of the planning commission.

Some minor changes to the plans for the facility have taken place. Jones noted that the original plan for having parking underneath the structure has been scrapped since the previous site plan review. She indicated that the underground parking would be costly and was not really necessary, as parking will be available in the rear of the facility.

"Most of the people who will be staying there won’t have vehicles, so the parking will be mostly for staff," Jones said.

Stormwater collection features also will not be required by the city, so they will not be included in the design. Dumpster enclosures were not deemed necessary, as well, as the facility will simply use rolling garbage cans.

There are expected to be 10 rooms per floor on two different floors, with a bathroom for each room. There will be community spaces and shared common areas, as well as a kitchen.

The target population for the re-entry program is women coming out of prison with addiction problems who are in recovery, Jones previously noted. Stays at Cathy’s Haven are expected to be around six months for program participants.

A hearing before the city’s Board of Zoning Appeals is expected to take place later this month to address some requests for variances regarding issues such as setbacks.

Members of the Wheeling Planning Commission who were on hand during Monday night’s meeting unanimously approved the revised site plan.

"It’s exciting for our community," said Assistant City Manager Bill Lanham, a member of the planning commission. "Keep up the good work. It’s a good project."

Jones noted that if all goes well with the variances, the project will go out to bid in the coming weeks.

"Hopefully, we’ll be breaking ground in October or November," she said. "Then it will be one year for construction."

With New Markets Tax Credits, the project overall is valued at $9.8 million, Jones noted.

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