A rendering of proposed live music venue and 900-space parking garage at the former Civic Arena siteBuccini/Pollin Group
The Penguins have “rearranged” plans for a $110M live music venue and parking garage complex on the land formerly occupied by Civic Arena, with the music venue now to be the “first off the bench,” according to a front-page piece by Mark Belko of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. At one time the team had “hoped to start the 910-space garage first.” Penguins President/Business Operations Kevin Acklin said that user demand for structured parking “is still uncertain post-pandemic, and interest rates and construction costs for the garage remain at near historic highs.” Acklin said the Penguins have “an active take down” notice before the Sports & Exhibition Authority and the city Urban Redevelopment Authority to move forward with the music venue first. The Penguins and Buccini Pollin are "teaming with Live Nation on the venture." A 20-year parking tax diversion plan that was expected to generate $8M for “housing stabilization efforts” in other parts of the Hill as part of the garage project will now be “delayed until that construction can get started.” The garage project also includes a “5,400-square-foot EMS public safety facility” at the corner of Bedford Avenue and Fullerton Street and “ground floor commercial space.” Belko notes the decision to move the music hall construction ahead of the garage means that a $2 ticket surcharge to be placed on venue events for 10 years will be “implemented more quickly.” That money is “earmarked for a reinvestment fund that is used to support development activities in other parts of the Hill” (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 4/11).
