Glimpse Offered Of Wheeling’s 1400 Market Block Future
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo provided
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo provided
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo provided
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo provided
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo provided
Renderings show what the 1400 block of Market Street could potentially look like when development there is complete.
Photo providedTrending
Those who walk past the 1400 block of Market Street in downtown Wheeling can see that it's a work in progress. Chain link fence wraps around the front of the buildings as large containers sit there to gather debris. But the developer of the 1400 Market Block project and the City of Wheeling have offered a look at what that section of the city could look like in the future.
The City of Wheeling has released new exterior renderings for the 1400 Market Block project. The initiative, developed by Chip Desmone, CEO of architectural company Desmone and coordinated by real estate development consultant Tipping Point, is currently in the process of revitalization.
Preliminary plans for the block include a large restaurant with outdoor seating and retail space on the bottom floors of the block's buildings. Parking would be found in the rear and the upper floors would become AirBnB units.
Desmone said his company has been revitalizing neighborhoods similar to downtown Wheeling for more than three decades and offers his company's Doughboy Square office building in Pittsburgh as an example of that.
"We believe a high-energy, mixed-use redevelopment in the heart of Downtown Wheeling creates a place for locals and visitors to thrive," he said. "This project will be transformational for the community and the city, we are delighted to assist the City of Wheeling in transforming their downtown."
Significant progress already has been made on the 1400 Market Block project, according to the companies and the city. Temporary shoring has been put in place to ensure the structural stability of the building during the renovation process, debris and water-logged materials have been safely removed from the site, and asbestos remediation is almost complete. Additionally, the windows have been temporarily sealed with plywood and the team is currently assessing the roof structures in order to make repairs to prevent further water infiltration and damage.
Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron applauded the project as a collaborative public-private effort.
"When finished, not only is this going to be an excellent addition to the downtown, but it clearly is an economic development project led by private sector interest and investment in revitalizing our community," Herron said.
The 1400 Market block has already attracted significant interest for its ground floor spaces. Desmone has partnered with Wheeling-based Century Realty to help in the search for the right tenants.