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Pens arena fund squeaks through House
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Supporters of an important project for Pittsburgh -- a new multipurpose arena for Penguins' hockey and other uses -- sweated out a narrow victory yesterday.
The House vote for a new gaming-funded development fund, which will help finance the arena, was as close as it could be, 102 to 100.
Many House legislators didn't like the gaming fund because it's paying for one large project in Philadelphia, an $880 million expansion of the convention center, and eight projects in Allegheny County, including the new $300 million arena.
Rep. Dwight Evans, D-Philadelphia, said other communities will get a chance this fall to seek funds from the gaming development fund for projects in other towns. The fund will receive $150 million a year once all 14 casinos are up and running, but currently has only about $25 million in it. The Pittsburgh arena and the Philadelphia convention center are the first two projects to be funded.
First Published July 17, 2007 11:20 pm
