Gayle Manchin Gets Briefing on Wheeling Projects
Photo by Joselyn King Trending
WHEELING - There are 29 different construction projects presently planned or ongoing in the city of Wheeling, and the Appalachian Regional Commission has provided seed money for many of them.
On Friday, former West Virginia first lady Gayle Manchin - now federal co-chair of the Appalachian Regional Commission - got a briefing from local leaders on what is happening in Wheeling and a tour of some current construction projects.
Manchin termed the ARC "a great partner" with communities.
"That is what we are - we are a partner. We don't come in and just hand out money," she said. "We look for (projects) where partnerships are created on the local level, and then it gets state support because people are working together.
"We are the third leg of the stool in that we usually come in and provide that last match that gets a project off the ground. But it's really the people at the ground level (who get a project done.) You work together. You are not competing against each other but working together to make your region better."
Manchin's visit began with a stop at Cliff House atop Grandview Street in Wheeling. From there, she got a chance to see an outdoor panoramic view of downtown Wheeling that owner Danny Swan described as "Wheeling's best 3-D model" in which to view improvements happening downtown.
The back balcony at the Cliff House provides an overview look at such things as solar panels having been placed on the former Stone and Thomas building, and the city's construction of a parking garage near the former Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel offices home.
Manchin went on to the Artisan Center in downtown Wheeling, where a project to renovate the first-floor area starts on Monday. As part of the project, the Artisan Center Shop on the second floor will move to the first floor and the River City Restaurant will be condensed into its bar area, with additional seating available outside.
Scott Schenerlein, executive director of Wheeling Heritage, then presented a PowerPoint presentation noting as many as 29 construction projects that are presently taking place in downtown Wheeling alone. At the forefront of these is the Wheeling Streetscape Project.
His presentation included talk of construction of a new visitors center in downtown Wheeling, and the transformation of the former Ohio Valley Medical Center campus into a new West Virginia University Medicine regional cancer center.
Other projects are either planned, in the works or recently completed. These include major renovations to the Bridge Tavern and Grill and the former Children's Museum, and the establishment of Robrecht Riverfront Park near WesBanco Arena and Gateway Park on Wheeling Island.
There is also work happening to open Waterfront Hall on Water Street, the DiCarlos Condominiums on Main Street and development projects on the 1400 block of Market Street.
Mayor Glenn Elliott informed Manchin "there were about 30 projects taking place in the area right now, with hundreds of millions of dollars being invested in Wheeling at the same time."
"It's really a once-in-a-generation opportunity for us, and it's thrilling to be a part of it," he said.
Manchin next had lunch at the Public Market before moving on to tour the Augusta Levy Learning Center, where employees informed her of how they are working with children with autism to help them reach their highest potential.