Wheeling Gateway Center Survey Results (Feb 28 2024)

The survey results that will shape the development of the Wheeling Gateway Center and the next steps for the project were revealed to Wheeling residents Wednesday night.
Those eager to learn what they and more than 4,000 respondents want to see at the visitors’ center that will replace the former Wheeling Inn gathered at the Capitol Theatre for the presentation by the Wheeling-Ohio County Convention and Visitors Bureau and developer Tipping Point.
Tipping Point President Jim Ambrose presented the survey results of more than 4,200 respondents. Another feature of the survey was the ability to upload photo submissions for project ideas, with more than 100 photos uploaded receiving 1,362 likes and 94 comments total.
On the demographics of the respondents, 71% were Wheeling residents, and 81.59% of Wheeling residents who completed the survey had lived in the city for more than 10 years.
After presenting the demographics of the respondents, Ambrose reviewed the additional accommodations surveyors suggested in an open-ended response section. These accommodation suggestions included parking for families managing disabilities, service animals and non-gender-specific restrooms.
Then came “the fun part” for Ambrose — presenting what locals wanted to see at the Gateway Center.
For the category of “Desired New Experiences,” 78% of respondents wanted food and beverage options, followed by 76% supporting outdoor/recreational experiences and 75% wanting experiences centered around the history of Wheeling.
Ambrose then delved into “Complement Uses” surveyors desired from the Gateway Center. These responses were divided into two categories: respondents under 18 and respondents 18 and older.
A retail/shopping experience was the top complement use those under 18 wanted at the center, while an outdoor space/rooftop deck topped out 18 and older respondents.
The two age groups were in consensus that the main leisure activity they wanted from the center was the ability to spend time with friends. The next strongest preference for both age ranges was a restaurant/foodie experience.
In what features of the Gateway Center would be the most beneficial to the community, respondents under 18 preferred a water feature/fountain. Those 18 and older were more interested in a viewing platform and connectivity to the Heritage Trail.
The top desires for the center across demographics were a connection to the trail/riverfront, complementary retail shops and restaurants and a space to spend time with family and friends.
Uncovered insights the survey found in open-ended questions included a desire for a hub for boating and water recreation and a want for an event space with a 250-350-person capacity that would suit intimate events such as weddings.
On how locals want to experience Wheeling’s history and heritage, 74% want exhibits interpreting Wheeling, 71% want special events/performances and 65% want traveling/touring programs and exhibits.
Of those responding, 93% were concerned with how to sustain the development financially, and believed it would be important for the center to incorporate complimentary, revenue-generating uses to offset the annual operational and maintenance expenses.
The top three complementary uses respondents wanted to see to offset expenses were an outdoor space/rooftop deck, an elevated bar/restaurant experience or a retail/shopping space.
After the survey results were presented by Ambrose, a live polling section moderated by Wheeling CVB Marketing Director Olivia Litman began. The live polls covered what features and designs audience members wanted for the buildings. An open mic also provided direct feedback from residents to project creators regarding what they desired for the center.
How to make the city’s history come to life through the Gateway Center was a common theme among audience members who contributed to the discussion on Wednesday.
“Our connection to the Ohio River should be explored, more so than just the water physically,” said one attendee. “Amazing flat boats and engines were built here, and the innovation that came with them is a major opportunity for us to highlight a portion of our history that has not been before.”
Others suggested historical reenactments, interactive exhibits and even an immersive theater experience as possible history-centered features for the building.
Other attendees had questions surrounding how to make the building a sustainable revenue source for the future. One audience member remarked that to make the center a “living, breathing thing” where unique programs could be developed on an ongoing basis, a “cash flow and revenue flow” was required.
“That’s part of the challenge and is part of our financial modeling,” responded Ambrose. “We do need to introduce other things to generate high revenue at a consistent rate to basically subsidize these things so it’s not an additional tax or anything like that.”
The issue of where visitors to the center could stay was another common theme amongst many who spoke on Wednesday night. Audience members expressed the need for a hotel space to keep visitors in the area.
“You’ve got to have people in the rooms, and you’ve got to have the revenue,” said one attendee. “Once you have people in those rooms, they’ll take the tours, but we don’t have large enough housing in downtown Wheeling. You’ve got to have that anchor, and that anchor has to be feet on the ground.”
What materials respondents would want to see the building made out of was also touched on during the live polling with glass as the top response.
Many attendees who got on the mic to share what materials they wanted to see in the building did not want the center to appear too modern or out-of-place among the rest of the downtown cityscape.
“I would plead for the traditional, even pretty big architectural elements that were part of our Victorian heritage to be brought to the plate,” said one attendee. “Wood and brick would be good materials because those were substantially the building materials of Wheeling in years past. I would want something traditional and something that won’t look dated 20 years later even though it looks cool now.”
The common themes found in the survey and live polling will be tabulated by Tipping Point and released for surveyors to view the data points.
“We will create design concepts to maximize your input so that you can see how this feedback is being incorporated into our plans,” explained Ambrose. “We’ll budget it, and then our job is to scope it out and try to figure out what the financial model for the structure would be beyond what our regional partners have already established.”
The next step for the project is the demolition and remediation of the former Wheeling Inn. City Manager Robert Herron explained during the presentation that before the Wheeling CVB purchased the building, the city had already been in discussion with the West Virginia Department of Environmental Protection to utilize the West Virginia Reclamation of Abandoned and Dilapidated Properties Program to demolish the building.
Herron noted the city was “95% sure” they would receive a grant for the demolition and remediation of the building totaling $1.2 million from the program.
“The way the Dilapidated Properties program is set up is that the money has to go to municipalities or local governments in West Virginia,” explained Herron. “So, the city would be the recipient of the $1.2 million and would administer the demolition and environmental remediation. I can tell you that the specifications for demolition are meticulous and they consider all possible things that could happen including what could happen to the Suspension Bridge.”
The bid for the demolition and environmental remediation was published Wednesday. A pre-bid meeting will be held on March 7, and demolition bids including asbestos abatement and environmental remediation will be due on March 22. Herron predicts the city council will be able to award the bid “sometime in April or May.”
To get future updates on the Wheeling Gateway Center project, visit wheelinggateway.tippingpointdev.com.
Credit: Emma Delk, Staff Writer, The Intelligencer