File Photo by Eric Ayres
WHEELING City officials are looking at options for the location of a new Wheeling Fire Department headquarters, and a new ordinance being introduced at tonight’s city council meeting will initiate action to purchase a city block’s worth of property on 17th Street for that purpose.
The legislation will authorize Wheeling City Manager Robert Herron to carry out the terms of an option agreement for several parcels of property located at the intersection of 17th and Wood streets. The street addresses of the parcels included 164-188 17th Street.
According to the ordinance, the option agreement for the property purchase will be between the city and Gregory R. Gantzer of A.E. Pelley Plumbing and Heating.
Staff Writer
Photo by Scott McCloskey â The former OVMC property is now in the possession of the City of Wheeling, after the city council voted to purchase it this past summer.
WHEELING One of the most ambitious undertakings in Wheeling’s recent history took place this summer when city council acquired the former Ohio Valley Medical Center property.
During the onset of the coronavirus pandemic, city leaders had been working with the owners of the OVMC property along with state and federal officials to see if the vacant hospital campus could be used in the event a surge in cases of the virus would cause local hospitals to exceed their capacity. After it was determined those concerns would not likely be realized and the facility would not be needed for such an emergency backup scenario, city leaders continued to explore the possibility of acquiring the property.