Preservationists want to slow decision on Mellon Arena

Leaders of groups interested in preserving Mellon Arena are pleading for more time to consider saving it as a civic space.

Scott Lieb, president of Preservation Pittsburgh, said Friday his group has been working with Todd Poole of the firm 4Ward Planning for a few months to come up with alternatives to demolishing Mellon Arena.

"We want to slow the process down and have an honest, thorough analysis," said Steve George, former director of the Pittsburgh Urban Redevelopment Authority, one of several people who gathered near the Hill District arena to discuss their efforts.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl and other leaders have said they support demolition, which also was proposed in an analysis by Oxford Development for the Sports & Exhibition Authority, the arena's landlord.

The SEA has not decided on demolition. The preservation groups said they think it would take five years or more to start developing the site when the Penguins move across the street to the new $321 million Consol Energy Center.

"We don't think it serves the community's best interest to leave the site in an uncertain state, so we are trying to move through the process and reach a decision," said Chris Cieslak, president of Chronicle Consulting, which is working with the SEA.

The Penguins have development rights to the arena site.

4Ward Planning will put together its analysis of the Mellon Arena site in 60 days for about $15,000, which Pittsburgh-born actor David Conrad and an anonymous donor are paying.

Poole said the analysis will contain "a variety of sustainable scenarios, fiscal impact, comparative analysis" and be a "document to have dialogue around." He said the continued use of Mellon Arena would not be competition for Consol Energy Center.

Cieslak said the SEA expects a letter from 4Ward Planning on its ideas, and plans on reviewing it and responding then.