Pittsburgh Sports N'at

[Art2Gecko]

City planners approve arena design
Tuesday, May 06, 2008
By Mark Belko, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
The Pittsburgh Planning Commission unanimously approved the project development plan for the new arena this afternoon, clearing the way for construction to begin this summer.

Approval came after the primary tenant, the Pittsburgh Penguins, modified the design to change the look of proposed store fronts on Fifth Avenue.

While commission members still expressed concerns about some aspects of the design, they decided to push the $290 million project ahead. Some of the concerns will be addressed in conditions attached to the approval

Penguins CEO Ken Sawyer said after the meeting he was "very happy" with the approval.

"Everything is falling into place," he said.

The Penguins are on track to open the new arena before the start of the 2010-11 hockey season. The arena will be located across from Mellon Arena on land bounded by Fifth and Centre avenues.

More details in tomorrow's Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

First published on May 6, 2008 at 5:45 pm