By Tory N. Parrish

Published: Thursday, November 15, 2012, 9:28 a.m.
Updated: Tuesday, November 20, 2012

Highmark Inc.'s plans for projects in Monroeville and Pine are on hold because of a need for design changes, not its legal battle with West Penn Allegheny Health System, a spokesman said.

Under shell companies, Highmark has submitted site plans to convert a building at 4121 Monroeville Blvd. into an ambulatory surgery center in Monroeville and build a medical mall at 12121 Perry Highway in Pine.

Monroeville Council, which was scheduled to vote after this paper's deadline on a request to withdraw the initial plan, agreed to table a vote last month.

A revised plan will be submitted for the planning commission's review in December, according to a letter to Monroeville from David Mickey, of Downtown-based Astorino, Highmark's architectural firm.

Under the name Optimus 28 Management, Highmark has asked the Pine Planning Commission to table a vote at Monday's meeting, a Pine official said.

As part of Highmark's plan to create a $1 billion health system, it had proposed building medical malls and outpatient centers with help from West Penn.

In September, West Penn dissolved a deal for Highmark to buy the hospital system, claiming that Highmark violated the deal by demanding that West Penn file bankruptcy.

On Friday, an Allegheny County Common Pleas judge granted Highmark's request for a preliminary injunction to prevent West Penn from pursuing other buyers.

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