HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1

(By Mr. Speaker, Mr. Kiss, Delegates DeLong, Swartzmiller,
Ennis, Givens, Fahey, G. White, Tucker, Varner, Pethtel,
Michael and Cann)
[Introduced October 31, 2001.]

Expressing support for continued exploration of the development of the proposed Wheeling Victorian Outlet Center Project, to be located in downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, and directing the West Virginia Development Office to undertake further study of the proposed project and legislation and report back to the Legislature with recommendations regarding same no later than January 3, 2002, with a view toward possible legislative action immediately upon the commencement of the 2002 Regular Session.
Whereas, The Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation has led a significant, multi-year study and planning process for the proposed revitalization of Wheeling, which planning effort has resulted in a proposal to redevelop Wheeling's downtown district as a Victorian outlet shopping center; and
Whereas, This study and planning effort has demonstrated the viability of the proposed project, and suggested the enormous potential of the project to revitalize downtown Wheeling, West Virginia, and facilitate the construction, reconstruction, development and redevelopment of essential municipal infrastructure in downtown Wheeling, including, without limitation, water and sewer, structured parking, sidewalks, lighting and other public infrastructure; and
Whereas, The proposed project has widespread and enthusiastic support among the business and civic leadership of Wheeling, and received formal support from many entities and groups, including, but not limited to, the Wheeling City Council, the Wheeling Chamber of Commerce, Project BEST, the Wheeling Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Victorian Wheeling Society; and
Whereas, The proposed project has been presented to various members of both houses of the West Virginia Legislature for review and consideration; and
Whereas, The proposed project involves the investment of millions of dollars of private equity and debt; and
Whereas, Market studies for the proposed project indicate that over eighty-five percent of the revenues which would be spent at the proposed outlet center would be new revenues of the State of West Virginia and Wheeling spent by persons living outside West Virginia, and the proposed project would not involve simply the redistribution of dollars already being spent in West Virginia; and
Whereas, Execution of this project in downtown Wheeling, in an area which has been designated by the Wheeling City Council as a slum and blighted area, will result in substantial additional cost associated with the development and redevelopment of essential infrastructure, and the rehabilitation of existing structures and construction in an historic district; and
Whereas, The project developers and business and civic leaders of Wheeling who support this project have requested the passage of legislation which would permit the creation of a downtown redevelopment district, which district would have the power under certain defined rules to apply to the West Virginia Development Office and the West Virginia Legislature for authority to temporarily utilize incremental, new consumers sales tax revenues from the proposed project which would bring substantial new revenues into West Virginia to pay for certain public infrastructure, rehabilitation and redevelopment costs and expenses in connection with the project; and
Whereas, In its examination and consideration of the proposed project to date, several questions posed by legislators concerning specifics of the proposed project have not yet been answered with the level of detail desired by those legislators; and
Whereas, Based on the information it has received to date concerning the project, the Legislature recognizes that the project presents enormous potential to create jobs and economic activity within the State of West Virginia that are presently being lost to the State; to capture investment and retail dollars by persons living outside of West Virginia and use those dollars to pay for public infrastructure and create economic vitality within West Virginia; to create numerous construction and permanent jobs in West Virginia, for West Virginians; and to revitalize downtown Wheeling while ensuring the continued viability of the numerous tourist attractions and activities in and around the Wheeling area; and
Whereas, The Legislature recognizes that the proposed legislation is structured so as to provide that there is no loss of revenue to the State Treasury, and offers the prospect of significant net gain of public tax moneys at both the State and local level, and provides a creative way to pay for essential infrastructure necessary to pave the way for the future vitality and economic success of downtown Wheeling; therefore, be it
Resolved by the Legislature of West Virginia:
That the Legislature hereby expresses its support for continued exploration of the development of the proposed Wheeling Victorian Outlet Center, and encourages the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation and other business and civic groups in Wheeling involved in the project to continue their active development efforts in respect to the project; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Development Office is hereby directed to conduct a detailed examination of the proposed project, to ensure that the project is proposed to be developed in such a fashion as to confer appropriate public benefit in respect of the public moneys contemplated to be dedicated thereto, and to work closely with the leadership of both houses of the Legislature regarding the questions and concerns they ask be addressed in respect of the project; and, be it
Further Resolved, That the West Virginia Development Office report back to the Legislature no later than January 3, 2002, with a report and recommendations concerning the project and the proposed legislation, so that the Legislature may promptly act on the proposed legislation relating to downtown redevelopment districts upon the commencement of the 2002 Regular Session of the West Virginia Legislature, should the Legislature determine that it is appropriate to do so in light of the report and recommendations of the West Virginia Development Office.