Hill residents court Pens
Hill District residents seeking public subsidies to develop low-income housing, a grocery store and attract jobs to their neighborhood invited the Pittsburgh Penguins to return to negotiating table today.
In a one-page letter to Penguins President David Moorehouse, the One Hill Community Benefits Coalition implored Penguins officials to sit down with representatives from the group of residents, business owners and nonprofits.
One Hill chairman Carl Redwood Jr. said the Penguins have offered no official response to the letter sent Jan. 25; however, the team has said it is committed to continuing the negotiations.
"The Penguins were represented at many of the early negotiations, and play a major role in the development of this (community benefits agreement) process," the letter says. "As we get closer to an agreement the One Hill coalition feels that it would be productive to have the Penguins back at the table since the (agreement) is sparked by the development of the new hockey arena and because the Penguins will also be overseeing the development of the ancillary 28 acres."
The $290 million hockey arena is being built by the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority. As part of the deal to build the arena, the Penguins have an option to develop at least 2.8 acres in each of the 10 years after the arena opens. It is expected to open for the 2010-11 season.
In a one-page letter to Penguins President David Moorehouse, the One Hill Community Benefits Coalition implored Penguins officials to sit down with representatives from the group of residents, business owners and nonprofits.
One Hill chairman Carl Redwood Jr. said the Penguins have offered no official response to the letter sent Jan. 25; however, the team has said it is committed to continuing the negotiations.
"The Penguins were represented at many of the early negotiations, and play a major role in the development of this (community benefits agreement) process," the letter says. "As we get closer to an agreement the One Hill coalition feels that it would be productive to have the Penguins back at the table since the (agreement) is sparked by the development of the new hockey arena and because the Penguins will also be overseeing the development of the ancillary 28 acres."
The $290 million hockey arena is being built by the city-county Sports & Exhibition Authority. As part of the deal to build the arena, the Penguins have an option to develop at least 2.8 acres in each of the 10 years after the arena opens. It is expected to open for the 2010-11 season.