Redevelopment begins on former Weirton Elks Lodge building
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WEIRTON -- Work has begun to stabilize and rehabilitate the former Elks Lodge building in Weirton.
The Weirton Elks Lodge 1801, part of the Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks, closed in 2022, with the property taken over by the City of Weirton in 2025. Earlier this year, Weirton Council agreed to transfer ownership to the Business Development Corp. of the Northern Panhandle in hopes of encouraging more development opportunities in the city's downtown.
"A strong downtown complements the industrial growth taking place throughout Brooke and Hancock counties. Employers need communities where people want to live, and communities benefit when investment in jobs is matched by investment in the places where people live, work and spend time," said BDC Executive Director Anthony Clements.
The approximately 6,000-square-foot building has experienced years of deterioration, Clements noted. A failed roof allowed extensive water infiltration, resulting in significant interior damage, mold growth and the need for substantial interior demolition.
The initial phase of the project will focus on stabilizing the structure and making it weather-tight, including replacing the roof, removing damaged materials and making other improvements necessary to preserve the building and create space for future business and commercial activity downtown.
The work also includes new gas and electric service.
As part of the conveyance of the property, the city provided a grant of up to $145,000 from funds established for demolition projects to rehabilitate the building. The BDC is required to commit a minimum of $25,000 of its own funds.
The project is one of the most recent undertaken by the economic development organization in the city's downtown area.
For the last several months, the BDC has been working with the College of St. Joseph the Worker to renovate the former People's Bank building, which will serve as the BDC's new headquarters. Work is nearing completion, with plans for the BDC to move into the building in the near future.
"Economic development is about more than individual projects," Clements said. "It's about creating the conditions for long-term growth. Strong industrial sites, quality jobs, vibrant downtowns, local businesses and attractive places to gather all contribute to a community's competitiveness. The progress we're seeing downtown is another piece of that larger effort."