A member of Pittsburgh's Urban Redevelopment Authority "blasted the efforts" by the Penguins to "develop the former Civic Arena site Thursday, saying he had no faith in their ability to do so," according to Mark Belko of the PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE. URA Treasurer Jim Ferlo said, "We should pull the plug on the Penguins. I don't see them ever developing this site. I think they're making too much money parking cars there every day." Belko notes the authority in a 4-1 vote "approved another round of environmental testing for part of the 28-acre site owned by the URA." The goal is to "clear the way for the first phase of a 1,200-unit residential development proposed by the Penguins." Ferlo, who voted against the measure, "urged the URA to try to take back the rights to the property by eminent domain if necessary." The team was "supposed to start the 175-unit first phase of the residential development in October." Instead it paid $75,000 to "buy another six months, in part because of issues regarding possible site contamination." URA Chair Kevin Acklin said that the Penguins are "still operating within the framework contemplated in the option agreement they signed with the URA and the city-Allegheny County Sports & Exhibition Authority to develop the land" (PITTSBURGH POST-GAZETTE, 12/9).
