Title
Resolution authorizing a Cooperative Agreement or Agreements with the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh and the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County providing for the assignment of parking tax revenues from New interim parking on the footprint of the Civic Arena for the purpose of Hill Redevelopment.
Body
WHEREAS, pursuant to the 1955 Lower Hill Redevelopment Area Plan, a 95 acre portion of the Hill District neighborhood made up of residences and commercial blocks was cleared and as a result of this urban renewal effort about 1,300 buildings were destroyed and 413 businesses and 1,600 families were displaced; and
WHEREAS, the cleared site was intended to be redeveloped into a cultural district that would include the Civic Arena as well as a grand opera house/ symphony hall, two-theater playhouse, art gallery, hotel, apartment buildings and other commercial and retail uses; and
WHEREAS, the redevelopment of the Lower Hill, as planned when land was cleared in 1955, did not occur; the Civic Arena was completed in 1961, and the Washington Plaza Apartments and the Chatham Center apartment and hotel complex were constructed by 1966, but the remainder of the Civic Arena site was never developed and to this day remains surface parking, negatively impacting the Hill District neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, a portion of the 28 acre Civic Arena site (the “28 acre Civic Arena site”) is owned by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh (“URA”) and a portion is owned by the Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County (“SEA”); and
WHEREAS, the SEA, as owner of the Civic Arena, determined that the best way to redevelop and revitalize the 28 acre Civic Arena site was to demolish the Civic Arena and create and urban street grid containing traditional urban development parcels; and
WHEREAS, demolition of the Civic Arena is underway and a mixed use development is planned for the 28 acre Civic A...
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