Preventing or eliminating slums or blight is the national objective the City fulfills to raze and clear vacant, derelict structures that pose a threat to the public?s safety.

The City does, on a regular basis, fund projects using the Preventing or Eliminating Slums or Blight. For example, Wheeling City Council has set an aggressive agenda for building demolition on a spot blight basis throughout the City. CDBG funds are used to raze and clear vacant, dilapidated structures.

Property owners have the responsibility to either maintain or raze their own properties. However, when those owners either cannot be located or lack the means to address their aging properties, and the houses are a danger to the public?s health and safety, the City may intervene. For the past number of years, City Council has allocated $200,000 each year for demolition.

Also under the objective Preventing or Eliminating Slums or Blight, the City has been offering a recently developed program called the Downtown Wheeling Facade Rehabilitation Loan Program . The Facade Program provides an incentive to the owners of commercial buildings located within a defined area within downtown Wheeling to rehabilitate the fronts of their buildings. Budget permitting, CDBG funds have been made available to make interest-free, deferred and forgivable loans for an amount not to exceed $50,000 per project. Since 2004, the City has assisted five facade projects to completion, while an additional five projects are currently in various stages of the facade work.