Editorial: Penguins miss shot with arena development project in Lower Hill District
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You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.
It’s an idea the Pittsburgh Penguins should find familiar. It speaks of big games and clutch performance, reaching for the stars and following through. Champions do the hard thing even though it’s hard, and the Pittsburgh Penguins have the Stanley Cup record to prove their place in the City of Champions.
So it was a little surprising when the organization announced Thursday it was pulling out of the Lower Hill District’s $750 million development project. That move came on the same day the Sports and Exhibition Authority approved preliminary land development plans and a master developer for the $200 million, 26-story office tower that would anchor the project, pending Urban Redevelopment Authority approval.
“With constantly changing demands and delays, it makes delivery increasingly impossible. At this point, given the current economic conditions and the apparent lack of support from the URA, we are ceasing our development operations on the Lower Hill,” said Penguins President and CEO David Morehouse.
The URA was scheduled to vote on the approvals Thursday, but postponed two weeks to review with community groups. And that was the final straw for the Penguins?
It’s important to realize the URA delay was a whistle blown to halt play for a moment. No one was kicked out of the game. And consultation with the community on a project that would have a major impact on that community is not something that should ever be discouraged.
Yes, the economy is on thin ice right now, and the Pens would not be the only organization looking critically and cautiously at moving ahead in uncertain times. The Pittsburgh International Airport’s $1 billion overhaul had an indefinite pin stuck in it just this week. Questions about timeline and advancement of any big project is understandable.
But just skating away is confusing, especially when the URA’s two-week stoppage is nothing compared to the 10 years the Penguins have held the development rights.
It is the kind of play that demands review, especially as the Lower Hill District residents have held on for more than 50 years, through development and construction of first the Civic Arena and then what would become PPG Paints Arena, hoping for some kind of community recoup of what was lost for the first venue’s construction.
The City of Pittsburgh is still committed to the project, according to Mayor Bill Peduto’s chief of staff, Dan Gilman, who said the city will continue to work with the parties. This means this puck is still in play. It just needs teamwork and creativity and a can’t-give-up attitude — all those things that the Penguins specialize in when it comes to those overtime, all-or-nothing scoring drives.
Maybe the Penguins just aren’t up to the job. But since they aren’t taking the shot, we won’t know.