Oxford Development Co. is considering various options for its ExpoMart-Radisson Hotel complex in Monroeville, including a sale or partial demolition for conversion to another use.
Oxford, however, is not ready to discuss changes because a final decision has not been made, said President David Matter on Thursday.
"We're evaluating various alternatives for rehabbing in some fashion both the ExpoMart and the Radisson," Matter said in a voice mail message. "But I can't go into more detail because we have not concluded yet the course we are going to take."
Lance Rihn, general manager of the Radisson, denied talk that the ExpoMart and the hotel will close this year for renovations. He said both facilities will remain open for the foreseeable future and are accepting bookings. He declined to further discuss plans for either facility.
Some organizations that have staged activities there say they have heard Oxford or a buyer is considering converting one of the two main sections of the venue to another use, such as retail space.
Chris Fassnacht, president of Expositions Inc., said he moved next year's Allegheny Sport, Travel and Outdoor Show to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center because Oxford Development told him about half of the exhibit space would be removed.
The Outdoor Show takes up the ExpoMart's entire exhibit space and "obviously cannot fit into a building half the size," he said.
Debbie Smucker, director of sales and marketing for the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, said she hasn't any direct knowledge of a downsizing of the ExpoMart, but she's heard the report from several show organizers.
According to its Internet site, the ExpoMart has 106,000 square feet of floor space plus eight large conference rooms and free parking for 1,600 vehicles.
The facility, which hosts more than 125 conventions a year, also has 18 business and higher education tenants. The adjoining Radisson hotel has 322 rooms and another 14,000 square feet of meeting and banquet space
As reported, Matter two years ago said Oxford was marketing for sale a number of its properties in Monroeville, including the ExpoMart and Radisson, saying increasing values made it a good time to consider such a move.
Matter said at the time that the company had been in discussions with a potential purchaser he did not identify.
Speculation was that it could have been CBL & Associates Properties Inc., a Chattanooga, Tenn.-based firm that paid $231.2 million to acquire the Monroeville Mall in 2004. A deal never materialized, and a CBL spokesman decline to comment.
