City planning board approves arena master plan
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The plan for a new arena won a key approval tonight despite a determined effort by Hill District advocates who wanted guaranteed neighborhood benefits first.
The city Planning Commission voted 5-3 to approve an arena master plan that governs the overall site layout.
The commission attached 14 new conditions related to parking and traffic, but would not hold up the vote pending a neighbor benefits agreement, as Hill residents demanded.
Earlier in the day, Hill leaders would not indicate whether they approve or disapprove of a commission vote on the plan. "We're still in negotiations," said Carl Redwood, leader of the One Hill Community Benefits Agreement Coalition. "We do not have an agreement, but we're working very hard to get one."
Those words came at a press conference this afternoon. That followed talks that went until 1:30 a.m. today and another round of 90 minutes this morning. Neither One Hill nor Mayor Luke Ravenstahl would provide details on the emerging agreement.
"They're confident that they can reach this agreement," said City Councilwoman Tonya Payne.
The One Hill group had asked for neighborhood-controlled development funding, first dibs on jobs for Hill residents, a grocery store and community center, more park space and input into a redevelopment master plan.
Mr. Ravenstahl and Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato had countered with a pledge to help fund a neighborhood plan, a resource center and a YMCA, plus a "good-faith effort" to lure a grocery store. The Penguins, who were not at the table today, pledged $2 million toward a grocery store.
Mr. Redwood said the absence of the Penguins from the negotiations is "a hole" in the process that could cause problems. Team officials, waiting outside of the mayor's office after the press conference, would not comment.
The city-county offer also included promises to bring more social services to the Hill, and to carefully consider its residents for board appointments.
"We've made progress in regards to language" to appear in an agreement, said Mr. Ravenstahl. "Today's [Planning Commission] vote is independent of the [negotiating] process as far as I'm concerned. . . . The process will continue regardless of anything that happens today or doesn't happen today."
A separate group of ministers and others from the Hill was not represented at the bargaining table yesterday or today. The Rev. Thomas Smith, of Monumental Baptist Church, said today that the ministers will review any agreement that comes out of One Hill's process and determine whether it goes far enough to preserve community assets and redevelop structures like the New Granada Theater.
"I'm quite sure that the One Hill group is working to get the best community benefits agreement they can get," said the Rev. Smith. "We've been pretty much on the same page. We've just gone about it in different ways."
More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
First Published January 14, 2008 5:56 am
