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Council approves $104,800 abatement and demolition contract after public concern about historic review
Summary
The Wheeling City Council approved a $104,800 contract with EdgeCo for abatement and demolition work (Contract 10), with reimbursement expected from a West Virginia grant, after public comment urging environmental and historic-structure reviews for older buildings.
The Wheeling City Council voted May 19 to adopt an ordinance authorizing the city manager to expend $104,800 with EdgeCo of Lansing, Ohio, for abatement and demolition under Contract 10, with the city to seek reimbursement from a West Virginia grant.
Councilor Cain moved to adopt the ordinance and a colleague seconded. During discussion council members asked how many properties the contract covers; the mover and staff said the contract covers 10 buildings. City Manager Herron said the list of properties undergoes evaluation by the building department and that properties designated as historic landmarks or within a historic district must follow additional landmark-review procedures before demolition can proceed. Herron also said the state had contacted the city and reimbursement from the grant was likely but might not cover the full contract amount.
Kirby Pringle, a resident of 104 14th Street, spoke during public comment and urged the council to require environmental impact reports or historic-structures reports for buildings at least 50 years old. "I think it's absolutely disastrous as a policy" to proceed without such reviews, Pringle said, arguing that demolition and developer-driven redevelopment risk eroding Wheeling's historic character and that the city should consult qualified historians before approving demolitions.
In response, Herron described the existing vetting process conducted by the building department and noted that certain properties identified as historic require separate review. Council recorded the vote and approved the ordinance; the transcript does not record a roll-call tally in the public record provided.
The ordinance authorizes the city manager to move forward with the EdgeCo contract, subject to the normal permitting and review processes that apply to historic properties. Council did not adopt a requirement for an environmental impact report or a standalone historic-structures report during the meeting. The council returned to its regular agenda after the vote.
