Why does the Hill District get MORE from the Penguins? (Pittsburgh: apartments, houses)

[h_curtis]

Originally Posted by airwave09

Oh and LOL at h curtis saying that the hill residents should just be "happy that the pens are playing there". I'm sure they all care so much about hockey.

Um, revenue to a region that really has lots of problems and possible employment opportunities within walking distance for many residents.

[BrianTH]

What's done is done--the Penguins got a great deal on Consol and the development rights to the Lower Hill with lots of public subsidies, and while I am highly skeptical that was the best use of those funds, we can't back out now.

But conversely, I think my point above stands: we have every right to demand the Penguins rigorously stick to all the promises that they made in return. That includes the CBA, and also the main development agreement for the Lower Hill.

[ferrarisnowday]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Um, revenue to a region that really has lots of problems and possible employment opportunities within walking distance for many residents.

Hey, those employment opportunities don't count unless the residents of the Hill are given a one week advance notice before the general public!

[airwave09]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Um, revenue to a region that really has lots of problems and possible employment opportunities within walking distance for many residents.

Yeah, they should be forever indebted to the Pens for bringing a couple hundred minimum wage jobs to the neighborhood.

[tranceFusion]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

Meanwhile, the vast bulk of the construction costs are being paid by the public (in a variety of forms--I include the Rivers payment in this category because that was a condition of getting the state gambling license).
.

I don't think it's fair to put the Rivers payments into this bucket. People accepted the gambling license because of a promised property tax subsidy (which ended up being almost nothing), NOT because they wanted the Pens to have a new rink.

How much exactly comes from Rivers and how much comes directly from tax revenue?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by tranceFusion

I don't think it's fair to put the Rivers payments into this bucket. People accepted the gambling license because of a promised property tax subsidy (which ended up being almost nothing), NOT because they wanted the Pens to have a new rink.

The state, county, and local officials negotiated the gambling license deal with Rivers. If they hadn't gotten $7.5 mill/year from Rivers for Consol (that's the number), they could have gotten $7.5 mill/year from Rivers for some other public purpose. That's why I consider it public revenues--the Casino doesn't care where that money goes, it was the public officials who directed it to Consol as part of the Penguins' deal.

How much exactly comes from Rivers and how much comes directly from tax revenue?

So according to the article I linked it is $7.5 million/year from Rivers, and another $7.5 million/year from one of the state's general casino funds. Then there was another $30 million one-time for site acquisition, preparation, and financing charges (they said from the "taxpayers"--I'm not sure which specific funds that came out of), and another $10 million one-time from a state capital fund.

[Pitts10yrs]

Pittsburghers invest a lot in their sports teams. Attendance at footbal and hockey games is phenomenal. We all are spending and supporting these teams, and even though I am against handouts, their should be some kind of support for the city and people that chant their names & wear their symbols.

The Rooneys are treated like gods in this city, and what exactly are they known for? They never really had to work, simply inherited a very successful sports team and live off of their father's wealth.

[SuburbanPioneer]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

What's done is done--the Penguins got a great deal on Consol and the development rights to the Lower Hill with lots of public subsidies, and while I am highly skeptical that was the best use of those funds, we can't back out now.

But conversely, I think my point above stands: we have every right to demand the Penguins rigorously stick to all the promises that they made in return. That includes the CBA, and also the main development agreement for the Lower Hill.

I agree, what' done is done. Maybe signing a CBA with the hill district was not the smartest idea, but Pens probably had no other choice. Besides, you are correct, they have received substantial benefits from the city in return as well. Now, everyone should stick to the signed contract. Apparently, this is where we have a disagreement with Mr. Redwood. I have read every line of the CBA and nowhere there it required Pens to share any part of their profit or collected fees with the Hill. I honestly don't see any legal ground for demanding Pens to pay any portion of parking fees back to the Hill, not from the CBA document anyway. This is perhaps why Mr. Redwood chose to publicly intimidate Pens to change the already signed deal.

[Comtesse_Gigi]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I am lost about how the Hill District can ask for anything from the Penguins? Are they not happy that the Pen's play right there? Isn't it enough? They want more? I don't get it.

Relations between Penguins, Hill residents growing icy - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Let's build a hockey arena next to your house and see how you like it?

As someone who lived next to WVU's Mountaineer Stadium for three years, I think anything they can do to make peace with people who live on the Hill should be done without question or hesitation.

I mean that dripping with sweetness and in my own humblest and honest opinion.

[Comtesse_Gigi]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

It isn't like the Hill has anything going on other than a huge police presence in Terrance Projects.

Guess I am missing something.

Actually, the Hill does have other things going on. It's a funny thing, media that is.