ARNOLD: The Kennedy Riverside Park fishing pier that city officials hoped would be in place by now should be afloat by summer's end.
After objections raised by the state Fish and Boat Commission, the city has overcome each of the obstacles and is expecting the pier's construction to begin within the next six weeks, according to Tom Dunn, the city's community development officer.
"We've resolved our differences" with the commission, Dunn said. "We've reconfigured, but we didn't redesign."
The pier was to extend 100 feet into the Allegheny River. Because of the commission's concerns, it now will reach 50 feet from the river bank before turning left at a right angle and extending about another 50 feet.
Making the adjustment shouldn't cost the city addition E. Stuber of Rochester is fabricating the pier at a cost of about $169,000.
The pier's framework will be galvanized steel. The walking surface and railings will be made of glass fiber reinforced polyester. It will be a floating pier attached to embedded supports.
The commission argued that by extending 100 feet into the river, the pier would affect boating safety. Dunn said there frequently are boaters in the area where the pier will be built.
"We thought it would be better to have something not sticking quite so far into the river," said Dan Tredinnick, commission spokesman.
The commission also argued that fishing at a distance of 50 feet into the river is better than at 100 feet.
"In that particular part of the river, the better fishing would be at about 50 feet out," Tredinnick said.
Dunn said the city could have had the pier in the water by now had the commission made its concerns know during two public comment hearing held months ago. The commission didn't raise its concerns until March, Dunn said.
Councilman Skip Alcibiade said city officials see the pier as the beginning of further development in the city.
Alcibiade said city officials envision boat docks in the area of the pier, which could bring people in from out of town.
In other community-development news, the city, according to Dunn, is awaiting approval from the state Historic Preservation Office for approval to use Community Development Block Grant money to build a pavilion at Roosevelt Park, and to demolish seven buildings.
Dunn said the buildings to be demolished are abandoned homes, primarily along Third and Fourth avenues. He said the city has no immediate plans for redevelopment in those areas.
