People’s Bank renovations in Weirton near completion
BDC to move into new offices later this year
Craig Howell INSPECTING THE PROJECT – Representatives of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, the College of St. Joseph the Worker, and the City of Weirton, took time, Friday, to review the progress of the renovations to the former People's Bank building. Pictured, from left, are Weirton City Manager Mike Adams, BDC Executive Director Anthony Clements, College of St. Joseph the Worker President Jacob Imam, and Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead.
Craig Howell NEW LOOK – Work is almost complete for the renovations of the former People's Bank building in downtown Weirton. What once served as the bank's main lobby area will soon be the offices of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle.
Craig Howell OFFICE SPACE – Dedicated offices have been established for the staff of the BDC in the building's former lobby.
Craig Howell SIGN OF THE PAST – The door to the former bank's vault still remains within the building; a reminder of its past use.
Craig Howell INSPECTING THE PROJECT – Representatives of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle, the College of St. Joseph the Worker, and the City of Weirton, took time, Friday, to review the progress of the renovations to the former People's Bank building. Pictured, from left, are Weirton City Manager Mike Adams, BDC Executive Director Anthony Clements, College of St. Joseph the Worker President Jacob Imam, and Ward 4 Councilman Rick Stead.
Craig Howell NEW LOOK – Work is almost complete for the renovations of the former People's Bank building in downtown Weirton. What once served as the bank's main lobby area will soon be the offices of the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle.
Craig Howell OFFICE SPACE – Dedicated offices have been established for the staff of the BDC in the building's former lobby.
Craig Howell SIGN OF THE PAST – The door to the former bank's vault still remains within the building; a reminder of its past use.
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WEIRTON - The renovation of one of the downtown’s most known buildings is in its last stages, as the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle gets closer to moving into its new home.
Announced in October, the BDC has been working with the College of St. Joseph the Worker to renovate the former People’s Bank building at 3383 Main St. The goal is for the organization to relocate its operations later this year.
BDC Executive Director Anthony Clements explained the project is part of the economic development agency’s ongoing efforts to reinvigorate the Hancock and Brooke county region.
"Our role is to create that spark," Clements said. "You have all this momentum going, so how do you continue it?"
Clements pointed to several investments in the city’s downtown in recent years, both by the BDC as well as private business owners, such as John Greco, which have spurred new activity in the area. City officials have noted their own plans for downtown revitalization, with the City of Weirton in the midst of creating a comprehensive development plan to include a focus on downtown Weirton.
Clements emphasized the importance downtown Weirton can play in the city’s future, as it often is the first impression of visitors.
"If we expect others to invest here, we believe we should be willing to lead by example," he said.
The building itself has gone through an interior transformation since last fall.
"It was an extraordinary gut," college president and founder Jacob Imam explained of the work in the building.
In the months since the project was announced, supervisors and students from the College of St. Joseph have been busy with structural rehabilitation, the installation of new framing, electrical, plumbing and mechanical systems, and the replacement of the ceiling, roof, and rear windows.
"There’s hardly a part of this building we didn’t touch," Imam said.
Imam said the college is taking pride in its efforts to restore the historic dignity of the building, taking cues from the bank’s original architectural details while balancing it with a more modern office aesthetic.
Listed on the National Register of Historic Places since 1995, the building was designed in a classical revival style and built under the direction of contractor Clyde Cattrell and architects Peterson & Clarke, according to a copy of its nomination form found through the West Virginia Culture Center’s website. The People’s Bank first organized in 1923, with David M. Weir serving as its first president. It moved to the Main Street building in 1930. The bank would operate out of the building until 1962, with the building renovated in 1993.
College officials said there are still a few aspects of the project to finish, including the installation of glass for the office areas, new doors, and electrical switches, as well as final testing of the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, and finishing of the flooring, but they anticipate work being complete by the end of the month.
(Howell can be contacted at chowell@weirtondailytimes.com)