Council approves a dozen demolitions; accepts donation for riverfront park
From demolitions to infrastructure repairs to a ten-year comprehensive plan, 2025 began with council taking action on several major projects throughout the city.
WHEELING — The City Council of Wheeling met for the first time in the new year on Tuesday, Jan. 7 amid an ongoing winter storm event. Councilors approved a handful of ordinances and resolutions on a narrow-and important-agenda, including demolition contracts, approval of a ten-year comprehensive plan, and accepting a $20,000 donation for a memorial at a to-be-built riverfront park.
Demolition Derby
Councilors unanimously approved a $130,000 demolition contract with Aster Oilfield Services, Inc. of Bellaire, Ohio for the abatement and demolition of twelve properties throughout the city. The eighth such demolition contract in recent years, the city appears committed to clearing blighted properties throughout the city.
The contract will be paid from the general fund, but reimbursed by the state Department of Environmental Protection Dilapidated Properties Program, or DLAP.
The city of Wheeling has seen near-unprecedented demolitions since 2021, spurred in large part by an injection of federal American Rescue Plan Act and state DLAP funds. The city has used federal and state funds to demolish dozens of residential and commercial properties, as well as the former Ohio Valley Medical Center and the Wheeling Inn.
While many have celebrated the city’s work on abating and demolishing blighted properties, others have argued for a more progressive approach.
At an August council meeting, Jeanne Feinstein of Friends of Wheeling urged the city council to be more careful about the buildings they demolish.
“We are concerned about the buildings we’re losing in Wheeling,” Feinstein said. “We feel the city should offer a proactive approach to rehabilitate buildings before they have to be demolished.”
Several of the homes on this contract appear to have been occupied as recently as five years ago.
Feinstein spoke of 18 people from ten different states who she says moved to the Friendly City to rehab older buildings. “The fewer [older buildings] we have, the less opportunity there is there,” Feinstein said. “We would like to do whatever we can to save these buildings. We love old buildings.”
During the process of drafting the city’s ten-year comprehensive plan, staff from evolveEA warned the city that demolitions reduce the potential tax base in the city. They have suggested infill of new homes and businesses in the city where demolitions have occurred to ensure public utilities are able to retain full-funding.
2034 Comprehensive Plan
Councilors approved their ten-year comprehensive plan for the city of Wheeling. Subject to Chapter 8A of West Virginia code, municipalities in the state are required to research, draft, and approve a comprehensive plan governing future land use and development.
Staff from evolveEA of Pittsburgh, Penn. have worked with the city government, relevant boards, commissions, and committees, and the city’s residents to draft the plan.
This recent iteration of the city’s comprehensive plan suggests the city focus on four main areas of development: 1) redevelopment of the city’s waterfront, 2) landslide mitigation, 3) the creation of a regional transit hub with transit-oriented, walkable neighborhoods, and 4) expansion of commercial, mix-used spaces throughout the city.
Over the next ten years, the city plans to focus on retaining local talent, attract new families and professionals to move to the city, and strengthen involvement in the production of arts. To achieve these goals, the city plans to update its building and zoning codes, develop and maintain green space and recreation areas, expand child care services, and build new affordable housing options.
The city of Wheeling has seen funding flow from state and federal agencies to support its infrastructure upgrades, but this could dry up with Republican administrations at each level promising to cut spending. Still, the city hopes its work will encourage more private funding for redevelopment projects.
New riverfront park sees $20,000 memorial donation
Councilors unanimously approved and accepted a $20,000 donation to create a memorial at a to-be-built riverfront park straddling Wheeling Creek at its confluence with the Ohio River. Friends, family, community members, and the Knights of Columbus joined forces to raise the donation in honor of Cole Bertol, a 26-year-old who died unexpectedly in July 2021.
Chris Freeman, speaking on behalf of a group of citizens present at Tuesday’s meeting, said Bertol had a passion for water sports, particularly kayaking. Freeman proposed a boat landing at the proposed Robrecht Riverfront Park be named Cole’s Landing in Bertol’s honor.
Mayor Denny Magruder offered his thanks to the citizens who helped raise the money, adding that it’s “not often” community members raise money for a city project in this way.
The park project was announced in 2024, but work has yet to begin. The proposed riverfront park would feature green spaces, walkways, bike paths, and an area for people to enter and exit Wheeling Creek. Currently, the land has served as a homebase for construction vehicles during the city’s downtown streetscape project.
In April, Gov. Jim Justice presented the city with $1.7 million for the park area. The Intelligencer spoke to City Manager Robert Herron after the award was announced. Herron said the funds would be used for the walking paths, including the revitalization of several former rail bridges.
Mayor’s and Manager’s Report
During his report to council, Magruder wished citizens a happy and healthy New Year predicting that 2025 would be a “really exciting year in Wheeling.” The mayor went on to nominate several community members to the city’s Arts and Cultural Commission, Traffic Commission, and Tree Board.
Herron, during his report, walked councilors through the city’s 2025 budget schedule explaining key dates during the process. By Feb. 28, the mayor will submit to council a balanced budget. Per state code, this budget will then be submitted to the state auditor’s office for their review.
The council could adopt its fiscal year 2025-26 budget by April.
The city manager announced a paving contract of over one million dollars, with $800,000 from the general fund and $250,000 from the city’s Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). The funds would cover less than half of a “priority list” totaling some $2.5 million in road repairs. Herron said he would work on paring down the list to present to council at their March 18 meeting.
Ordinances passed; Ordinances proposed
A handful of ordinances and resolutions were adopted at the council’s Tuesday meeting, with one measure tabled for unspecified reasons. These include;
$18,500 with Erb Electric Company of Wheeling for replacement and installation of a flood damaged power pole;
Adopting the city’s 2034 Comprehensive Plan;
Tabling a renewal agreement with Century Realty LLC of Wheeling to market commercial spaces at the Market Street Parking Structure;
$418,000 with Verdantas of Wheeling for engineering services for wastewater treatment plant and road slip damages related to April flooding events;
$138,000 with Aster Oilfield Services of Bellaire, Ohio for abatement and demolition of a dozen properties;
$95,000 of CDBG funds to Fire Force Inc. of Columbiana, Ohio for self-contained breathing apparatus equipment; and,
A resolution accepting a $20,000 memorial donation in honor of Cole Bertrol for assistance with the Robrecht Riverfront Park project.
Those wishing to be heard
Carlee Dittmar of the Fulton neighborhood spoke of a litany of complaints she says she received from a number of citizens who do know their city councilor. Complaints range from landlord problems, alleged “looting”, how to request “handicap stickers”, dilapidated structures, and drug houses. Dittmar reignited her long standing request for repairs to her neighborhood’s playground.
Dittmar said the current city council was a stark change from the previous group, calling members the “friendliest group.” She encouraged members to identify themselves to their constituents so they may better understand who represents them.
City council names, contact information, represented wards, and ward maps are available on the city’s website.
The City Council of Wheeling will meet again on Tuesday, Jan. 21 at 5:30 p.m. Prior to that, and on the same day, the council’s Health and Recreation Committee will meet at 4:30 p.m., the Rules Committee will meet at 5:00 p.m., and the Finance Committee will meet at 5:15 p.m.
The Health and Recreation Committee is expected to discuss the Finance Committee’s December recommendation to demolish the historic Clay School.