Arena site development vote delayed (Pittsburgh: 2014, crime, neighborhoods)

[guy2073]

Originally Posted by pittsburghaccuweather

In 1998 the public voted down taxes for two new stadiums twice. By 2001 the new stadiums were finished along with the office buildings, hotel and parking garage. The casino was finished 10 years later along with stage AE, the billion dollar north shore connector etc. the last new retail took longer but it was mostly complete by 2010. So we are 10 years into it and ground hasn’t been broken yet for the arena site.

Businesses seem to be choosing the north shore and strip district as opposed to downtown. I think the arena site and hazelwood green just aren’t very desirable and see it as worth fighting community groups.

Wabtec is moving hq from Wilmerding to Pittsburgh and they chose the north side over downtown and the strip. It was in the news today

It has been under 8 years since the arena was demolished. I think both sites are taking the same amount of time. It took 10 years for the casino, 10 years for stage ae, 12 years for the north shore extension. Looking at this page the time lines will be comparable

North Shore Continental Development

The pirates and steelers still have 2 parcels left to develop and it has been almost 20 years

[tyovan4]

I don't agree with black community groups on much - but on this, I hope that they continue to dig their heels in.
The redevelopment of the Civic Arena site will be the final nail in the coffin for the Hill, and will unleash gentrification that'll make East Liberty look mild by comparison.

Its time to push back against the 'great inversion'. Good for Hill District groups for seeing the writing on the wall more clearly than most regarding this topic.

[amattaro]

Originally Posted by guy2073

The pirates and steelers still have 2 parcels left to develop and it has been almost 20 years

Saving those for the next stadiums.

[pittsburghaccuweather]

Originally Posted by amattaro

Saving those for the next stadiums.

2020s are about right to ask for an upgrade or new stadiums. They turn 20 in 2021. Three rivers was gone by the time it was 30.

The Steelers will ask first and state how much they do for the city. Taxes will go up again.

[28CarsLater]

I may be dated or just plain wrong but I thought there was parking going into at least part of the old Civic Arena site. I vaguely recall hearing about this mixed use residential site years ago and I really thought it was already built by now but I was wrong.

"The Pittsburgh Penguins, which have development rights to the 28-acre Lower Hill District property, are proposing a first phase of construction that includes 288 apartments in two residential buildings and a live music venue above a parking garage.

Kevin Acklin, the Penguins’ general counsel, estimated the two projects would total $210 million."


"Fifty-eight of the apartments would be affordable for low-income residents.

Acklin said the project would total around $90 million.

It would include a public subsidy of $1 million."

"Acklin said that project would total about $120 million and include $3 million in public subsidies."

Ok so only 4 million in public money -essentially corporate welfare- could be worse.

I am curious as to "be affordable for low-income residents" actually means. Does this mean Section 8? Does it mean they will handed a down payment and then buy with something like FHA? Does it mean you're just getting half off of you qualify?

58 of 288 is 20.14%, so I get to spend 200K+ for a condo and 20% of my neighbors can't actually afford to live there?

I'm not a RE expert but I do know a lot of the loans which blew up in 2008 were made to people who simply could not afford everything which entails home ownership. They were put in the buying pool stating in the 90s which drove all prices up and then defaulted because they were not prepared for home ownership, they essentially were set up to fail in many cases. Not sure what's happening here.

[28CarsLater]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

I don't agree with black community groups on much - but on this, I hope that they continue to dig their heels in.
The redevelopment of the Civic Arena site will be the final nail in the coffin for the Hill, and will unleash gentrification that'll make East Liberty look mild by comparison.

Its time to push back against the 'great inversion'. Good for Hill District groups for seeing the writing on the wall more clearly than most regarding this topic.

I support you in that you are concerned about the community, however I will point out the current residents will get paid for their housing which is not of high valuation at current. I'm not saying this is right or I agree with it, but the current residents will benefit when they sell. This gentrification seems to mostly benefit a small well connected clique for the most part and any ordinary owners who happen to be in the area. I'd be curious to know in the last ten years who bought up blocks of cheap real estate in anticipation of this.

[28CarsLater]

Originally Posted by amattaro

Saving those for the next stadiums.

Pirates can leave if they demand a new stadium.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by 28CarsLater

Pirates can leave if they demand a new stadium.

Agreed.

Lease agreement isn’t up until I believe 2030 so it’s going to be a long decade of Bucs baseball.

[xdv8]

Another new useless thread for an old topic.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by xdv8

Another new useless thread for an old topic.

It’s actually an interesting update on an old topic.

Not sure why you would reply and keep it going if you don’t feel it’s useful.