sponsor


Homepage > Sports
E-Mail News Alerts
Get breaking news and daily headlines.
Browse all e-mail newsletters
Related To Story

Penguins' Hotel Deal Near Arena Gets OK

Reshaping Of Uptown Pittsburgh, Hill District Continues

UPDATED: 7:46 am EST December 17, 2008

Plans to build a luxury hotel near the Pittsburgh Penguins' new arena were approved Tuesday by the city's Planning Commission.

The hotel will be built next to Consol Energy Center, which is under construction across the street from Mellon Arena. It's the first major development in the new arena agreement between the Pens and Horizons Property Group.

"We're very excited about it. It's the first step in the arena being a revitalization for the entire region. We're excited that we're moving forward this quickly," Pens president David Morehouse said in October, when the deal was announced.

The Penguins' letter of intent for the project calls for 135 rooms, a full-service restaurant, a barista bar and conference facilities.

"This hotel will create jobs. it's one of the things that we talked about when we were talking to the community and the public officials. This will create jobs, will create an expanded tax base. The next step for us will be the Fifth Avenue retail space that will be built into the arena," said Morehouse.

The team hopes to bring a new look to downtown Pittsburgh along Centre Avenue by the start of the 2010-2011 hockey season.

"It calls for a reconnection of the uptown area with downtown and, doing so, reconnecting the hill with downtown Pittsburgh," Morehouse said.

So far, there's no word on which chain will operate the new hotel.

Joe McGrath, of Visit Pittsburgh, said the city still needs a mega-hotel linked to the David L. Lawrence Convention Center to compete for national conventions.

"A headquarters hotel that matches the size and demand of that convention center -- Pittsburgh still needs that," McGrath said.

Allegheny County Chief Executive Dan Onorato said the city hasn't given up on the idea of a larger hotel near the convention center, and will be seeking a new round of proposals for such a project.




HighSchoolPlaybook.com high school sports
Sinclair Expected To Compete For Starting QB Job   More

Gateway's Bell, Thomas Jefferson's DeCicco Honored By Maxpreps   More

Three WPIAL Wrestlers Repeat As Powerade Champs   More

Links We Like
Sponsored Content
Depression is more than just feeling sad. Find out its causes and how it can be treated. More

In many homes the kitchen is the focal point of the entire house. Keep your kitchen up to date and meet the needs of your family’s lifestyle. More

Setting goals is an essential piece of the puzzle when it comes to making the most of your educational experience. More

The current economic climate in this country is making people feel quite unsure about their financial future. Learn how to weather the storm and make sound decisions with your money. More

Don’t be left out. Make the switch to Digital TV.
Sponsored Links

Online Degree Center

Find the Degree You Need to Succeed in your Career More