The mayor will try again to remake a large
chunk of downtown Pittsburgh as a shopping, dining and
entertainment plaza.
But this time, he says he has the right people on his side.
Mayor Tom Murphy said Friday he will work with the opponents of
his original $522 million plan to draft another effort that he
hopes starts a buzz about Pittsburgh among shoppers, diners,
dancers and moviegoers.
No dollar amount has been set for the new plan. Doug Root, a
spokesman for the mayor, said it will be "smaller, but not that
much smaller."
"We intend to move on," Murphy said. "I think we're all
strong-willed here, and there was a difference of opinion, and that
is good. We don't want this to linger. We all agree on that."
Murphy said he wants to capitalize on the construction of PNC
Park, the Steelers' unnamed stadium and an expanded Lawrence
Convention Center. He said the downtown needs a more lively
nightlife and more apartments.
Murphy will meet early next month with his new task force, which
includes business leaders, owners of downtown shops and one of his
most outspoken opponents on the original plan. Arthur Ziegler,
chairman of the Pittsburgh History and Landmarks Foundation, said
he admired the energy that Murphy brings to the renewed plans.
"We have had our differences, and they have been sharp over the
last three to four years," Ziegler said.
Murphy said the upper floors of downtown buildings might make
good housing. They might need some work. Even in the rustic
building where Murphy had a news conference to announce his plans,
the elevator is only as big as a shower stall.
His administration's first plan would have made over about
one-sixth of downtown Pittsburgh and saved some facades on the
century-old buildings. It was abandoned earlier this year after
Nordstrom, the Seattle-based department store chain, said it would
not open a store in the city.
Murphy hired a Pittsburgh company, Bally Design Co., to "build
a consensus" among the many organizations with a stake in the
downtown's fate.
"We still have a lot of problems to work through but the
spirit, this time, is willing," the mayor said.
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