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WHEELING -- Despite the ongoing buzz of construction outside along Main Street and the flurry of last-minute finishes inside the new apartment complex, The Doris on Main is getting ready to welcome its first tenants as early as next week.
Officials from the Woda Cooper Companies joined Wheeling Mayor Glenn Elliott and other city representatives on Monday for a tour of the newest downtown living facility that over the past 20 months or so has been under construction right at the primary entrance to the city from Interstate 70.
"I think it's a unique development to Wheeling," said Jeffrey Woda, founder of the Woda Cooper Companies. "I'm not sure there's anything else of this size that's been placed in service in the last few decades."
The Doris on Main is a new building constructed on what was a vacant city lot just off the Fort Henry Bridge exit to Main Street in downtown Wheeling. The building at 930 Main St. has a contemporary urban design with a light brick facade and red brick accents. There are 46 apartments with 19 one-bedroom units and 27 two-bedroom units.
Woda has constructed a number of other housing complexes in Wheeling, but The Doris on Main is a market-rate housing facility that is major part of what many consider to be a new renaissance in the Friendly City - with millions of dollars in public and private investments being poured into the downtown.
"To me, this is a sign of what downtown can be," Elliott said. "Downtown living driving first-floor retail - that's what this project is going to facilitate. It's also a strategic gateway location - now when you get off the bridge, your first view is not an empty parking lot that did not look very nice. This is a much more attractive, 'hey, welcome to Wheeling' look. It's a win-win in so many ways."
Both Woda and the mayor noted that the effort to bring The Doris to fruition was the result of a great public-private partnership.
"I can't say enough about Jeff and his team," Elliott said, noting that the city proposed the site for this project. "There's really not much available in Wheeling that's like this. There's a lot of older stuff, but not much new that's going to pop like this. This should attract a whole new demographic of folks.
"We hope we can do some more projects with Woda down the road."
The Doris on Main is named in honor of Woda's mother, the late Doris Ann Ingold Woda, a longtime Ohio Valley businesswoman who was instrumental in founding Woda Development and Construction Inc., the predecessor to Woda Cooper Companies.
On Monday, Jeffrey Woda noted that during the groundbreaking ceremony for the new apartment complex back in April 2022, his uncle - Dale Ingold, a brother to his late mother - gave a prayer. Ingold also passed away just two months ago.
"He'd been a lifelong resident of the valley - lived in Powhatan Point," Woda said, noting that The Doris on Main has truly evolved into a tribute to family members who helped bring aspirations into focus for him. "We've lost my mom and all three of her siblings in the last four years. For those that remain, this is kind of sentimental to them. This is something that we all started together in my mom's honor."
The project has evolved since the original concept was born. Woda officials said features on either side of the property spurred inspiration to follow suit with ideas that helped enhance the building. They saw the outdoor rooftop space that the Carl family created on top of the Bridge Tavern building down the street and decided to add one to The Doris. Also, the iconic Marsh Wheeling Stogies sign next door served as an inspiration to mimic its vintage style with "The Doris" sign on top of the building - done in as a replica of Doris Woda's own signature.
The rooftop terrace will be named in honor of Ingold, and several other touches throughout the building will serve as a nod to Doris Woda, such as etchings of her favorite flowers outside each of the rooms.
"We made some improvements to our original design as we went, and we think the investment was worth it," Jeffrey Woda said. "We also were able to leverage some Build West Virginia funds that weren't there when we first started that will be able to help offset some of those cost increases."
Apartments in The Doris have contemporary flooring and cabinetry, quartz countertops and designer lighting. All units have washers and dryers, and two-bedroom units have added built-in cabinetry in the dining areas. Layouts vary slightly, with some boasting kitchen islands while other units without the islands have large wall cabinets.
Community spaces include a coffee lounge, fitness center, theater room and the rooftop terrace.
"It's a big focal point," Erica Green, property manager at The Doris, said of the outdoor space atop the new building - an area that offers a unique view of the Ohio River and the two bridges. "Actually the pergola opens and closes with rain on its own. It's got a fan, and there's going to be furniture up there for people to sit in. It's going to be amazing.
"Each unit comes with one space in the 10th Street Garage."
Additional parking spaces in the adjacent garage can be purchased through the city, officials noted. There is controlled access to the secured apartment building. There will also be ADA accessible parking spaces near the building on the rear side, where an outdoor green space also houses a small dog park, as tenants are welcome to have cats and dogs 25 pounds and under. There are also three accessible units in the building with special features, and an elevator for use by all tenants.
Although work was continuing on some final details inside the building during the tour on Monday, officials said the first tenants are expected to move into The Doris on Dec. 29.
"We're moving very quickly - a lot will happen in the next week and a half," Green said. "With the construction out there - I think it does make it a little confusing about whether or not we're quite ready to go. We're really excited to let everyone know that we are."
Woda has continued to develop new housing complexes in Wheeling and in other areas throughout the Ohio Valley and beyond. On Monday, Jeffrey Woda noted that there undoubtedly is a need for new housing in the area.
"Obviously we wouldn't be here if we didn't think that the market was very healthy," he said, adding that the Downtown Streetscape Project, the many private investments taking place and the news that the Wheeling Inn will soon be demolished are undeniable signs of progress. "We're very excited about what the Bridge Tavern has done with that building on the corner, and I think they're excited that we're going to drive some customers to them. We're really excited about what was announced across the street. If there was any drawback from the beginning, it was what was going to happen across the street, but all of that anxiety has been very much relieved. We're really excited."
The Doris was supported by the city of Wheeling and the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), with financing provided by PNC Bank and Ohio Valley ADC, Inc.
Rental applications are now being accepted. For more information about The Doris on Main, visit www.wodagroup.com.