Alternative Downtown Proposal Introduced

To that end, City Council President Bob O'Connor on Tuesday introduced an alternative to Mayor Tom Murphy's controversial $480 million plan that would cost less, take longer and focus on preservation and marketing rather than replacing the old with the new.

"The votes on the council show they don't like the way it's going, tearing blocks down," O'Connor said. Murphy's plan aims to reclaim business from suburban malls and keep downtown Pittsburgh busy after dark with movie screens, national chain stores and restaurants. The plan also aims to build on interest in new football and baseball stadiums slated to open next year.

Murphy's plan says the city's Urban Redevelopment Authority will buy 62 properties and raze most buildings and 12 facades for the new development. Chicago developer Urban Retail Properties would buy the cleared land for $28 million and woo retailers and entertainment businesses fill those spaces.

Eight of nine City Council members say they oppose the plan.

O'Connor said the alternative, a downtown revitalization approach created by the National Trust for Historic Preservation, will allow new businesses to seep into the city without forcing longtime businesses to pull up roots.

His so-called "Main Street" approach, which was a model for redevelopment of Pittsburgh's South Side, Boston and San Antonio, relies on state and federal grants with a focus on preservation, marketing and economic restructuring.

"It's clear after more than half a year of debate and discussion that this City Council is not sympathetic to the mayor's urban retail plan for the demolition of over 65 buildings downtown and for basically an urban mall in the downtown corridor," Councilman Jim Ferlo said.

Murphy spokesman Doug Root said the Main Street approach likely will not work for the corridor targeted in the mayor's plan.

Root said that both sides agree that the city needs to be rejuvenated, attract after-hours crowds and maintain its historic aspects.

"The Main Street approach doesn't work to achieve these goals, and not in the time frame we need to keep the partnership with the private developer, who is willing to put in a lot of his own money into this project," Root said.

William Jacobowitz, who owns a building in the area targeted by Murphy's plan that houses a Starbucks coffee bar, praised the alternative plan.

"That's definitely the way to go," Jacobowitz said. "To tear down that much of downtown could take up to two years to rebuild. You need a mix of old buildings. You need diversity, or you fail."

The council is slated to cast an initial vote on Murphy's plan on April 26, and a final vote on May 2.

Previous Stories:

• March 28, 2000: Group Pushes Online Plan
• March 24, 2000: Task Force Tackles Fifth And Forbes
• March 04, 2000: Fifth And Forbes Forum Held
• March 02, 2000: Group Protests Fifth And Forbes Plan
• February 01, 2000: Report Says Project Will Be Boon