Don’t Mind Our Mess: Mayors Touring Downtown Wheeling View Construction as Sign of Progress

Emma Delk

WHEELING -- Dust in the city is a sign of progress and excitement for the mayors who toured downtown Wheeling during the final day of the annual Southern Municipal Conference.

Over the three-day event, representatives from 14 states gathered at Oglebay Park's Wilson Lodge to meet and gain insights about city leadership. Those participating in the tour of downtown included Martinsburg Mayor Kevin Knowles, Cave City, Arkansas, Mayor Jonas Anderson and Mayor of Mulberry, Arkansas, Gary Baxter.

The tour began at the hub of updates and construction in front of the former Wheeling Inn. Vice Mayor Chad Thalman, who served as the primary guide of the tour, detailed that the parking lot was once city-owned and in a state of disrepair.

"There were potholes everywhere, it was an ugly parking lot, so the city basically gave it away to a developer," said Thalman. "That developer has given the money back over the years in property taxes, so it was a nice partnership with the city and the developer."

While strolling past the Wheeling Suspension Bridge, Thalman pointed out that the street's sidewalks would be repaved and widened along with new water and sewer lines added as part of the Streetscape Project.

"This is why the streets are all torn up," added Thalman. "Some of the water and sewer lines are from the 1800s, so pure river water flowed through some of the pipes we've replaced in the last few years."

After a brief introduction to the updates planned from Thalman, Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Frank O'Brien took over as guide.

O'Brien gave the mayors a glimpse into the past of Wheeling through a tour of the Capitol Theatre and a viewing of the Suspension Bridge. Photo-taking and question-asking commenced at both stops, with the city leaders curious at how both features of Wheeling have been preserved over the years.

Anderson explained he wanted to "soak in the history" of the downtown area while also feeling energized to get back to work in his city.

"Wherever I travel for these conferences, I try to gather a lot of information to see what other cities do and how they make things work," said Knowles. "With Wheeling, I've noticed how they bring people together to make things happen."

The element of collaboration between private individuals and public organizations to bring development was an aspect of the city all three mayors noted.

"I see the progressiveness of how the community and private partnerships have come together successfully to restore some of the area's history, just like the bridge and the theater," explained Baxter.

The collaboration required to bring progress to the city was encapsulated in the final stop of the tour of Waterfront Hall. At the venue, the mayors got a walk-through of the building from owner Dan Milleson alongside meeting Avenue Eats owner Lara Graves.

Highlighting the importance of keeping his own vision while getting the building up and running, Mileson explained he had to take setbacks in stride during construction and planning.

Graves added that the pair dreamed big when working together to make the food hall, as the idea of having a venue with live music connected to a restaurant and bar would seem "crazy" to some.

Taken with the "energy and enthusiasm" of the young business owners, Anderson found he wanted to focus on bringing in newer generations to invest in Cave City.

"The big thing I'm taking away from this whole experience is to capture those people who will put kids in your schools and then want to set up a business there," said Anderson.

Baxter gained a new perspective on his city through the tour. He added that there were many developments he noted in Wheeling to take back to his hometown and "replicate in maybe a little different way."

"I think there's a valuable asset in the leadership here because everything rises and falls on leadership and then building those partnerships," added Baxter. "It's all about relationships, and you need those relationships with your federal government and state representatives.

It seems like Wheeling has brought the benefits of those relationships into fruition, which is a positive thing for the residents here."

For the three mayors, construction in a city is not an annoyance but a sign of progress.

"If you don't see construction, streets being torn up and buildings being redone, then you know you're a dying community," explained Baxter. "When you see all this in Wheeling, you know you're a growing community."

Anderson also noted that if work in an area is delayed for 10 or 15 years, "the city is going to look a lot worse than it does under construction, and it's going to be all for the wrong reason."

Summarizing how he saw Wheeling, Knowles remarked that the city is "just another prime example of progress in a state that is moving forward real quick, real fast."

"I see progress in what's happening," said Knowles. "Other people may see a disaster zone, but that's progress for the future, and the future doesn't happen overnight."