Mural Planned Overlooking Former TCI Building Site
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WHEELING - The former TCI building is now only a memory at the corner of National Road and Junior Avenue in Elm Grove, but an image of the site in its prime soon will look out on motorists driving past.
The TCI building was demolished in September after sitting vacant for 30 years. The city of Wheeling owns the property but has yet to express plans for any future use.
The Elm Grove Business Association, meanwhile, wants to make it beautiful.
Association President Kristy Ferguson, owner of Elite Massage Therapy in Elm Grove, is using her talents as a trained artist to help improve the look of the site.
Ferguson has created an image that shows the former TCI Building as it sits along National Road, and the plan is to make it into a mural that will hang on the now visible exterior wall of the neighboring State Farm building.
"It's a street view with the TCI Building in it. It’s like the building is in the shadows, but it's not there anymore."
Ferguson also acquired the iron window guards from the old structure that were going to be discarded.
With some help from Wheeling Park High School students, those guards are going to be repurposed into new fencing around the lot. The fence line will go along the creek side, and Junior Ave. side.
The goal is to raise $15,000 to do all the work, according to Ferguson.
To fund the project, she has created ornaments and keychains depicting images of the TCI Building along National Road, as well as the nearby Monument Bridge. Ornaments cost $5 each; and key chains, $3.
"It's my original artwork," Ferguson said. "(The National Road image) seems to be a pretty popular one, and I thought the street view including the TCI Building would be. And everybody loves the Monument Bridge. You can't go wrong with that."
She noted she is certain what will eventually become of the lot.
"It may become a parking lot, or remain a green space," Ferguson continued. "If it's a green space, I will have my hands in that as well.
"This is our way to preserve history while moving forward into the future."
Wheeling Councilman Dave Palmer, who represents Elm Grove neighborhoods on council, said city officials have yet to decide what that future will be for the former TCI property.
"We don't have any specific plans for the site," he said. "Everything takes money.
"A fundraiser is a good idea. Once we raise the money, we will see what will fit in the budget."
Those interested in obtaining a keychain or ornament should call Ferguson at Elite Massage Therapy at 304-563-5674, or message the Elm Grove Business Association through Facebook.