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Old 09-27-2011, 05:24 PM
 
15 posts, read 18,876 times
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Yes... I call it the Civic Arena! I've got some good memories of some good shows seen there...

I wonder if the people involved in the demolition are native Pittsburghers or just a bunch of greedy "newcomers"?

Just my 2 cents. (Wanted to tell it to someone(s) who care)
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Old 09-27-2011, 06:22 PM
 
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Me too. I understand the reasons why it's going down and it's basically a moot point to argue them now but it's sad to see such a classic Pittsburgh landmark go away. I might be less unhappy if the Consol Center wasn't such a dull and uninspired replacement but that's one bland building.
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Old 09-27-2011, 06:48 PM
 
7,112 posts, read 10,102,210 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneW View Post
Me too. I understand the reasons why it's going down and it's basically a moot point to argue them now but it's sad to see such a classic Pittsburgh landmark go away. I might be less unhappy if the Consol Center wasn't such a dull and uninspired replacement but that's one bland building.
The original design of Consol Energy was much less inspiring. Pittsburgh sent the architects back to the drawing board to come up with a new design.
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Old 09-27-2011, 07:16 PM
 
Location: South Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA
875 posts, read 1,485,037 times
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Quote:
Originally Posted by GeneW View Post
Me too. I understand the reasons why it's going down and it's basically a moot point to argue them now but it's sad to see such a classic Pittsburgh landmark go away. I might be less unhappy if the Consol Center wasn't such a dull and uninspired replacement but that's one bland building.
Agreed a million times over. This plus the fact that in all likelihood what will be built on the old arena site will probably look like a South Side Works Redux.

I guess that's what folks like these days...
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Old 09-27-2011, 07:43 PM
 
2,269 posts, read 3,784,260 times
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Originally Posted by Impala26 View Post
Agreed a million times over. This plus the fact that in all likelihood what will be built on the old arena site will probably look like a South Side Works Redux.

I guess that's what folks like these days...
As has been stated a million times, the problem is that you have a huge, expensive to maintain building that had become outmoded. There was no way the city could afford to keep it standing as some sort of monument, especially with it sitting on prime real estate.
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Old 09-27-2011, 07:52 PM
 
1,445 posts, read 1,966,015 times
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Originally Posted by Herodotus View Post
As has been stated a million times, the problem is that you have a huge, expensive to maintain building that had become outmoded. There was no way the city could afford to keep it standing as some sort of monument, especially with it sitting on prime real estate.
Those things may all be true but that doesn't change the fact that we've replaced a landmark with suburban cookie-cutter blandness.
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Old 09-27-2011, 07:54 PM
 
Location: South Oakland, Pittsburgh, PA
875 posts, read 1,485,037 times
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Originally Posted by Herodotus View Post
As has been stated a million times, the problem is that you have a huge, expensive to maintain building that had become outmoded. There was no way the city could afford to keep it standing as some sort of monument, especially with it sitting on prime real estate.
I'm not saying I oppose getting rid of it. What I am saying is that redevelopment should be responsible and Hill District residents should probably have a slightly larger say than the rest of the community for at least the sake of historical retribution. Otherwise, what's preventing future generations in 50 years from raising the same complaints about "planned redevelopment" the same way we're doing today about the site.

My other point is that the Civic Arena, as outdated as it is, is far more iconic and architecturally interesting than CEC in my honest opinion. And I despise most mid-twentieth century architecture and planning.
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Old 09-27-2011, 08:47 PM
 
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Agreed.... CEC is about as bland as that type of structure can get
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Old 09-28-2011, 05:16 AM
 
20,273 posts, read 32,920,739 times
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Consol actually works well, though, and is designed to fit into the street grid and allow development all around it. In this context I would rather have an arena like that than an architectural icon that prevents the possibility of a healthy, dense, city neighborhood around it.

Anyway, I sincerely hope that all the people who have cited concerns about the quality of what will replace the Arena are now ready to go to battle on that issue, because it isn't a foregone conclusion what will happen and the public could have meaningful input at various stages.
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Old 09-28-2011, 05:18 AM
gg
 
Location: Pittsburgh
26,137 posts, read 25,838,341 times
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It is what Pittsburgh'ers love to do. Tear down things that are architecturally significant and build something like the new boring arena where the Pens try and play. It sure was an amazing structure that many of us old time Pittsburgh folk enjoyed concerts in a place that had something NO other city could compete with. This stuff goes to show you the Yinzers are still in control of everything. It more artsy people had control, this place would have been renovated and reused with the occasional outdoor Pen's game. Imagine the world watching the Pens open the stadium for an outdoor venue. Talk about great press. The yinzer can't see that though. They just say, tear it down. It was broke and don't work no more. You can't fix that thing. Yep, yinzers live strong here and still are in control.

It all doesn't matter. We are stuck with a new structure that is about as boring and plain as it gets. No one in the world would have interest in the new place. Just some place to hold people. No open roof, not interesting features. A three year old could have designed it. Ah well, what is done is done.
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