PITTSBURGH, PA — An agreement between the Penguins and two public agencies to redevelop the former Civic Arena site expired at midnight Wednesday, leaving the future of the Lower Hill District property in limbo.
The Penguins have had sole redevelopment rights of the property since 2007 and have filled just seven of the 28 acres on the site. With the expiration of the agreement that existed for nearly two decades, development rights now revert back to the Pittsburgh-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority and the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh.
“The authorities will continue to engage their respective boards of directors to evaluate future redevelopment options that include a transparent public process,” the URA stated in a release Thursday. “The Authorities thank all community stakeholders for their time and commitment to the redevelopment process up until now and look forward to future engagement as development moves
forward.”
The most significant addition to the old arena property under the Penguins guidance has been the FNB Financial Center, a 26-story, $300 million skyscraper.
Also being built on the site is Citizens Live at The Wylie, a Live Nation concert venue that will seat about 4,000 people and could host more than 100 events annually.
“While we are disappointed by the lack of progress made on redeveloping the Lower Hill since control of the site’s development was granted to the Pittsburgh Penguins 18 years ago, we want to be sure communities most impacted by its history and future know that this remains a critical priority for the city,” Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey said in a statement.