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Wheeling City Councilman Ben Seidler is right to continue pressing city administrators on the current status of the proposed $30 million Wheeling-Pitt Lofts project on Market Street. Taxpayers are, after all, investing $12.3 million next to the site to build a six-deck parking garage that the Lofts' developer mandated for his project to work.
Seidler's frustration deals with what he sees as an apparent lack of progress at the Wheeling-Pitt site. There was a flurry of activity after the project's announcement, but since then, work appears to have stopped
"Is there anything else that we can do on the city level to pressure them to get started on that project sooner rather than later?" Seidler asked.
"I've been in conversation with the developer," City Manager Robert Herron responded. "I think the developer is engaged. Currently, they are receiving bids and pricing on various aspects of the project. I do anticipate hearing back from him sometime within the next week to 10 days as to the status of that bidding."
That's good to hear.
It's possible that supply chain issues and other matters have cropped up to slow down this project. That's to be expected. But rising interest rates and other factors bring in a possible level of concern as to how much longer the project could be delayed.
Seidler is correct to raise the issue now, as taxpayers have a big stake in seeing the Lofts be completed. The developer should inform city leaders -- and the public -- as soon as possible as to his plans and timetable.