Pittsburgh's North Side United gives a bus tour, presses for CBA

North Side United and other Pittsburgh community groups held a bus tour of the North Side on Thursday, pointing out the needs of the community and the possibilities of a CBA for the development of the land between Heinz Field and PNC Park. The developer, Continental Real Estate, has to this point refused to negotiate any sort of CBA, and its master plan for the site was approved about two weeks ago without any presssure from the city to negotiate with the community.

North Side United asks the governor for community benefits

In Pittsburgh, North Side United continues to seek community benefits in relation to development projects. Today, the group presented hundreds of letters from community members to the governor's office; they want to be assured that a developer that already received a big discount on some city land won't get any additional (direct) subsidies without a guarantee of community benefits.

(HT John Goldstein, PWF)

CBA Coalition commences litigation in Pittsburgh.

On Friday, CBA coalition members in Pittsburgh initiated litigation to stop the development of a hotel. The suit claims that the Stadium Authority sold the land to the hotel developer at "substantially below market value" and that the sale violated the open meetings laws.

The groups have indicated that they will likely drop the litigation if the developers agree to a community benefits agreement. If that turns out to be the case, the CBA will take the form of a settlement agreement (similar to the recently finalized Dearborn Street CBA).

News coverage of the lawsuit is available from the Post-Gazette, the Tribune Review, and KDKA TV.

Pittsburgh's Northside community group criticizes developer over stall in CBA talks

About a month ago, Pittsburgh officials delayed a vote over a proposed Hyatt hotel in the North Side for 45 days so that the developers could meet with community representatives.

Yesterday, the Northside United community group criticized the developer, Continental, because it has so far failed to meet with them, purportedly ignoring more than 100 phone calls and emails. In response, a Continental representative stated that "we are not a company that is disrespectful of a community."

Continental has about two weeks left to begin negotiations before 45 day postponement of the vote on its development elapses. A spokesperson for Continental stated that the community coalition would be contacted on Monday to set up a meeting.

Another CBA in Pittsburgh?

The Tribune Review is reporting that the Pittsburgh Stadium Authority delayed its approval of a $27.5 hotel by 45 days so that the developer can "have a dialogue" with North Side UNITED, which is seeking a CBA (North Side UNITED is affiliated with One Hill, I believe).

Bill Peduto, the city councilman who proposed the delay said that the land at issue is some of the most valuable land in western Pennsylvania, and the developer's exclusive right to develop it is analogous to a public subsidy. Mr. Peduto also stated that "it's not just about the hotel development, it's about the future development that occurs between the stadiums as well and making sure that it connects back into the neighborhood."

Does this mean that Pittsburgh is changing its tune about CBAs? Maybe. The mayor hasn't commented on the possible hotel CBA yet, though.