North Shore casino owner Don Barden will put on hold a request to drop $3 million in funding for Hill District redevelopment until he has met with top Pittsburgh and Allegheny County leaders to discuss the matter.

Mr. Barden said yesterday he will defer his request to the Pennsylvania Gaming Control Board, in the "spirit of cooperation," until he has met with Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and county Chief Executive Dan Onorato.

In a petition filed last week with the gaming board, Mr. Barden indicated he wanted to drop the $3 million commitment because he lost development rights to the 28-acre Mellon Arena site, which will be redeveloped once a new arena is built. Those rights went to the Penguins as part of the arena deal.

Mr. Ravenstahl, city Councilwoman Tonya Payne and some state senators have raised concerns about Mr. Barden's request.

Mr. Barden has said the funding was always contingent on getting the Mellon Arena redevelopment rights, a point disputed by state Sen. Jim Ferlo, who said that is not contained in the specific condition imposed by the gaming board.

Mr. Barden said he expects to meet with Mr. Ravenstahl and Mr. Onorato within the next two to three weeks. Until then, he will not discuss the request to drop the $3 million pledge.

Mr. Onorato hopes to develop a joint city-county strategy to take before the gaming board regarding the use of the money. He has said that Mr. Barden has a legitimate beef.

"That $3 million was tied to the development rights. The conditions have significantly changed from that pledge as far as he's concerned, and we need to figure out now what's the appropriate adjustment," Mr. Onorato said.

Mr. Barden will be in Harrisburg today to meet with the gaming board to discuss a proposed change in financing for the Majestic Star casino and other requests in the petition, including delays in building ballroom and outdoor amphitheater space. He also plans to meet with some state legislators.