Wheeling Outlets Project: An Historic District Revitalized

The Wheeling Outlets Project is an ambitious project for the redevelopment of downtown Wheeling, West Virginia.  Building on the Plan for Wheeling National Heritage Area, a consortium of private and public sector entities has outlined an economic development strategy to transform the downtown into a Victorian theme-outlet shopping center
 

The end result of this project will be a revitalized six-block area of downtown with approximately 112 historic Victorian commercial structures rehabilitated or new infill construction, the creation of 550,000 square feet of retail space, a more efficient transportation, traffic and parking system, and 1,000 new jobs of which 25% are management positions. 
 

In early May, the WV Economic Development Grants Committee awarded $70 million to the project that is estimated to cost $160 million. The remainder of funds will be from the private sector and the use of preservation tax credits will be part of the financing strategy.
 

This public/private project will generate substantial direct and indirect benefits to the greater Wheeling community and the State. As the West Virginia Development Office highlighted in its report, "Perhaps the most significant benefit of the project is the urban renewal of the City of Wheeling.  Currently, the project area is decaying, blighted and underused and has no prospects of rejuvenation. This project will convert that blighted area into usable retail space in the Victorian style for the benefit of the City of Wheeling, Ohio County and the State as a whole."
 

One downtown building containing two storefronts has been partially rehabilitated and is being used as a demonstration site. One side of the building's Victorian architecture was restored and its first floor was renovated including the installation of a pressed metal ceiling. The other half of the building is left as is. The purpose of the demonstration building is to provide potential outlet center tenants an example of what a typical store will look like and how existing buildings can be cleaned and renovated to restore the Victorian charm.

In addition, an 8- by 15-foot model featuring details of buildings and streets within the project area has been developed. The model is being used to give prospective tenants an orientation to the whole project.

Much interest has been generated for this project among the value retailers,. A leasing team is focusing on prospective tenants who are visiting Wheeling on a regular basis. Meanwhile, efforts are moving forward in securing private financing. It is anticipated that the center will open in the spring of 2004.

This public/private project will generate substantial direct and indirect benefits to the greater Wheeling community and the State.