The Penguins have no developer either
In your editorial "Paying for Dreams: Any Viable Save-the-Arena Plan Needs an Investor" (Aug. 19), the PG stated that the Penguins plan to raze the Civic Arena and redevelop the 28-acre site. The PG conveniently omitted the fact that the plan actually calls for the public to pay $30 million to raze the arena, regrade the land, install utilities and streets, while paving and striping for a parking lot until the Penguins find a developer.
For this, the Penguins will pay only $200,000 per year and get more parking revenue. So far, the Penguins have not found an interested developer for their plan. And the PG is bashing the preservationists?
The PG and the public should demand that the Penguins' plans are finalized and a developer is on board with funding before any demolition is permitted. Otherwise, we do not know with any certainty when or what we are getting in exchange for the loss of the Civic Arena.
In contrast, our economic planner's analysis proves that reuse of the arena will require less public funding, have less risk, and can be completed more quickly than the proposed UDA/Penguins plan. The repurposed arena would be sustainable, complement the Consol Energy Center and would provide the most benefit for the neighboring Hill District community. This would be a win for the public, the city, the county and even the Penguins.
Come on, Pittsburgh -- imagine what you can do here!
SCOTT LEIB
President
Preservation Pittsburgh
Downtown
What others see
Concerning the fate of Mellon Arena, please allow me to offer an observation I feel differs from many that I have heard. The problem is that we look at the arena as Pittsburghers or from within. In that context we see the arena as an old sports venue whose time has passed. But looking from the outside we need to stop and think about what others see.
I drove a taxi for seven years. When bringing people into Pittsburgh from the airport I can say that more than once people conveyed to me their expectations of seeing a drab and smoky city. The first"wow" for them was exiting the Fort Pitt Tunnel.
The next "wow" factor was sometimes taking people up Centre Avenue close to the arena. Often people would ask what that beautiful building was. Watching in the rearview mirror, you could see the eye-opener effect.
In some cases you would take out-of-towners up to Mount Washington all the while reciting Pittsburgh firsts and other history lessons. As they viewed our city from above, their mannerisms strongly suggested they were "sold" at this point. When you looked in the rearview mirror, you would see the look of awe and satisfaction on their faces.
Why the rush? Why the need to destroy this jewel so quickly? Why the speed to take away one of the best ambassadors this city has ever had? There are so many things that can be done with the arena.
PAUL POTTER
Bloomfield
We're the investors
How ironic that the PG celebrates the "Bright Future for Rusty Relic of Pittsburgh's Age of Steel" (Aug. 19), while a few pages later an editorial ("Paying for Dreams") pre-empts public testimony and the years of work advocating for one of the steel industry's greatest innovations: the Civic Arena! It is also highly unfortunate that the PG chose to write an editorial just days before the public speaks (Aug. 23, 10:30 a.m., SEA board hearing at the convention center). Here are the key points to remember:
1. Nobody has a developer/investor: In this economy that will be years away. Prepare for a long-term parking lot at taxpayer expense!
2. Investment is complex: The "sources and uses" of funds is a brew of banks, pension funds, government tax credits, subsidies and earmarks.
3. Development is a process: The definition of market need is established through refined analysis of existing and future trends in the real estate market and economy at large.
4. Holding costs are accounted for: Every development proforma (the business plan for a development) must allow for carrying cost from the time the project starts expending money to the day that it is generating income. We have identified ways to do this for the reuse of the Civic Arena that maximizes benefit to the Hill, Pens and, yes, the taxpayers.
5. We have a sustainable proposal: Our "Prospectus for a Civic Renewal" is in final draft form and includes a detailed developer's proforma.
We, the citizens of Pittsburgh, are the real investors both in the past (the Civic Arena) and the future (at least $75 million for roads, garages and tax incentives).
We challenge the Post-Gazette to look harder at the failed planning processes to date and advocate for sustainable development. At the center of that opportunity is the reuse of the Civic Arena as a sustainable community asset. To learn more, read the Reuse the Igloo reports at reusetheigloo.org.
ROBERT PFAFFMANN
Reuse the Igloo!
Downtown
The writer is an architect and planner.
Scandal sheet-ready
When reading Jack Kelly's weekly column, I have often wondered how he arrives at his convoluted opinions of liberals and Democratic leaders. He has finally provided my long-sought answer in his Aug. 15 column, "Life Is Good at the Top."
He berates first lady Michelle Obama for spending so much time vacationing (as if other first ladies haven't done the same). He further states that Mrs. Obama "has regal pretensions and expects to be treated with reverence." Mr. Kelly's reliable source for information about Mrs. Obama's scandalous behavior is the renowned National Enquirer.
It would appear that Mr. Kelly's excellent journalistic talents are being wasted on a mundane daily newspaper like the Post-Gazette. His particular brand of journalism is better suited to publications like the National Enquirer, where unsubstantiated stories about scandalous behavior, conspiracy theories and other sensational tales are the norm. The only drawback to losing Mr. Kelly to the National Enquirer would be that he would have a much larger audience for his inane opinions.
PAM SCATENA-HILLIARD
Morningside
Flying discomfort
In reference to the latest complaints about airlines, I'd like to add my comment. My friend and I have taken numerous flights to Europe and other places in the last five years. No one wants to be squeezed like sardines in an airplane for five to six hours. No way!
I have no other complaints other than the wait and the aggravation. Airlines, take notice.
ANGIE BUCAR
North Huntingdon
Highmark is committed to its customers and Pennsylvania
The Post-Gazette's Aug. 18 editorial "Low Mark" overlooks a number of important points about how Highmark must operate on behalf of our customers in these difficult economic times. Highmark (and the other Blue Cross Blue Shield companies in Pennsylvania) is a unique organization. We are a nonprofit. We do pay taxes, and our revenue is not the product of charitable donations.
To further amplify the point about taxes, during the period from 2005 through the end of 2009, Highmark and its affiliates paid $727 million in federal, state and local taxes -- including property taxes. What's more, Highmark has an estimated $2.5 billion annual impact on the economy of Pennsylvania and local communities across the state.
An equally important and often ignored point is that Highmark has a primary obligation to its customers to examine every possible means of controlling costs -- our own operating costs and the cost of health care services that are the real driver of health insurance premium increases. This challenging environment requires us to change our information systems practices, streamline our operations and review all aspects of our business to drive the highest level of cost-effectiveness for our customers. For Highmark to consider offshoring as a viable option, we must be convinced that significant administrative cost savings will be generated for our customers.
The editorial implies that Highmark is essentially turning its back on Pennsylvania. Nothing could be further from the truth. We have added hundreds of jobs in our new retail health and vision stores and through our claims processing activities as a Medicare contractor for the federal government. In addition, the profits from our out-of-state subsidiaries are mainly directed back to Pennsylvania to support our core health care business.
All of these efforts help us better meet the needs of our customers, grow our company and build the foundation for more jobs in the state and greater tax revenues for the commonwealth, counties and local communities.
DAVID O'BRIEN
Executive Vice President
Highmark Inc.
Downtown
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We welcome your letters. Please include your name, address and phone number, and send to Letters to the Editor, 34 Blvd. of the Allies, Pittsburgh 15222. E-mail letters to letters@post-gazette.com or fax to 412-263-2014. Letters should be 250 words or less, original and exclusive to the Post-Gazette. All letters are subject to editing for length, clarity and accuracy and will be verified before being published.
First Published: August 22, 2010, 4:00 a.m.
