Capitol Upgrade Strategy

The new owners of the Capitol Music Hall in Wheeling, W.Va., are conferring with local revitalization officials on a timeline to get the shuttered venue ready for business.

Hydie Friend, executive director of the Wheeling National Heritage Area Corporation, told the city’s News-Register she’s talked to Dr. Manny Velez and his partners, Theresa and Jim Childers, about the best way to proceed.

"Our assessment shows that it would be better for the Capitol to be closed while repairs are being performed, and that those repairs will take a minimum of six months to complete," Friend said.

Velez and his partners bought the venue, which was closed because of 23 fire code violations, from Live Nation for an undisclosed amount. The deal could close as soon as mid-September. The partnership’s goal is to reopen the building by October.

"We are providing information about the fire code violations to the buyers, but the decision will be up to them and their consultants because we want to do whatever we can to help them succeed in this venture," Friend told the paper.

Building renovations and fire code repairs are estimated to cost between $3 million and $5 million.