By DEREK REDD

When Betsy Sweeny came to Wheeling Heritage four years ago, she already had a background in post-industrial urban landscapes as a Pittsburgh native. She knew the challenges. She also knew the potential rewards.

“I know how great the payoff can be when those places take on a new life,” she said.

As Wheeling Heritage’s director of heritage programming, Sweeny takes a hands-on role in helping older buildings around the Friendly City find that new life.

In her role, Sweeny oversees Wheeling Heritage’s programmatic activities, and also executes the organization’s historic preservation and economic development initiatives. To do that, she tries to strike a balance between in-the-weeds project management and higher level strategic planning.

She spends about half her time working with Wheeling Heritage staff developing programs in arts and culture, small business development, media, education and interpretation, and historic preservation. The other half is spent actively participating in historic preservation.

Sweeny provides technical assistance to property owners, manages internal development projects, administering preservation programs and, she said, “really anything else that has to do with old buildings.”

Those old buildings around the city are what enticed her to move into the Northern Panhandle from the Steel City.

“I came to Wheeling because of the beginnings of revitalization I saw taking place, and the desire to move that forward,” she said. “This area has some of the best puzzle pieces available – beautiful architecture, great community, financial incentives to spur development … I could go on.

“But those puzzle pieces are jagged and complicated and hard to put together, and too often people just give up,” she continued. “I love working to put the pieces together. I love finding a solution where others feel there is none, and love the payoff that comes from making the impossible possible. I think Wheeling deserves so much more than it asks for, and if I can be a small part in making it better, that excites me.”

Sweeny plays her part in improving the community in areas beyond her professional role. She also takes part in several civic organizations. She serves on the boards of the YWCA, the Ohio Valley Regional Transit Authority and the Preservation Alliance of West Virginia. She also chairs the Arts Commission, and sit on the Historic Landmarks Commission and Facade improvement committee. She previously was a board member of Generation Wheeling, now known as Bridge OV, and the YSS youth mentoring network.

She has participated in those groups already at the age of 30 and with just four years in the valley. That’s something Sweeny considers one of the biggest bright spots of the Ohio Valley for young professionals. They can get involved in the community in meaningful ways at a relatively young age.

“You can sit on the sidelines and say you wish things were different, but in Wheeling, there’s a real opportunity to put your money where your mouth is,” she said. “In larger cities, you may not have the opportunity to serve on a board until your 40s. In Wheeling, you can get involved in whatever organization you feel aligned with.

“As each generation becomes more individualistic, I think Wheeling provides a counter narrative and lifestyle that fosters community, gives people a sense of belonging, and encourages civic engagement,” she said. “I think that’s key to moving us forward.”

Sweeny sees the future of her field in Wheeling as bright as long as the people of Wheeling embrace and work to preserve the past in its historic structures. She thinks the way that people view old buildings is changing, and that should be good news for the city

“For so long, the narrative has been that newer is better,” she said. “People my age were sold a story that we should aspire to a 30-year mortgage on a new construction home with an open floor plan in a cul de sac … and I think people are starting to realize that might not be their dream.

“Communities with sidewalks, homes made of real materials, and living a life you can afford to enjoy seems to be gaining momentum,” she added, “and that’s something Wheeling is uniquely positioned to provide, if you’re willing to do a little work.”