The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission has expressed concerns about the speed of the planned demolition of the Mellon Arena, prompting a response Thursday from the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority.

In the commission's letter sent Wednesday, director Jean Cutler requested more information.

"We are sympathetic with the need to move quickly, however we also want to ensure that we have received all crucial information in a fashion that allows us to fully understand both the process and the project's effects on historic resources," Ms. Cutler said in the letter.

Ms. Cutler requested that SEA issue a preliminary finding on the project with supporting documentation, including the economic analysis, the alternatives report and results from a separate economic analysis of the project by Reuse the Igloo and Preservation Pittsburgh. The commission will withhold formal comment until it receives this information, Ms. Cutler said in the letter.

Following Thursday's SEA board meeting, executive director Mary Conturo said members thought moving through the process quickly was best. Mellon Arena will be vacant come August, and the costs of maintaining the building will fall on SEA, she said.

Utilities and insurance for the arena will cost between $78,000 and $100,000 per month, depending on whether the intention is to keep the arena dark or there is an opportunity for reuse, said Chris Cieslak, owner's representative at SEA.

SEA has been relying on the guidance of Michael Baker Engineering, a firm members believe to be experienced and qualified, Ms. Conturo added.

"We think everything done to date is very thorough and very well done," she said.

In the letter, Ms. Cutler said SEA had overlapped a number of elements required to obtain federal funding for projects with historic implications. SEA is not currently receiving any federal funding but intends to seek it, Ms. Conturo said.

Overlapped procedures include the public participation process and the alternatives analysis, according to the letter.

"In a perfect world, we'd like to have as much time as we can get to look at the universe of options," said Bill Callahan, the museum commission's representative for Western Pennsylvania. The commission exists to assist SEA with its decision, but it has no authority over the board, he added.

The board will most likely seek federal funding from the Federal Highway Administration, Ms. Conturo said. Regardless of what happens to the arena, changes need to be made to the roads and sidewalks, she said.

Also during Thursday's meeting, David Bear, acting as a spokesman for Reuse the Igloo and Preservation Pittsburgh, requested a public hearing to discuss the planned demolition. Mr. Bear, the Post-Gazette's former travel editor, said that by the time an issue gets to a public meeting, the decision has been made, and that this particular issue was too important to leave to "behind the door discussion."

The board will consider having a public hearing, members said.

First Published: June 18, 2010, 4:00 a.m.