Pittsburgh Council voted against designating the Civic Arena as a historic structure today.
Council has the final authority to grant historic status, and the decision will likely result in the demolition of the dome.
Councilwoman Natalia Rudiak says she's disappointed at the level of taxpayer money going into the redevelopment plan for the 28-acre property.
"There has been an estimate that looks at even the one-year public subsidies to be around $76 million, and we're going to spend millions of dollars to demolish the arena," says Rudiak. "My concern is about the massive amounts of public subsidies going into this project when we can't even maintain the streets that we have."
Rudiak says the Pittsburgh Penguins’ plan to redevelop the site for retail and residential use may become a failed venture.
Councilman Bruce Kraus says he acknowledges that the redevelopment plan may be flawed right now.
“But I want to get past what is possible on that site, in terms of buildings and business and office, and just talk about the importance of reconnecting Oakland and the Upper Hill with the Lower Hill and Downtown, and the importance of what Oakland is today to the economic health and well-being of Pittsburgh," says Kraus.
Kraus says he'd also like to reconfigure the street grid on the Arena property to better accommodate public transit and green development.
The 6-3 vote denying the arena historic status came after a negative recommendation from the city's Historic Review Commission. Preservationists may still sue to keep the Igloo standing.
Showing posts with label civic arena. Show all posts
Showing posts with label civic arena. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Wednesday, June 15, 2011
Civic Arena Fate Still on Hold
Pittsburgh Council has again voted to hold off making a decision on the historic status of the Civic Arena for one week.
While some Council Members wanted a preliminary vote on the designation today, others argued for a three-week hold with a post-agenda meeting held in the meantime.
Councilman Doug Shields, in particular, supported waiting to receive a master development plan from the Pittsburgh Penguins before voting on the designation.
Shields says he also wants to look more closely at the new arena transaction that he says awarded the Penguins with the Civic Arena property. He says former Governor Ed Rendell, County Executive Dan Onorato, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl were all familiar with the deal, and he says he wants to ask them about the mechanics of it.
But Councilman Daniel Lavelle was adamant that the arena is an obstacle to the redevelopment of the Hill District community, which is in his Council District. Lavelle says he is “in a rush” to demolish the arena so that redevelopment can begin.
Councilman Ricky Burgess echoed that argument, saying it is unlikely anyone will submit a development plan if it’s still dubious that the old arena will be torn down.
Shields says Council’s designation of the Civic Arena as historic may not save it from being bulldozed; he says other Pittsburgh buildings have received the historic designation but have been razed all the same.
While some Council Members wanted a preliminary vote on the designation today, others argued for a three-week hold with a post-agenda meeting held in the meantime.
Councilman Doug Shields, in particular, supported waiting to receive a master development plan from the Pittsburgh Penguins before voting on the designation.
Shields says he also wants to look more closely at the new arena transaction that he says awarded the Penguins with the Civic Arena property. He says former Governor Ed Rendell, County Executive Dan Onorato, and Mayor Luke Ravenstahl were all familiar with the deal, and he says he wants to ask them about the mechanics of it.
But Councilman Daniel Lavelle was adamant that the arena is an obstacle to the redevelopment of the Hill District community, which is in his Council District. Lavelle says he is “in a rush” to demolish the arena so that redevelopment can begin.
Councilman Ricky Burgess echoed that argument, saying it is unlikely anyone will submit a development plan if it’s still dubious that the old arena will be torn down.
Shields says Council’s designation of the Civic Arena as historic may not save it from being bulldozed; he says other Pittsburgh buildings have received the historic designation but have been razed all the same.
Wednesday, June 1, 2011
Council Listens to Igloo Debate
Pittsburgh City Council will have the final say in the coming months when it comes to the future of the Civic Arena and Wednesday it took a step closer to making that decision. Both the City Planning Commission and the City Historic Review Commission have rejected efforts to designate the nearly 50-year old structure as being historic. The negative recommendations mean it will take six out of nine council members voting for the designation to get the Igloo listed.
Council has already held a public hearing on the matter in the Hill District and Wednesday it held a post agenda meeting where several experts and stakeholders were invited to give more testimony. Several hours later the council seemed no closer to a making a decision than when it started.
“I have to tell you I read [the application] and the argument is so well made as to why it meets the criteria that I could not understand how the commission could read it and decided that it didn’t,” said Frank Sanchis, World Monuments Fund Program Director, who was brought in by those fighting to save the Igloo to offer his expertise. Preservation Pittsburgh President Scott Lieb added that he felt it was odd that review commissions at the state and national level felt the structure met one or more of the city’s 10 minimum criteria for historic designation but the local panels did not.
City code seems to allow council and the members of the commission to not only consider the ten criteria but to also consider the worthiness and integrity of the structure.
Some have suggested that the decisions have more to do with backroom deals and politics than the value of preserving the mid-century modern structure. Gary English held up a sign through most of the proceeding reading, “Quiet: political corruption in progress.”
Councilman Doug Shields complained along the same lines while pointing at artist renderings of 28 acres of new development nestled up against the new Consol Energy Center, “This council did not even get a chance to pick the color of the bathroom [in the Consol Center] and now someone is coming in and saying we are going to do all that. And I don’t even know who gave them the authority to do that and what is my authority here as a council member? All I see here is a lot of deals getting made and the governing body is not involved.”
Representatives of the Penguins, which holds the development rights to the old arena site, and the Sports and Exhibition Authority, which owns the old arena, gave testimony in favor of razing the building. Those groups say they need to take down the arena before they can begin developing the site. Councilman Bruce Kraus was a bit skeptical. He used to run an interior design company, “I did not go in and gut someone’s home and then say, ‘I’ll come back with what my ideas are of what your house should look like.’”
SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo admitted that there is no developer in place at this time and no investors have stepped forward to build but she says unless a decision is made on the arena and a street grid is created they will not be able to move forward with the development.
The Penguins, SEA and the city are hoping to get federal grants to build connecting streets. However, preservationists believe those grants could be in danger of being denied if the proper reviews are not made before the arena is demolished. Developers offered their own experts who believe such a review would not prevent the Federal Department of Transportation from sending the money to Pittsburgh.
A date for a final vote has not yet been set but it must be taken before the end of July.
Council has already held a public hearing on the matter in the Hill District and Wednesday it held a post agenda meeting where several experts and stakeholders were invited to give more testimony. Several hours later the council seemed no closer to a making a decision than when it started.
“I have to tell you I read [the application] and the argument is so well made as to why it meets the criteria that I could not understand how the commission could read it and decided that it didn’t,” said Frank Sanchis, World Monuments Fund Program Director, who was brought in by those fighting to save the Igloo to offer his expertise. Preservation Pittsburgh President Scott Lieb added that he felt it was odd that review commissions at the state and national level felt the structure met one or more of the city’s 10 minimum criteria for historic designation but the local panels did not.
City code seems to allow council and the members of the commission to not only consider the ten criteria but to also consider the worthiness and integrity of the structure.
Some have suggested that the decisions have more to do with backroom deals and politics than the value of preserving the mid-century modern structure. Gary English held up a sign through most of the proceeding reading, “Quiet: political corruption in progress.”
Councilman Doug Shields complained along the same lines while pointing at artist renderings of 28 acres of new development nestled up against the new Consol Energy Center, “This council did not even get a chance to pick the color of the bathroom [in the Consol Center] and now someone is coming in and saying we are going to do all that. And I don’t even know who gave them the authority to do that and what is my authority here as a council member? All I see here is a lot of deals getting made and the governing body is not involved.”
Representatives of the Penguins, which holds the development rights to the old arena site, and the Sports and Exhibition Authority, which owns the old arena, gave testimony in favor of razing the building. Those groups say they need to take down the arena before they can begin developing the site. Councilman Bruce Kraus was a bit skeptical. He used to run an interior design company, “I did not go in and gut someone’s home and then say, ‘I’ll come back with what my ideas are of what your house should look like.’”
SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo admitted that there is no developer in place at this time and no investors have stepped forward to build but she says unless a decision is made on the arena and a street grid is created they will not be able to move forward with the development.
The Penguins, SEA and the city are hoping to get federal grants to build connecting streets. However, preservationists believe those grants could be in danger of being denied if the proper reviews are not made before the arena is demolished. Developers offered their own experts who believe such a review would not prevent the Federal Department of Transportation from sending the money to Pittsburgh.
A date for a final vote has not yet been set but it must be taken before the end of July.
Monday, May 23, 2011
Civic Arena Hearing
Pittsburgh City Council held a public hearing in Uptown to hear testimonials from residents about whether the Civic Arena should stay or go.
If city council grants the arena historic status, it could save the building from being knocked down. And a lot of people have a lot to say about that.
On Monday night over 70 people had something to say about it – either in favor of re-purposing the building, or knocking it down and redeveloping the land. A little more than half believed the arena should be saved. They gave testimonial to five council members in a church sandwiched between the old arena and the recently constructed one.
Among the speakers was Sala Udin, former councilman and actor who wants the building to come down.
"The redevelopment can begin the healing process to preserve the people," he said.
From its inception, the arena and the 28 acres surrounding it has been controversial – displacing 8,000 Lower Hill District residents and destroying a community. Last year, after the arena was shuttered for a new neighboring complex, the Sports and Exhibition Authority voted to knock down the building.
Local groups have filed for historic status. Among them, Preservation Pittsburgh, which helped organize a 50th Anniversary of the arena celebration just before Monday’s meeting. Scott Lieb, president of the group said although the arena is a remnant of urban renewal, it is here now and should be used to benefit the community. He also said the building is unique and is part of the fabric of the city.
"This building was revolutionary when it was built in 1961. It was the first retractable dome building in the US. It really is a part of Pittsburgh’s brand, it uses technology from Westinghouse, from US Steel, from American bridge," he said at the celebration.
The city’s historic and review and planning commissions have already rejected historic status.
Council has until mid-August to take a final vote.
If city council grants the arena historic status, it could save the building from being knocked down. And a lot of people have a lot to say about that.
On Monday night over 70 people had something to say about it – either in favor of re-purposing the building, or knocking it down and redeveloping the land. A little more than half believed the arena should be saved. They gave testimonial to five council members in a church sandwiched between the old arena and the recently constructed one.
Among the speakers was Sala Udin, former councilman and actor who wants the building to come down.
"The redevelopment can begin the healing process to preserve the people," he said.
From its inception, the arena and the 28 acres surrounding it has been controversial – displacing 8,000 Lower Hill District residents and destroying a community. Last year, after the arena was shuttered for a new neighboring complex, the Sports and Exhibition Authority voted to knock down the building.
Local groups have filed for historic status. Among them, Preservation Pittsburgh, which helped organize a 50th Anniversary of the arena celebration just before Monday’s meeting. Scott Lieb, president of the group said although the arena is a remnant of urban renewal, it is here now and should be used to benefit the community. He also said the building is unique and is part of the fabric of the city.
"This building was revolutionary when it was built in 1961. It was the first retractable dome building in the US. It really is a part of Pittsburgh’s brand, it uses technology from Westinghouse, from US Steel, from American bridge," he said at the celebration.
The city’s historic and review and planning commissions have already rejected historic status.
Council has until mid-August to take a final vote.
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Council Gets Igloo Preservation Resolution
Efforts to preserve the Pittsburgh Civic Arena have failed before the city’s Planning Commission and it’s Historic Review Commission, but the structure has one last chance. Pittsburgh City Council this morning received legislation designating the structure has historic. It comes to the body with a negative recommendation, which means it will take six votes among the nine council members to pass.
“I believe it is in the city’s interest as a whole to redevelop that site to provide thousands of good jobs, to provide millions in tax revenue to the city,” says Councilman Daniel Lavelle who represents the Hill District and has been an outspoken supporter against historic designation. “I think it is in [fellow councilmember’s] interests recognizing the needs of the city on a whole to decided on our financial interests over preservation.”
Councilman Bill Peduto says this may not have to be an argument pitting preservation verse demolition. “There may be third ways of looking at this. To be able to save part of this while still allowing for development and there are people coming forward with some ideas on that as well,” says Peduto.
Among those ideas is a plan to leave the curved steel structure that holds up the roof in place. No mater what the plan may be, councilman Bruce Kraus says he promises a full and fair hearing for all sides. “The council will take the process very seriously, there will be a number of meetings that will be scheduled, I’m happy to take public input from across the board from anyone who has an interest,” says Krauss. From there he says council will make an informed decision.
Lavelle says there is nothing that can be said to change his mind and he says he has support of the community. “To me this is a clear case. This community, the Hill District has been very outspoken… and I would feel very comfortable that the vast majority, probably over 90%, wants to see the arena removed.”
Hill district resident Eloise McDonald nominated the arena for historic status.
Council is expected to hold a special meeting on the designation in mid June and take a final vote in late June.
“I believe it is in the city’s interest as a whole to redevelop that site to provide thousands of good jobs, to provide millions in tax revenue to the city,” says Councilman Daniel Lavelle who represents the Hill District and has been an outspoken supporter against historic designation. “I think it is in [fellow councilmember’s] interests recognizing the needs of the city on a whole to decided on our financial interests over preservation.”
Councilman Bill Peduto says this may not have to be an argument pitting preservation verse demolition. “There may be third ways of looking at this. To be able to save part of this while still allowing for development and there are people coming forward with some ideas on that as well,” says Peduto.
Among those ideas is a plan to leave the curved steel structure that holds up the roof in place. No mater what the plan may be, councilman Bruce Kraus says he promises a full and fair hearing for all sides. “The council will take the process very seriously, there will be a number of meetings that will be scheduled, I’m happy to take public input from across the board from anyone who has an interest,” says Krauss. From there he says council will make an informed decision.
Lavelle says there is nothing that can be said to change his mind and he says he has support of the community. “To me this is a clear case. This community, the Hill District has been very outspoken… and I would feel very comfortable that the vast majority, probably over 90%, wants to see the arena removed.”
Hill district resident Eloise McDonald nominated the arena for historic status.
Council is expected to hold a special meeting on the designation in mid June and take a final vote in late June.
Thursday, March 3, 2011
PGH Historic Review Commission says ‘No’ on Arena
After hours of testimony and months of debate the Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission has rejected a request to designate the Civic Arena as a historic structure. The 6-0 vote came yesterday afternoon.
Almost a decade ago, the panel gave a similar petition a preliminary approval but rejected it on a final vote. The 49-year-old Civic Arena closed last year when the Consol Energy Center opened across the street. The Penguins and the Sports and Exhibition Authority have plans to build a residential, office and commercial development on the 28-acre site.
Activists group Reuse the Igloo founder Rob Pfaffmann says he is disappointed but will keep trying to save the structure. The city's planning commission and council still must take up the nomination. A supermajority of the Pittsburgh City Council would be needed to override the negative recommendation.
Developers say they need to have the arena razed if they are to be able to successfully redevelop the land. Supporters of the designation say there is no need to rush into demolition. They say the developers could start building on the parking lots first.
Almost a decade ago, the panel gave a similar petition a preliminary approval but rejected it on a final vote. The 49-year-old Civic Arena closed last year when the Consol Energy Center opened across the street. The Penguins and the Sports and Exhibition Authority have plans to build a residential, office and commercial development on the 28-acre site.
Activists group Reuse the Igloo founder Rob Pfaffmann says he is disappointed but will keep trying to save the structure. The city's planning commission and council still must take up the nomination. A supermajority of the Pittsburgh City Council would be needed to override the negative recommendation.
Developers say they need to have the arena razed if they are to be able to successfully redevelop the land. Supporters of the designation say there is no need to rush into demolition. They say the developers could start building on the parking lots first.
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
Historic Review Commission Hears Arguments on Arena
While Penguins fans were pouring into their team’s new home last night, members of the Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission were undertaking a marathon session that will lead to a decision on just how historic the Penguins old home may be.
A group of citizens have filed a petition with the commission asking that the nearly 50-year-old civic arena be designated as historic. Such a designation would make it harder for the Sports and Exhibition Authority to move forward with its plan to tear down the structure and redevelop the land. Those filing the petition say using the historic designation was their last resort to save the arena while members of the Sports and Exhibition Authority say razing the structure was their last option after looking unsuccessfully for a way to reuse the Igloo.
Both sides called several witnesses and spent nearly an hour and a half each outlining their case.
The petitioners argue that the arena meets several of the 10 criteria used by the review commission when it considers the “significance” of a structure. Among them is “Its exemplification of important planning and urban design techniques…” Preservation Pittsburgh President Scott Leib says the civic arena was one of the nation’s first attempts at large-scale urban renewal. “Unfortunately it’s a sad aspect of the building and what it represents, but at the same time it is part of our history and we need to acknowledge that,” says Leib. Pittsburgh City Councilman Daniel Lavelle countered that argument during the Sports and Exhibition Authority presentation. “Preserving structures without understanding the historical impact such structures had and continue to have on the community is comparable to those who defend the right to fly the confederate flag on state buildings in the south when there are clear negative connotations to many who would enter such buildings,” says Lavelle.
The petitioners also argued that the engineering and design that went into the building at a time when there were no computer drafting programs shows the need to preserve the structure. Sheet metal worker Harold Shetter has done work on the building, “this building represents the pinnacle of Pittsburgh’s ability to produce the materials for, and build a structure that has never been replicated anywhere in the world.”
University of Pittsburgh History of Art and Architecture Professor Frank Toker says the arena perfectly fits the review commission’s criteria that reads, “its unique location and distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City of Pittsburgh.” He says, “I propose to you that the civic arena is historically the most representative building now standing in the city of Pittsburgh.” To counter that claim the SEA asked VisitPittsburgh Board Member Jeffery Letwin if he agreed. “If you go through our visitors guides of the past years, there is no place where the arena is a tour stop,” says Letwin, “ as a mater of fact, in our latest edition we have a section on historic places, historic points of interest, the arena is simply not listed.” He says from a visitor and tourism perspective it does not represent Pittsburgh. “we market the teams, not the venues,” says Letwin.
SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo says the Authority is currently working with the Heinz History Center, the NHL Hall of Fame, CMU and other entities to preserve pieces of the building and important documents related to its planning, construction and use.
A group of citizens have filed a petition with the commission asking that the nearly 50-year-old civic arena be designated as historic. Such a designation would make it harder for the Sports and Exhibition Authority to move forward with its plan to tear down the structure and redevelop the land. Those filing the petition say using the historic designation was their last resort to save the arena while members of the Sports and Exhibition Authority say razing the structure was their last option after looking unsuccessfully for a way to reuse the Igloo.
Both sides called several witnesses and spent nearly an hour and a half each outlining their case.
The petitioners argue that the arena meets several of the 10 criteria used by the review commission when it considers the “significance” of a structure. Among them is “Its exemplification of important planning and urban design techniques…” Preservation Pittsburgh President Scott Leib says the civic arena was one of the nation’s first attempts at large-scale urban renewal. “Unfortunately it’s a sad aspect of the building and what it represents, but at the same time it is part of our history and we need to acknowledge that,” says Leib. Pittsburgh City Councilman Daniel Lavelle countered that argument during the Sports and Exhibition Authority presentation. “Preserving structures without understanding the historical impact such structures had and continue to have on the community is comparable to those who defend the right to fly the confederate flag on state buildings in the south when there are clear negative connotations to many who would enter such buildings,” says Lavelle.
The petitioners also argued that the engineering and design that went into the building at a time when there were no computer drafting programs shows the need to preserve the structure. Sheet metal worker Harold Shetter has done work on the building, “this building represents the pinnacle of Pittsburgh’s ability to produce the materials for, and build a structure that has never been replicated anywhere in the world.”
University of Pittsburgh History of Art and Architecture Professor Frank Toker says the arena perfectly fits the review commission’s criteria that reads, “its unique location and distinctive physical appearance or presence representing an established and familiar visual feature of a neighborhood, community or the City of Pittsburgh.” He says, “I propose to you that the civic arena is historically the most representative building now standing in the city of Pittsburgh.” To counter that claim the SEA asked VisitPittsburgh Board Member Jeffery Letwin if he agreed. “If you go through our visitors guides of the past years, there is no place where the arena is a tour stop,” says Letwin, “ as a mater of fact, in our latest edition we have a section on historic places, historic points of interest, the arena is simply not listed.” He says from a visitor and tourism perspective it does not represent Pittsburgh. “we market the teams, not the venues,” says Letwin.
SEA Executive Director Mary Conturo says the Authority is currently working with the Heinz History Center, the NHL Hall of Fame, CMU and other entities to preserve pieces of the building and important documents related to its planning, construction and use.
Wednesday, November 24, 2010
Arena Demolition Process Delayed
Pittsburgh's vacant Civic Arena has been nominated as a city historic structure. The action was taken on behalf of two groups trying to save the arena after the Pittsburgh Planning Commission voted 6-0 to approve demolition. The historic review process by the Pittsburgh Historic Review Commission will prevent any action being taken by the Sports and Exhibition Authority to raze the arena, which they had planned to start in April. The City Planning Commission heard from those on both sides of the issue before voting yesterday. Eloise McDonald of the Hill District told the commission to "leave the Civic Arena for us." She said the Penguins have a "nice place to play" now. The Penguins own the development rights to the 28 acre site in the lower Hill. They favor tearing down the arena for new development. State Senator Jim Ferlo, also one of the speakers, said the "Penguins only intention is to demolish the site for more parking." Ferlo said "that is part of the agenda - the financial money involved with parking."
Travis Williams, senior vice president of business affairs and general counsel for the Penguins, told the commission that the conversations they have had with developers leads them to believe that leaving the arena in place would "severely and adversely impact the ability to develop the 28 acres." Williams said the preservationists "never put forth a plan that had an economic feasibility study behind it or any economic benefit analysis supporting it." He said those who argue in favor of saving the arena claim it's an "architectural wonder like the Space Needle or Arch in St. Lous." But Williams said, "while the dome was glorious in its day, (the Penguins) don't believe the arena is a true destination like the other two" facilities. Williams told the commission that facilities like "the arena, Boston Garden, Yankee Stadium, Detroit Tigers Stadium and Philadelphia Spectrum" are not being reused because it's economically unfeasbible to do so. Demolition of the Spectrum started yesterday.
Travis Williams, senior vice president of business affairs and general counsel for the Penguins, told the commission that the conversations they have had with developers leads them to believe that leaving the arena in place would "severely and adversely impact the ability to develop the 28 acres." Williams said the preservationists "never put forth a plan that had an economic feasibility study behind it or any economic benefit analysis supporting it." He said those who argue in favor of saving the arena claim it's an "architectural wonder like the Space Needle or Arch in St. Lous." But Williams said, "while the dome was glorious in its day, (the Penguins) don't believe the arena is a true destination like the other two" facilities. Williams told the commission that facilities like "the arena, Boston Garden, Yankee Stadium, Detroit Tigers Stadium and Philadelphia Spectrum" are not being reused because it's economically unfeasbible to do so. Demolition of the Spectrum started yesterday.
Wednesday, November 17, 2010
Interest in Arena Memorabilia "Tremendous"
The first phase of the sale of Civic Arena items concludes tomorrow. The Sports and Exhibition Authority (SEA) and the Penguins are selling off seats and memorabilia. In the first round, 4,800 pairs of seats are available at a fixed price of $495 plus $120 shipping to season ticket holders. The seats become available to the general public December 1. Also starting that day, 4,300 "commemorative" single seats will be put on sale for the same price.
Shawn Allen is the Chief Operating Officer of AssetNation which is handling the sale. His company ran the sale for 3 Rivers Stadium seats ten years ago...
"That was a pure auction where we started at a low price and auctioned them up because it was a short period of time. Since we have a longer period of time for the Civic Arena, we decided to go out on a a "buy it now" sale price rather than an auction."
Allen says there is already tremendous interest in non-seat memorabilia which will be auctioned online December 8...."Some of the banners....the Ring of Honor around the Civic Arena. That is such a unique item that we really thought an auction was the best way to not only generate revenue for the city and the Penguins, but allow that piece to go to the most interested party."
The high bidders are responsible for removing the items from the arena. The sale is projected to bring in $1.6 million for the SEA and $800,000 for the Penguins. The SEA could use that money to pay for razing of the arena. Most of the Penguins' share is expected to go to the team's foundation to support youth hockey.
Shawn Allen is the Chief Operating Officer of AssetNation which is handling the sale. His company ran the sale for 3 Rivers Stadium seats ten years ago...
"That was a pure auction where we started at a low price and auctioned them up because it was a short period of time. Since we have a longer period of time for the Civic Arena, we decided to go out on a a "buy it now" sale price rather than an auction."
Allen says there is already tremendous interest in non-seat memorabilia which will be auctioned online December 8...."Some of the banners....the Ring of Honor around the Civic Arena. That is such a unique item that we really thought an auction was the best way to not only generate revenue for the city and the Penguins, but allow that piece to go to the most interested party."
The high bidders are responsible for removing the items from the arena. The sale is projected to bring in $1.6 million for the SEA and $800,000 for the Penguins. The SEA could use that money to pay for razing of the arena. Most of the Penguins' share is expected to go to the team's foundation to support youth hockey.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Ferlo Reaction To Arena
State Senator Jim Ferlo says he is not happy with the Sports And Exhibition Authority's decision to demolish the Civic Arena. Although Ferlo represents a portion of the Hill District, he says he was excluded from talks about the possible redevelopment of the arena.
Ferlo, a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission said he will remained as the issue moves forward. He had previously proposed a two-year cooling-off period before making any permanent decisions regarding the arena.
The notion that somehow saving a portion or integrating some adaptive reuse of the arena contradicts the ability to also enhance the Center Avenue corridor and promote housing and other economic opportunities is just false, I mean, we can have it all actually.
Ferlo, a Board Member of the Pennsylvania Historical Museum Commission said he will remained as the issue moves forward. He had previously proposed a two-year cooling-off period before making any permanent decisions regarding the arena.
The notion that somehow saving a portion or integrating some adaptive reuse of the arena contradicts the ability to also enhance the Center Avenue corridor and promote housing and other economic opportunities is just false, I mean, we can have it all actually.
Thursday, September 16, 2010
Civic Arena To be Demolished
The vote on Thursday morning was quick and unanimous.
Eight Sports and Exhibition Authority Board Members voted to demolish the 49-year old Civic Arena. The SEA voted for the demolition despite impassioned public comment against doing so.
State Senator Wayne Fontana, an SEA Board Member, said his vote was informed by reports that maintaining the arena would be costly and would ultimately not benefit the community.
"The best way to generate revenue back to the public through wage taxes and jobs and those kinds of things would be to take the arena off that spot," he said.
Robert Pfaffman, an architect who has been heading the Reuse the Igloo effort said he was disappointed by the outcome of the SEA’s unanimous vote.
"I’m an optimistic person," he said, "So I thought at least one person on that board might actually see an opportunity to compromise and develop a process that allows even people that disagree an opportunity to work together and that clearly wasn’t the case here."
He says the group will seek an injunction to block the demolition. He says the SEA could be violating federal preservation law, which prevents “anticipatory demolition” of historic structures. If so, they could lose federal funding for the lower hill’s redevelopment.
The SEA says they will start removing asbestos from the building. The bids for the demolition, slated to cost $5 million dollars will be ready early next year.
Eight Sports and Exhibition Authority Board Members voted to demolish the 49-year old Civic Arena. The SEA voted for the demolition despite impassioned public comment against doing so.
State Senator Wayne Fontana, an SEA Board Member, said his vote was informed by reports that maintaining the arena would be costly and would ultimately not benefit the community.
"The best way to generate revenue back to the public through wage taxes and jobs and those kinds of things would be to take the arena off that spot," he said.
Robert Pfaffman, an architect who has been heading the Reuse the Igloo effort said he was disappointed by the outcome of the SEA’s unanimous vote.
"I’m an optimistic person," he said, "So I thought at least one person on that board might actually see an opportunity to compromise and develop a process that allows even people that disagree an opportunity to work together and that clearly wasn’t the case here."
He says the group will seek an injunction to block the demolition. He says the SEA could be violating federal preservation law, which prevents “anticipatory demolition” of historic structures. If so, they could lose federal funding for the lower hill’s redevelopment.
The SEA says they will start removing asbestos from the building. The bids for the demolition, slated to cost $5 million dollars will be ready early next year.
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