Thursday, November 06, 2003

CITYWIDE: Strip club limits in works
Pittsburgh City Council tentatively approved slightly new restrictions on the placement of strip clubs yesterday.

Taking a cue from the city planning commission, council prohibited the clubs in the North Shore but continued to allow them Downtown and in industrial districts citywide.

Council had originally approved legislation barring the clubs in industrial districts adjacent to some residential neighborhoods, but planners and the city Law Department said that would be too restrictive of the clubs, which the Supreme Court has ruled are constitutionally protected.

If the clubs were only allowed Downtown, as the original council bill proposed, it would open the city to legal challenges, according to zoning administrator Patrick Ford.

A final vote is scheduled Tuesday.

NORTH SHORE: Parking garage approved
The city planning commission approved plans yesterday for the construction of a new nine-story parking garage on General Robinson Street near Interstate 279 as part of the overall North Shore development.

The garage, which will contain about 1,240 spaces for parking and another 120 in an adjacent surface lot, also will serve as a stop for the proposed light rail transit line to the North Shore. It also will feature two "speed ramps" to allow motorists to exit quickly from upper levels of the garage, particularly after Steelers and Pirates games.

As part of the project, modifications will be made to Reedsdale Street to provide a quick connection from the garage to high-occupancy vehicle lanes on Interstate 279.

Stephen Leeper, executive director of the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority, said the SEA hopes to begin construction in the next 90 days and finish before the end of 2004.

The SEA is trying to finalize financing for the project, which is expected to cost about $30 million. About 10,500 square feet of the garage's ground level will be set aside for retail business.

HAZELWOOD: Library move a concern
About 30 people attended a Pittsburgh City Council hearing yesterday on the Carnegie Library's plans to move its Hazelwood branch from a 103-year-old building to a newer one a few blocks away.

Opponents of the plan said the city should embrace its older buildings and heritage, criticized the proposed Second Avenue site for the new branch, saying it was dangerous, and criticized the library for not taking more public input on the plans.

Library official Craig Dunham said he sympathized with the historical concerns but the move would improve accessibility and library services. Moving the library into the new site would help move crime out, he said.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh's lease allows it to return the city-owned facility to the city in 2005.

The library will begin remodeling the new site at Second and Flowers avenues in January and finish by March.

DOWNTOWN: Philanthropists recognized
The Western Pennsylvania Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals is honoring several local individuals and organizations for their commitment to philanthropy at an awards luncheon Wednesday.

The noon luncheon at the Pittsburgh Hilton and Towers, Downtown is part of National Philanthropy Day.

Tickets are $40 per person.

For more information, call Laura Vincenti at 412-261-5040 or e-mail her at laura.vincenti@alz.org.

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