Historic Clay School demolition appears inevitable
After a spirited debate, members of the city’s Finance Committee voted to recommend the school’s demolition and forward the issue to the Health and Recreation Committee.
WHEELING – The historic Clay School appears to be one step closer to coming down after members of the Finance Committee voted to recommend its demolition at a Dec. 17 meeting. With each member of council supporting its demolition, the fate of the school appears inevitable.
The measure will now move to the council Health and Recreation Committee for their consideration.
The Clay School, located on corner of 15th and Wood streets in the neighborhood of East Wheeling, has sat vacant for decades after the Ohio County Board of Education approved its closure in 1995. In December 2021, the city of Wheeling took ownership of the property.
After its acquisition, the city contracted Tipping Point Management Company to conduct public opinion surveys and feasibility studies. On Aug. 20, 2024, Tim Ambrose of Tipping Point presented his company’s findings related to the Clay School.
A public opinion survey saw roughly 1,000 respondents with 50% recommending the building’s demolition and another 50% recommending its rehabilitation. 73% of respondents suggested the site be connected to the nearby J.B. Chambers Memorial Recreation Park–a turf sports field.
The presentation projected high costs for rehabilitation, potentially totaling between $23 and $24.5 million. A scenario where the building is demolished and a new building constructed could see the city spend $13.7 to $24.1 million, depending on the new construction’s use.
Councilor Dave Palmer, Ward 6, and chair of the Finance Committee said the discussion needed to be had. At a previous meeting, City Manager Robert Herron requested council to revisit the Clay School as new-year contracts necessitated a concrete direction.
Vice Mayor Jerry Sklavounakis, Ward 4, and Councilor Ty Thorgnate, Ward 5, fellow members of the Finance Committee, expressed their support for demolishing the structure.
“I would like to save it,” Thorngate said, “but the only thing that makes sense for [the city] is demolition.” Sklavounakis said this was his position as well. “The value of this building is just not there anymore,” Sklavounakis said. “We should move forward and allow it to be demolished.”
Committee members opened discussion to the full council.
Councilors Tony Assaro, Ward 1, and Ben Seidler, Ward 2, expressed their support for demolition. “It doesn’t make a lot of sense to invest in [the Clay School] anymore,” Seidler said. “That building needs to come down.” Seidler expressed that East Wheeling is “overdue” for new investments.
Councilor Connie Cain, Ward 3, whose district includes the Clay School, and whose house sits behind the structure, agreed that demolition was the only way forward. She went on to express the frustrations and concerns other East Wheeling residents have conveyed to her.
“I feel that it should be torn down,” Cain said, “but our community objects to anything [in the new building] connected to that field.”
Cain was speaking about a decades-old controversy regarding the J.B. Chambers Recreation Park.
In 2010, the site was a city block of residential, and historic, housing. The city acquired the property, including that of a candidate for city council, and demolished them for the multi-million dollar field. At the time, East Wheeling residents were told they would be permitted to use the field.
Cain, as well as other East Wheeling residents, have stated the field has been locked, seeing residents excluded. Cain recalled a Father’s Day event where community members were asked to leave the field despite no one using it.
The field is mainly used by area schools, including Central Catholic High School, for practices and games. Other institutions, like the Laughlin Memorial Chapel, have used the space as well.
“It’s like we don’t hear [the citizens],” Cain said. “Hear us. If you build something, make sure we're not locked out.”
Other councilors attempted to assuage Cain’s fear.
“No one wants to lock East Wheeling out of the building,” Sklavounakis said. Mayor Denny Magruder, who expressed support for the Clay School’s demolition, said, after hearing Cain’s concerns, “maybe it’s time to sit down and negotiate.”
While it’s unclear what might replace the Clay School, councilors said they would not raze it and leave the property abandoned. Some members spoke of relocating the Nelson Jordan Center, a free fitness center in East Wheeling, to the new site, while private development was considered, too.
The Health and Recreation Committee, chaired by Cain, will consider the issue at their next meeting. City council will have the final say in what happens to the Clay School. With all seven members in favor of demolition, the historic site’s fate appears sealed.