Laurels & lances: Board members & big screens

Tribune-Review | Friday, October 20, 2023 5:01 a.m.

Courtesy of Kolan Design

A proposal before Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission would bring a large LED screen and plaza to Pittsburgh’s North Shore.

Laurel: To a full board. After two months of stalemates, Norwin School Board is poised to be able to accomplish things again.

On Monday, Matthew Thomas, 49, of North Huntingdon was named as the replacement for board member Joanna Jordan, who died in August.

Thomas was appointed by Westmoreland County Common Pleas judges. He was one of four candidates who sought the appointment. The court had to become involved because the vacancy left the board in a 4-4 deadlock in its own voting.

It is a good thing the seat is filled, allowing the board to take productive votes. It is unfortunate the partisanship on the board meant the position was unfilled for so long. It also was a pointless delay. Thomas will serve just one regular meeting as an appointed board member; he is on the November ballot for an elected seat.

Lance: To a questionable screening. Pittsburgh’s Planning Commission is considering a proposal that would place a 23-foot-tall, 40.5-foot-wide LED video screen on North Shore Drive.

The screen, part of a 30,000-square-foot plaza, would be “a major step in activating the North Shore,” according to project developer Joe Luzio of Chicago-based architectural firm Barker Nestor.

The commission is taking issue with the possibility the screen could be visible from Interstate 279, but here’s another question. The idea also would allow for viewing of Pittsburgh Pirates games, as the screen would be in operation during baseball season, according to an attorney representing the development team.

Does anyone think what people really are missing from the North Shore is an opportunity to see the Pirates? The team has done everything but create a full-on amusement park to draw crowds to PNC Park. The stadium has a capacity of more than 38,000. Average attendance generally is less than half that.

This year’s numbers were up to about 20,000 per game, probably because of excitement over the return of Andrew McCutchen and a good start to the season that ultimately ended in yet another losing season.

Is there that much call to see the Pirates in large-screen fashion?