Heritage Alerts - Our Opinion

The Civic (Mellon) Arena

If Preservation Pittsburgh had existed in the 1950s and 1960s, we would have fought to preserve the rich cultural traditions of the lower Hill neighborhood where the Mellon Arena currently sits. We would have sought alternative locations for the construction of the Arena. We recognize that the diverse people in this area of the city made significant contributions to music, art, and civil rights – locally and nationally. For these reasons, Preservation Pittsburgh now finds itself in the unlikely position of trying to save a structure that it may have opposed in the first place!

The "urban redevelopment" that built the Civic Arena in the early 60's was certainly wrought with controversy. In clearing the land for the Arena, the lower Hill neighborhood was destroyed, hundreds of families were relocated, and the remaining residence of the Hill district were now isolated from downtown. For many, the Arena is a symbol of racial segregation and failed urban planning. They view the Arena as an obstacle to any new development in the Hill – its demolition would be a moral victory and a cause for celebration. Even though the kind of urban planning that built the Arena was typical of the times, it doesn’t mean the same approach to urban revitalization needs to be used again.

While the original rationale to build the Civic Arena may have been somewhat misguided, the outcome produced a unique “space-age” structure that has become a Pittsburgh icon. In the 1950’s and 60’s many cities of a similar size to Pittsburgh built new structures to welcome a new era of technology. The Gateway Arch in St. Louis and the Space Needle in Seattle are among them. Other cities relish these architectural gems. We should also appreciate the uniqueness of our own space-age wonder – the Mellon Arena. Originally built as the home for the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, the Arena was never quite the success that was envisioned in terms of sound quality with the roof opened or closed. In 1967, Pittsburgh’s new National Hockey League franchise was named the Penguins, in part, because of the shape of the Arena.

It may be debatable whether the Arena should qualify as a historic landmark.[Actually, when Angelique Bamberg presented the Arena to the Historic Review Commission even she said it qualified under 4 of the 10 criteria of “historic”—we suggested a 5th.] However, the Arena is unquestionably part of the unique heritage of our city. It is truly a landmark that is worthy of special investment.

Let’s Work Toward a Win-Win-Win Solution

The Arena issue is filled with emotion. Many residents feel an attachment to the building; while others loathe its very existence. And, the Penguins want a new home that will afford them more luxury seating and better concession stands. The Arena is not just a city issue, it is a regional issue. We must involve local and regional planners and constituents to find a solution that will work well for everyone. We think that we must try to put aside emotion to create a rationale, cost-effective win-win-win plan for the people of the city (particularly those living in the Hill district and downtown), the region, and the Pittsburgh Penguins Hockey Team.

Will History Repeat Itself?

It is clear that the construction of the Civic Arena did not “solve the problems” in the Hill district in the 1960’s. So, why would we think that tearing down the current Arena and building a new one would work any better? Are we that much smarter than our counterparts from the past? Or are we making the same tragic mistake? We hope that we will learn from the past and include the public in this important decision-making process.

Will a New Home for the Penguins Solve the Team’s Problems?

A new venue for the Penguins will not necessarily solve their financial problems.
Evidence the Pittsburgh Pirates. The spectacular PNC Park has certainly helped the Pirates, but it did not come close to solving the financial issues that are rampant across Major League Baseball. Financially speaking, the NHL is even worse – not to mention the current financial crisis in the City of Pittsburgh. We could point to countless other examples – including the Cincinnati Bengals and Detroit Tigers – where new buildings were only a very temporary fix to a much bigger problem.

There are many unique marketing opportunities for the Penguins if the team was permitted to play with the roof open. People would turn up in droves to watch a game in an “outdoor” rink. How would people feel about watching a game under a gold winter sky with the roof open?

Important Economic Development

While there are some plans to re-use the Arena in another capacity, our preferred solution is to renovate it for continued use as the home for the Penguins. There have been many creative and realistic plans to renovate the Mellon Arena, develop the land around it to re-connect the Hill with downtown, and meet the requirements of the Penguins. Parking around the Arena could be moved to a garage located at the old Central Medical/St. Francis hospital site. This would eliminate the sea of parking around the Arena which acts as a community barrier. The Arena could become the center of a town square of new development. These plans can afford a savings of $100 million.

During these troubled economic times, it is obvious that cost-effective plans are worth further consideration. This is especially true if the plan can meet the needs of the local residents, historians, regional planners, and the Penguins. If we could accomplish all of this, we would have a tremendous victory for all parties – and we can! With today’s improved technologies, many of the issues in the current Mellon Arena could be solved, and we could finally enjoy the building to its full potential.

We should tie any development in and around the Arena to certain improvements in the Hill District and downtown. Basic services like a grocery store and shopping area are essential to an area with the population of the Hill. Renovation of the old Granada Theatre could also be tied in – reviving an important tradition from our past. By renovating the Arena, instead of building a new one, we could begin to tackle these other important issues with the construction savings.

Public Input

Part of our concern with the Penguin’s proposed Arena plan is that it involved very little public input about the future of the Mellon Arena or the surrounding land. We believe that any public investment in the Arena should benefit the nearby neighborhoods, residents, downtown businesses, and Arena patrons. After all, we’re not just talking about a building, but we are talking about the people in the communities that border the building. We need to involve the surrounding communities in planning the future of this important space. We want your opinion! Please post your thoughts on our message board.

A Jewel

The Mellon Arena is a jewel that we may not appreciate until it is too late. We will most certainly regret the demolition of the Mellon Arena. It is a uniquely special building that we could not afford to build today and we cannot afford to lose. Preservation Pittsburgh and PittsburghHeritage.com look forward to your feedback. Your thoughts will be forwarded to the City of Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, the Pittsburgh Penguins, and other interested concerns.

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