Since Arcelor-Mittal bought its Weirton steel plant from ISG in 2005, nearly 1000 jobs have been
cut. Earlier this month, company officials announced that the hot mill division is also closing
down. That means dozens more jobs will be lost at the Weirton
plant. Now there's one more indicator of how things are changing in the steel
town. A long-idle steel complex in the heart of downtown Weirton is being
demolished, but local officials hope it's only making room for new
opportunities. Keri Brown Reports.
Keri: When driving in to Weirton from the North End, visitors are greeted by the old steel hearth
complex. It’s hard to miss, since its the size of about 5 football fields.
You also notice the wear of years of disrepair, like the thick, green algae growing on its roof.
Brian James is the General Manager for the Weirton plant.
James: What we see immediately behind us here on everyone’s
mind is the putting green growing on the roof and it will be gone by the
end of>the year. So this is what will be going on, working with state
legislators and>city to come up with holistic plan to create better revenues and jobs to
create a thriving Weirton..
Keri: James says Arcelor-Mittal wants to improve the look of the downtown area.
That could mean more buildings being torn down.
For now, Mittal plans to renovate several structures around the mill. No one knows yet what will
become of the open hearth property.
But the Weirton Mayor Mark Harris says several ideas are being tossed around.
Harris: Right now, they are taking down a lot of these
buildings. Next week they are going to give us a map of what’s for sale
from Mittal and what’s not. So then go into marketing and economic
development and look at what businesses could come in,so
this is a positive day for us.
Keri: There's the possibilty of retail in some places, or a new small industry setting up shop along
the river. .(nat of outside of mill)
The scene oustide the mill today is much different than in its heyday in the mid-20th century. The
open hearth and blooming mill once turned iron into steel. But new technologies in the industry
forced the closure of the mill in the late 1960’s.The demolition is hard for workers like Richard
Hauldren. He got his start in the open hearth division. He says he has mixed emotions about
tearing down the building.
Hauldren: It’s sad when I came in mill 12-thousand employees at
Weirton Steel, now 12-hundred. I had a lot of comradely with people. It
really needs torn down could bring a lot more business and jobs to Weirton.
Keri: Mittal recently announced dozens of more job cuts in its hot mill division, but the company is
also investing millions in Weirton’s tin facility.
James says the company is committed to making the Weirton plant a success.
James: That’s where the focus is we have put together a plan
to make this a profitable entity and I know the folks that I report to in
Chicago are 100 percent committed. I know this sounds like happy talk but
commitment is there to make this a premier tin producer.
Keri: Demolition of the open hearth building will begin next week.
The entire facility will be torn down by Fall 2008.
For West Virginia Public Broadcasting, I’m Keri Brown in Weirton.