North Side activists unhappy with hotel developer
About 25 North Side activists showed up at Continental Real Estate's offices in Homestead Friday to demand a meeting about development they say is long overdue.
The Pittsburgh Stadium Authority last month gave Continental 45 days to meet with labor unions and social services groups to discuss a community benefits agreement before it would approve construction of a planned $27.5 million, 178-room Hyatt hotel on the North Shore.
But officials with Northside United -- a campaign of Pittsburgh United that aims to promote community involvement in North Shore development -- said that in the 30 days since the order, Continental has ignored more than 100 phone calls and countless e-mails requesting a meeting.
"They were directed to do something, to sit down and negotiate, and they've just flatly refused," said Michael Glass, executive director of Northside Common Ministries and co-chair of Pittsburgh United.
Linda Betters, assistant to Barry Ford, Continental's president of development, told the group that came to his office that he was away at meetings and could not be reached.
"We are not a company that is disrespectful of a community," Betters said.
Continental has exclusive rights to develop the area between the North Shore stadiums through an agreement with the Pirates and Steelers.
Northside United refused to leave and, about 15 minutes later, Betters told the group she had spoken to Ford and he promised to call Glass on Monday morning to set up a meeting. Members of the group wanted a meeting arranged immediately.
Sam Williamson, of the group Unite Here, called Continental's lack of cooperation "very disrespectful."
"What we're asking for is not unreasonable," he said. "All we're asking is for you to set up a meeting."
The group left after spending about half an hour at the office.
Jennifer England, a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh United, said community benefits agreements protect people living and working in areas affected by development. Pittsburgh United is negotiating with city officials an agreement that would be tied to construction of the Penguins arena Uptown.
"It's a relatively new concept," she said.
England said no community benefits agreement was established during construction of the North Shore's Springhill Suites, which opened near PNC Park in 2005, because Pittsburgh United didn't exist.
The Pittsburgh Stadium Authority last month gave Continental 45 days to meet with labor unions and social services groups to discuss a community benefits agreement before it would approve construction of a planned $27.5 million, 178-room Hyatt hotel on the North Shore.
But officials with Northside United -- a campaign of Pittsburgh United that aims to promote community involvement in North Shore development -- said that in the 30 days since the order, Continental has ignored more than 100 phone calls and countless e-mails requesting a meeting.
"They were directed to do something, to sit down and negotiate, and they've just flatly refused," said Michael Glass, executive director of Northside Common Ministries and co-chair of Pittsburgh United.
Linda Betters, assistant to Barry Ford, Continental's president of development, told the group that came to his office that he was away at meetings and could not be reached.
"We are not a company that is disrespectful of a community," Betters said.
Continental has exclusive rights to develop the area between the North Shore stadiums through an agreement with the Pirates and Steelers.
Northside United refused to leave and, about 15 minutes later, Betters told the group she had spoken to Ford and he promised to call Glass on Monday morning to set up a meeting. Members of the group wanted a meeting arranged immediately.
Sam Williamson, of the group Unite Here, called Continental's lack of cooperation "very disrespectful."
"What we're asking for is not unreasonable," he said. "All we're asking is for you to set up a meeting."
The group left after spending about half an hour at the office.
Jennifer England, a spokeswoman for Pittsburgh United, said community benefits agreements protect people living and working in areas affected by development. Pittsburgh United is negotiating with city officials an agreement that would be tied to construction of the Penguins arena Uptown.
"It's a relatively new concept," she said.
England said no community benefits agreement was established during construction of the North Shore's Springhill Suites, which opened near PNC Park in 2005, because Pittsburgh United didn't exist.