West Virginia Executive Spring 2019 | Page 27

[ community ] Built by Industry, Transformed by Innovation SAMANTHA CART WHEELING HERITAGE A Treasured Past Throughout its 250-year history, the city of Wheeling has been many things, including the first capital of the Mountain State and an industrial giant for industries such as steel, iron and glasswork. While its population and economy suffered for a number of years as factories began clos- ing their doors, a recent resurgence has brought with it an influx of new businesses, young families and advocacy efforts to honor the city’s historic landscape. “There was a time when Wheeling res- idents seemed to only reflect on the city’s storied past—not what it could be in the future,” says Frank O’Brien, director of the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB). “The sentiment seemed to change about 15 years ago when one of Wheeling’s iconic downtown build- ings was brought back to life. The Stone & Thomas building was repurposed and is now home to hundreds of new upscale apartments. The investment in the Stone Center demonstrated that Wheeling was down but not out.” This investment spurred others, and soon buildings that once housed plants and warehouses were rehabilitated into law firms, banks and small businesses, thanks to partnerships between local and federal governments, preservation agen- cies and developers. This turning point in Wheeling’s history changed the conver- sation on what is possible for the Friendly City. Soon residents were asking what was next instead of looking back at what once was. In 2016, Reinvent Wheeling, the city’s Main Street program, merged with Wheeling Heritage, adding a focus on business development, city planning and public art to an already thriving movement. A Call to Action In collaboration with organizations like the Regional Economic Development Partnership (RED), City of Wheeling, Wheeling-Ohio County CVB and Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce, Wheeling Heritage added fuel to a growing fire that had already been ignited in the heart of downtown. Since 2015, Wheeling Heritage has generated $50 million in downtown WWW.WVEXECUTIVE.COM SPRING 2019 25