WHEELING, W.Va. –Wheeling Mayor Denny Magruder is clearing up confusion about the future of the former Centre Foundry and Machine Co. site in Warwood after it was acquired by Silicone Foundation several weeks ago.
Last week, residents and some state lawmakers were upset after learning the site might be redeveloped into a data center.
Magruder said a social media post from a third party sparked confusion and outrage.
“There were a lot of folks that reacted to a social media post which was inappropriate, that post never should have been put up by somebody we had not met with, that was a third party we knew nothing about it,” he said on MetroNews Talkline last week.
The Silicone Foundation acquired the 15-acre site, including the 60,000-square-foot building along W.Va. 2, for $1.5 million.
Magruder said officials were aware of the company’s interest in purchasing the site.
He said there are no specific plans for what the company will do with the site. He also said he and city manager Robert Herron met with Silicone Foundation officials a couple of weeks ago.
“Basically, it was one of those exploratory, very early conversation getting to meet each other talking about possibilities and nothing definite though, there was nothing in writing, there were no blueprints or designs, anything like that, there were no applications for any kind of permits, it was just kind of get acquainted type of conversation,” Magruder said.
The building has access to power and water from the Ohio River, which Magruder said makes it a strong site for development. He also said it has been an industrial complex for nearly 100 years.
Magruder said he wants to see the site developed but wants to ensure the city of Wheeling makes the right decisions.
“The city is definitely interested in talking to folks about occupying that space, we just have to be very clear about what it’s going to be, on how it works, and when we get that information then we’ll get that out, we’ll talk to our own professionals and make decisions from there,” he said.
Magruder said he wants to reassure residents that the city will not rush into any decisions regarding development of the site.
“The city will make sure that when somebody comes in, some of those concerns that you would have along the way, on the blueprints and designs, you find out what those capacities and needs are, yhou we do that all the time when a new business moves to town, what they mean, what do they need from the city, what can we provide, what are the current regulations in terms of zoning, so year we’re gonna be careful about that,” he said