Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel building renovation ready this spring

WHEELING -- The man in charge of rehabilitating the Wheeling-Pittsburgh Steel building told City Council on Tuesday that his company is ready to start construction this spring if the body can commit to building an accompanying parking garage.

Steve Coon, president of Coon Restoration and Sealants, spoke before council on his company's plans to convert the 12-story historic building into an apartment complex with about 110 market-rate housing units.

"We've gone about as far as we can go," Coon said. "Parking is really the biggest hurdle that we've got to overcome. If we can overcome that, you're probably going to have one of the most impressive market-rate housing projects in entire state of West Virginia."

Coon said that before construction can begin on the Wheeling-Pitts building, his company needs a commitment from the city that they will construct parking to accompany it. The apartments would require about 160 parking spaces, he said.

City officials have considered building a parking garage to accompany the project since early 2018. The most recent plan, outlined in a draft memorandum of understanding that is subject to change, involves building an $11 million parking structure on current parking lots between 1145 Market and 1145 Main Streets.

The funding source for construction of such a structure is still to be determined, city officials said previously. The draft plan also includes a land lease with the lots' owners for $15,000 monthly, a cost that would be covered by revenue the garage would generate.

Coon said he plans to invest $21 to $22 million into the Wheeling-Pitt building project, which he hopes will attract young professionals with disposable income to spend downtown. The rehabilitated building would also have retail space on its lower two floors, he said.

"Wheeling-Pitt's gonna stand out," Coon said. "People want to live downtown. They just need a nice place to live."

Coon, whose company is based in Louisville, Ohio, cited successful development projects Coon Restoration has completed on historic buildings in Ohio cities with comparable populations such as Canton, Kent and Hamilton.

The company is able to pursue the project in Wheeling thanks to the increase of the West Virginia Historic Rehabilitation Tax Credit from 10 percent to 25 percent approved last year, Coon said, adding that his company plans to develop the Marsh Stogies building next.

"I could develop anywhere in Ohio I want, but there's a reason we chose Wheeling," Coon said. "I think there's a lot of opportunity here, and I'm confident once we do two or three of these projects there will be seven or eight more projects right behind us."

The company will be ready to start construction work in about six weeks, Coon said, and the project could take 18 months to two years to be completed.

"I think it's important for the community to see that council supports what we're doing," he said. "Believe me, if I thought a parking garage wasn't necessary I wouldn't be up here telling you it was. But it really is in this case."

Also at the meeting, City Manager Robert Herron announced that a footbridge the city built near Wheeling Jesuit University is now open and available for students and residents to use. The project came about after the city received a $170,000 anonymous donation in November.

The city will finish work on the bridge to make it accessible through the Americans with Disabilities Act once the weather gets better, he added.

Council approved funding for three water distribution projects at the meeting, including $26,368 for a valve replacement project, $389,765 for a stackyard feeder main project and $20,321 for external antennas.

The antennas will contribute to the city's radio read water meter system, Herron said.

"Over the next four years, we anticipate having all water meters have a radio read, which means every single month you get an actual reading," he said. "It is clearly a benefit to the customer that they receive an actual reading every month."

Council also heard a resolution regarding a facade improvement grant for downtown restaurant Tito's Sloppy Doggs, 1068 Market St. The grant, for $11,100, is the 12th such to be considered by council.