Pens and UPMC building new training facility in Cranberry

[DMcGrew]

This is exciting for me cause its only about 2 miles from where I live

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/loc ... 42087/?p=0

[steelhammer]

What are the property tax rates in Cranberry?

[DMcGrew]

Not sure, luckily I pay taxes to Adams Twp lol

[PenguinSteve-o]

Bulter County taxes for Cranberry twp are really good. I dont know the exact number but its the cheapest around by still being close to the city. I am in the North Hills and work downtown so looking for a house in Cranberry has always been on my mind if I want to drive further each day. Butler County line starts around the mall/walmart area up there.

[RainbowsAndCottonCandy]

Property taxes there are lower than anywhere in Allegheny County. The wife and I were looking at buying a house there for almost a year but every time a house came on the market it was gone in less than 24 hours. The area is BOOMING and it also has good school districts and lots of young hockey players while being close to the city.

I read this article and am very excited about what UPMC and the Pittsburgh Penguins are doing here. This is going to be a major step forward for jobs in the Pittsburgh Metro Area, Hockey, and keeping/attracticting talent.

[Sheriff66]

This is awesome news, just getting to Southpointe from east of Pittsburgh is a PITA, plus I work in Cranberry

[AlexPKeaton]

That sounds more like Adams township than Cranberry.

[Bathgate]

This is good because it will put Pittsburgh on the world map as a key center of hockey activity with respect to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and training of top players and thus will further cement this area as a hockey hotbed.

This is bad because it means the Pens will not build a practice facility adjacent to the CEC nor in the inner city, an area that needs a rink for youth hockey since the closure of the southside rink.

It sounds like UPMC wanted to go north, but I question whether such a facility shouldn’t be placed close to the airport if it is expected to be visited by players from all over the continent.

[spiritfan]

The Maglev will get people to and fro some day.

[Corvidae]

While the Penguins hold the development rights to the 28 acres of land Downtown on which the former Civic Arena sat, the team chose Cranberry for the practice rink and sports performance complex "because our partner wanted to be in the north. We thought to be a good partner we'd go up north," Mr. Morehouse said.

Thank god. Putting one near the Consol as part of the new development wouldn't have made any sense. Why would any team want their practice arena so conveniently close? Driving on 79/279 is a character building exercise for any player who wants to live near the city.

[Sheriff66]

This is good because it will put Pittsburgh on the world map as a key center of hockey activity with respect to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and training of top players and thus will further cement this area as a hockey hotbed.

This is bad because it means the Pens will not build a practice facility adjacent to the CEC nor in the inner city, an area that needs a rink for youth hockey since the closure of the southside rink.

It sounds like UPMC wanted to go north, but I question whether such a facility shouldn’t be placed close to the airport if it is expected to be visited by players from all over the continent.

Just a shot up 79 north from the airport, 30 mins or so away

[JeffDFD]

A big reason Cranberry TWP is as successful as it is is because of the lower taxes being right over the line from Allegheny.

This is interesting in many others ways, however.

I wonder if additional tax breaks are in the cards. That is a major reason why Westinghouse built their new campus in Cranberry.

Blade Runners in Warrendale is about 10 minutes away from the proposed site of this new place. They recently were for sale, but with community support they decided to keep the rink open. If this new place has possibly "4 sheets of ice" - I wonder if this is the end for Blade Runners and their 2 rinks.

Also intersting that they are building it North because UPMC wants it to be North. I wonder what the plan is there with the whole Highmark/UPMC tenuous situation. In the North Hills, there is UPMC Passavant. In Cranberry already is UPMC Passavant Cranberry (so there will be a full hospital real close to this new building). I wonder why they want even more of a presence. If Highmark and UPMC ever split, people in the North are already screwed because I believe Grove City would be the closest non UPMC hospital. Other areas at least have non-upmc choices - be it West Penn AGH or other private hospitals.

Traveling in and out of the city via Parkway North is the easiest/fastest way in and out.

Also, as far as players from around the world/US using the facility...a lot of new development has been happening in Cranberry (Westinghouse, for example)...new hotels have already been built in the area (new one just opened or is about to right where this is going to be) on top of the already newer ones (rte 228 has blown up over the years) and the existing older ones in the area. A new 2 story Dick's Sporting Goods is being built on 228 right now as well. Tons of restaurants and other shops right on 228.

[Noise]

Hmmm that's pretty close to me. I do believe I'll get to go see some practices & some camps.

[blurryhaze312]

I'm really excited about this. I might just be being selfish though since I live a few miles away...

[blurryhaze312]

Blade Runners in Warrendale is about 10 minutes away from the proposed site of this new place. They recently were for sale, but with community support they decided to keep the rink open. If this new place has possibly "4 sheets of ice" - I wonder if this is the end for Blade Runners and their 2 rinks.

I think the quote means that Cranberry as a town can support 4 sheets - a few at the new complex and 2 at BR.

[drnort]

It sounds like UPMC wanted to go north, but I question whether such a facility shouldn’t be placed close to the airport if it is expected to be visited by players from all over the continent.

Other than putting it in Moon/Coraopolis, there probably is not an easier place in Pittsburgh to get to besides Cranberry from the airport. The new ramp from 79 to 376 makes it extremely convenient.

[drnort]

That sounds more like Adams township than Cranberry.

Adams Township does not begin until you get closer to where Siba is located (Seven Fields). The entire area of shopping near Westinghouse is all still Cranberry Township.

[jimjom]

This is good because it will put Pittsburgh on the world map as a key center of hockey activity with respect to medical treatment, rehabilitation, and training of top players and thus will further cement this area as a hockey hotbed.

This is bad because it means the Pens will not build a practice facility adjacent to the CEC nor in the inner city, an area that needs a rink for youth hockey since the closure of the southside rink.

It sounds like UPMC wanted to go north, but I question whether such a facility shouldn’t be placed close to the airport if it is expected to be visited by players from all over the continent.

I agree wholeheartedly, as a Central Pittsburgh Hockey alum, our home rink was Neville Ice Arena in South Side. We had some good teams for "city kids" back in the day.

[PhantomJB93]

Awesome for me, I have never gone to see them practice because Southpointe is all the way across town from me. Cranberry's only 10 minutes away so I'll definitely come out a few times (if they still have open practices).

[CERV96]

I know what we can call it! The Kovalchuck/Parise/Doan/Suter/Parrento sports complex!

[MRandall25]

Also intersting that they are building it North because UPMC wants it to be North. I wonder what the plan is there with the whole Highmark/UPMC tenuous situation. In the North Hills, there is UPMC Passavant. In Cranberry already is UPMC Passavant Cranberry (so there will be a full hospital real close to this new building). I wonder why they want even more of a presence. If Highmark and UPMC ever split, people in the North are already screwed because I believe Grove City would be the closest non UPMC hospital. Other areas at least have non-upmc choices - be it West Penn AGH or other private hospitals.

Off-topic, but Heritage Valley Beaver is like 20 minutes from the proposed arena site.

[JeffDFD]

Also intersting that they are building it North because UPMC wants it to be North. I wonder what the plan is there with the whole Highmark/UPMC tenuous situation. In the North Hills, there is UPMC Passavant. In Cranberry already is UPMC Passavant Cranberry (so there will be a full hospital real close to this new building). I wonder why they want even more of a presence. If Highmark and UPMC ever split, people in the North are already screwed because I believe Grove City would be the closest non UPMC hospital. Other areas at least have non-upmc choices - be it West Penn AGH or other private hospitals.

Off-topic, but Heritage Valley Beaver is like 20 minutes from the proposed arena site.

Forgot about that one...but still - UPMC Passavant Cranberry is right there at the intersection of 19 and 228 - 2 mins from this new place.

[JeffDFD]

Blade Runners in Warrendale is about 10 minutes away from the proposed site of this new place. They recently were for sale, but with community support they decided to keep the rink open. If this new place has possibly "4 sheets of ice" - I wonder if this is the end for Blade Runners and their 2 rinks.

I think the quote means that Cranberry as a town can support 4 sheets - a few at the new complex and 2 at BR.

I don't know. Blade Runners was going to sell and is in a much less desireable location compared to this new place. I can't see Blade Runners staying around after this place is built. Not sure where rinks make a lot of their money, but if this new place has public skates - it is in an easier location and closer to people's houses and other businesses/restaurants...plus it would be newer and nicer - BR would lose that battle. And if the new place is going to compete in the local stick time/beer league and High School hockey game market...BR won't stand a chance.

[jimjom]

Bethel Park Bladerunners was allegedly bought by the YMCA, they will be turning one sheet of ice into gym and basketball court...they wanted to take both sides but the Penguins protested it, from what I have been told. So perhaps the new facility will be beneficial to the Warrendale Bladerunners if the Pens have their back so to speak.

It doesn't make sense though so who the heck knows

[mac5155]

While the Penguins hold the development rights to the 28 acres of land Downtown on which the former Civic Arena sat, the team chose Cranberry for the practice rink and sports performance complex "because our partner wanted to be in the north. We thought to be a good partner we'd go up north," Mr. Morehouse said.

Thank god. Putting one near the Consol as part of the new development wouldn't have made any sense. Why would any team want their practice arena so conveniently close? Driving on 79/279 is a character building exercise for any player who wants to live near the city.

Come on, all those guys live in Sewickley anyway