One Hill CBA Signed
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Hill District Development Deal Signed
$8.3 Million CBA Set To Revitalize Area
PITTSBURGH -- The redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s Hill District was ensured on Tuesday with the signing of a historic $8.3 million document.
Politicians and community activists attended the signing of a Community Benefits Agreement that will use money from the city, Allegheny County, the new North Shore casino and a new arena for the Penguins to revitalize the Hill District.
The first ever of its kind in Pennsylvania, the agreement took more than a year’s worth of negotiations to make a reality.
“We left meeting after meeting far apart, but the one commitment was that we were going to get back in that room,” said Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. “We kept getting back in that room and today you're seeing the results of those negotiations.”
The Penguins broke ground at the site of their new arena last Thursday.
The new facility, scheduled to open for the 2010-11 NHL season, will serve as a focal point of the neighborhood's redevelopment.
“The future of Pittsburgh is bright, and with the construction of the new arena and with the corollary development, the future of the Hill District is bright,” said Penguins president David Morehouse.
Under the new agreement, $2 million will go toward development of a neighborhood grocery store.
At least $600,000 will be put toward an employment center designed to give residents job training and first source hiring.
A YMCA community center will also be built.
“It's great that we're today. This represents a milestone in the development of the Hill District. However, this does not represent the end,” said Carl Redwood of One Hill Coalition.
The new North Shore casino has pledged $3 million over five years for individual development in the area.
Those plans have not been finalized.
“We will do a Hill District master plan which will allow us to strategically invest the entire community,” said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “We're not just talking about the parcel of land in front of us where the arena is going. We're talking about the entire Hill District.”
Hill District Development Deal Signed
$8.3 Million CBA Set To Revitalize Area
PITTSBURGH -- The redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s Hill District was ensured on Tuesday with the signing of a historic $8.3 million document.
Politicians and community activists attended the signing of a Community Benefits Agreement that will use money from the city, Allegheny County, the new North Shore casino and a new arena for the Penguins to revitalize the Hill District.
The first ever of its kind in Pennsylvania, the agreement took more than a year’s worth of negotiations to make a reality.
“We left meeting after meeting far apart, but the one commitment was that we were going to get back in that room,” said Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato. “We kept getting back in that room and today you're seeing the results of those negotiations.”
The Penguins broke ground at the site of their new arena last Thursday.
The new facility, scheduled to open for the 2010-11 NHL season, will serve as a focal point of the neighborhood's redevelopment.
“The future of Pittsburgh is bright, and with the construction of the new arena and with the corollary development, the future of the Hill District is bright,” said Penguins president David Morehouse.
Under the new agreement, $2 million will go toward development of a neighborhood grocery store.
At least $600,000 will be put toward an employment center designed to give residents job training and first source hiring.
A YMCA community center will also be built.
“It's great that we're today. This represents a milestone in the development of the Hill District. However, this does not represent the end,” said Carl Redwood of One Hill Coalition.
The new North Shore casino has pledged $3 million over five years for individual development in the area.
Those plans have not been finalized.
“We will do a Hill District master plan which will allow us to strategically invest the entire community,” said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl. “We're not just talking about the parcel of land in front of us where the arena is going. We're talking about the entire Hill District.”