Group seeks meeting over North Shore community benefits
More than 30 people seeking a community benefits agreement over a hotel development on the North Shore showed up at the developer's offices in Homestead this morning demanding a meeting.
Representatives for Pittsburgh United and Northside United gathered at Continental Real Estate Cos. offices in the Waterfront complex to try to meet with Barry Ford, Continental's president of development in Pittsburgh. Mr. Ford was not in the office.
Jennifer England, a spokeswoman for the Northside United campaign, said the group took the step of showing up at Mr. Ford's office after trying for nearly a month to schedule a meeting to discuss a community benefits agreement without success. Members also called more than 100 times over the last week urging Continental to schedule a meeting.
Although the group was threatened with arrest at one point this morning, according to Ms. England, the situation ended peacefully with a promise that Mr. Ford would call Michael Glass, co-chair of the Pittsburgh United board, on Monday to set up a meeting.
"If they do not call then we're going to go back," Ms. England said.
The city Stadium Authority delayed the sale of the land needed for the $26.5 million, 178-room Hyatt Place hotel development last month so that Continental could meet with representatives for the Northside United campaign on a CBA.
Representatives for Pittsburgh United and Northside United gathered at Continental Real Estate Cos. offices in the Waterfront complex to try to meet with Barry Ford, Continental's president of development in Pittsburgh. Mr. Ford was not in the office.
Jennifer England, a spokeswoman for the Northside United campaign, said the group took the step of showing up at Mr. Ford's office after trying for nearly a month to schedule a meeting to discuss a community benefits agreement without success. Members also called more than 100 times over the last week urging Continental to schedule a meeting.
Although the group was threatened with arrest at one point this morning, according to Ms. England, the situation ended peacefully with a promise that Mr. Ford would call Michael Glass, co-chair of the Pittsburgh United board, on Monday to set up a meeting.
"If they do not call then we're going to go back," Ms. England said.
The city Stadium Authority delayed the sale of the land needed for the $26.5 million, 178-room Hyatt Place hotel development last month so that Continental could meet with representatives for the Northside United campaign on a CBA.