Work to start on Mellon arena site

[newarenanow]

http://triblive.com/news/adminpage/6418 ... z3767uD8Ma

Work to start on old arena site.

Pens are submitting designs for residential and commerical building.

If not PR, then move please.

[Idoit40fans]

Is this newarenanow related, or is that too soon?

[no name]

The Historical and Preservation Society put out this statement:

"Its not for us to stick our noses in the business of the old Mellon arena site. But we feel this old parking lot is to sacred to rip up and put new development on. The parking lot has server Pittsburgh proudly and should stand for future generations to enjoy. "

[Idoit40fans]

The Historical and Preservation Society put out this statement:

"Its not for us to stick our noses in the business of the old Mellon arena site. But we feel this old parking lot is to sacred to rip up and put new development on. The parking lot has server Pittsburgh proudly and should stand for future generations to enjoy. "

Is this post a joke, was that statement a joke, or is this real?

[IanMoran]

The Historical and Preservation Society put out this statement:

"Its not for us to stick our noses in the business of the old Mellon arena site. But we feel this old parking lot is to sacred to rip up and put new development on. The parking lot has server Pittsburgh proudly and should stand for future generations to enjoy. "

Is this post a joke, was that statement a joke, or is this real?

Its kind of sad I wasn't sure until the "Server" typo... Seems like a legit statement from them

[lemieuxReturns]

The Historical and Preservation Society put out this statement:

"Its not for us to stick our noses in the business of the old Mellon arena site. But we feel this old parking lot is to sacred to rip up and put new development on. The parking lot has server Pittsburgh proudly and should stand for future generations to enjoy. "

Is this post a joke, was that statement a joke, or is this real?

considering all the errors, i would say joke.

*too*
*server*
*idoit*

[DocEmrick]

The Historical and Preservation Society put out this statement:

"Its not for us to stick our noses in the business of the old Mellon arena site. But we feel this old parking lot is to sacred to rip up and put new development on. The parking lot has server Pittsburgh proudly and should stand for future generations to enjoy. "

Is this post a joke, was that statement a joke, or is this real?

Its kind of sad I wasn't sure until the "Server" typo... Seems like a legit statement from them

I make this error at work all the time.

[no name]

I didn't think anyone would actually think it was true i thought everyone would know it was a joke. But that group being so over the top you never know with them. But of course my typical grammar and spelling errors everyone figured it out.

[Idoit40fans]

That added to the credibility for me.

[MalkinIsMyHomeboy]

DocEmrick does PR for the Historical and Preservation Society?

[mac5155]

It infuriates me when I hear how much the arena cost taxpayers when IoC would've built it for nothing.

[Bioshock]

It infuriates me when I hear how much the arena cost taxpayers when IoC would've built it for nothing.

Corruption of Western PA politics at it's finest

[Sam's Drunk Dog]

That corruption starts in Harrisburg and spreads its tentacles across the state. Remember that the plan to select a winner based on a proposal instead of going to the highest bidder like how most states awarded slot licenses was from Fast Eddie Rendell and his cronies.

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

That corruption starts in Harrisburg and spreads its tentacles across the state. Remember that the plan to select a winner based on a proposal instead of going to the highest bidder like how most states awarded slot licenses was from Fast Eddie Rendell and his cronies.

Yeah, two things people or media don't talk about often is how the entire idea to start with was stupid. Isle of Capris was basically saying the casino license was worth $350,000,000 to them, yet the license was bid out for around $20 million (I can't remember exactly) and picked by a committee. A pretty big scam across the state that even if being conservative cost the tax payers about $300,000,000 per license awarded. Not even the Penguins not getting an arena, but just the complete discounted casino license.

The second thing was the guy who was awarded the license couldn't afford to get it all done so it was just all but given to another company which actually broke the law. The law stated that if there was issues in the completion it went back through a process. That process never happened and nobody cared.

Among other things.

If there was any question about Pennsylvania politics just read up on this for a few hours. It should have been a national story.

[DesertPenguin]

That corruption starts in Harrisburg and spreads its tentacles across the state. Remember that the plan to select a winner based on a proposal instead of going to the highest bidder like how most states awarded slot licenses was from Fast Eddie Rendell and his cronies.

Yeah, two things people or media don't talk about often is how the entire idea to start with was stupid. Isle of Capris was basically saying the casino license was worth $350,000,000 to them, yet the license was bid out for around $20 million (I can't remember exactly) and picked by a committee. A pretty big scam across the state that even if being conservative cost the tax payers about $300,000,000 per license awarded. Not even the Penguins not getting an arena, but just the complete discounted casino license.

The second thing was the guy who was awarded the license couldn't afford to get it all done so it was just all but given to another company which actually broke the law. The law stated that if there was issues in the completion it went back through a process. That process never happened and nobody cared.

Among other things.

If there was any question about Pennsylvania politics just read up on this for a few hours. It should have been a national story.

If IoC would have funded the arena themselves, the money lenders wouldn't have gotten their cut, the construction companies would have had to bid fairly for the work instead of stuffing pockets, and kickbacks in general would have been at a minimum.

Tell me, how would THAT have benefitted anyone?

Seriously, the city politics are all dirty. Our former mayor is under federal investigation, our former police chief embezelled loads of money, our district attorney is mafia royalty, our coroner sells organs on the black market, and life just goes on.

[Pitts]

The casinos are going to get rid of property tax across the state, right? When does that happen?

[BurghersAndDogsSports]

That corruption starts in Harrisburg and spreads its tentacles across the state. Remember that the plan to select a winner based on a proposal instead of going to the highest bidder like how most states awarded slot licenses was from Fast Eddie Rendell and his cronies.

Yeah, two things people or media don't talk about often is how the entire idea to start with was stupid. Isle of Capris was basically saying the casino license was worth $350,000,000 to them, yet the license was bid out for around $20 million (I can't remember exactly) and picked by a committee. A pretty big scam across the state that even if being conservative cost the tax payers about $300,000,000 per license awarded. Not even the Penguins not getting an arena, but just the complete discounted casino license.

The second thing was the guy who was awarded the license couldn't afford to get it all done so it was just all but given to another company which actually broke the law. The law stated that if there was issues in the completion it went back through a process. That process never happened and nobody cared.

Among other things.

If there was any question about Pennsylvania politics just read up on this for a few hours. It should have been a national story.

If IoC would have funded the arena themselves, the money lenders wouldn't have gotten their cut, the construction companies would have had to bid fairly for the work instead of stuffing pockets, and kickbacks in general would have been at a minimum.

Tell me, how would THAT have benefitted anyone? :pop:

Seriously, the city politics are all dirty. Our former mayor is under federal investigation, our former police chief embezelled loads of money, our district attorney is mafia royalty, our coroner sells organs on the black market, and life just goes on.

The funny thing is take the new arena out if it and think of it as simply them offering $300 million or the license. Casino owners in PA got roughly $280 million discounts on their license fees in theory. And definitely compared to other states.

Regardless of where the money went that is a huge scam that nobody bothered to barely discuss.

Did anyone watch the hearings? They were voting in things similar to limited background checks until the Feds finally stepped in.

[Troy Loney]

Here's what is starting to confuse me. When did the penguins become a real estate developer? So the city gave them this land to then get some partners and develop it? Just seems like a dumb decision.

[jimjom]

It's funny that the new Shop N Save on Centre is soon to open a Crazy Mocha, a Subway, and a phone store -- but the CEC still has a gaping vacancy next to Subway on 5th that was supposed to contain a Qdoba yet still stands empty to this day. The whole 5th Ave corridor is an embarrasing eyesore and the area around the arena is pathetic. Something needs to be done redevelopment wise.

Additionally the poster that connected Zappala with the mob is correct. His great grandfather and grandfather were members of the Black Hand, basically if i am not mistaken, the precursor to what we now refer to as the mafia in this day and age. Extortion, murder, racketeering and corruption. Seems like a good genepool for a DA.

[Pitt87]

Here's what is starting to confuse me. When did the penguins become a real estate developer? So the city gave them this land to then get some partners and develop it? Just seems like a dumb decision.

Ron Burkle has been in real estate throughout his professional life. Having the Pens as a partner in the development of the area is a good thing and Ron Burkle, as part of the management team, investing in Pittsburgh is also a good thing.

[Troy Loney]

Here's what is starting to confuse me. When did the penguins become a real estate developer? So the city gave them this land to then get some partners and develop it? Just seems like a dumb decision.

Ron Burkle has been in real estate throughout his professional life. Having the Pens as a partner in the development of the area is a good thing and Ron Burkle, as part of the management team, investing in Pittsburgh is also a good thing.

Eh, real estate is more of a regional specialty, and I doubt Burkle is really that involved with the specifics of this plan...i mean it's not like his CA development model would work in uptown Pittsburgh.

RE development is so political, especially in that area. just seems unwise to have the Penguins involved here.

[Pitt87]

Here's what is starting to confuse me. When did the penguins become a real estate developer? So the city gave them this land to then get some partners and develop it? Just seems like a dumb decision.

Ron Burkle has been in real estate throughout his professional life. Having the Pens as a partner in the development of the area is a good thing and Ron Burkle, as part of the management team, investing in Pittsburgh is also a good thing.

Eh, real estate is more of a regional specialty, and I doubt Burkle is really that involved with the specifics of this plan...i mean it's not like his CA development model would work in uptown Pittsburgh.

RE development is so political, especially in that area. just seems unwise to have the Penguins involved here.

Check out Yucaipa Companies and their holdings. The Pens would not be involved in RE development without a key senior executive with experience not involved.

[Troy Loney]

I mean, I know he's rich. That looks like a holding company specializing in takeovers...there might be reasons that handing this development over to the Penguins is a good idea...but Burkle being a success isn't one of them.

[newarenanow]

Wasn't the north shore development handed over to the Steelers and Pirates as part of their negotiations? Serious question.

[Pitt87]

Wasn't the north shore development handed over to the Steelers and Pirates as part of their negotiations? Serious question.

Yup... Though I think the Steelers (i.e. Dan and Art II)are leading the way on development.