State awards $2.25M in grants that include projects at former Civic Arena site

The redevelopment of Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District at the site of the former Civic Arena was awarded nearly $678,000 that’s part of $2.25 million in state funding coming to Allegheny County for projects.

About half of the Lower Hill money will go toward developing a plaza and pedestrian walkway in the 28-acre site.

The awards, from the Commonwealth Financing Authority, include:

• $327,950 to Pittsburgh Arena Real Estate Development for the Lower Hill Development Freedom Plaza/ pedestrian walkway.
• $350,000 to Sports & Exhibition Authority of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County for the I-579 “cap” project.
• $1.17 million to Forest City Station Square Associated for the West Station Square Drive streetscape and pedestrian enhancement project.
• $275,000 to McKees Rocks for the McKees Rocks extension of Intermodal Way.
• $95,578 to Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre for rehabilitation of Denny Square and Liberty Avenue.

The money comes from the Pennsylvania Gaming Economic Development and Tourism Fund.

“We thank Senator (Wayne) Fontana and Senator (Jay) Costa for their continued support of the development on the Lower Hill,” Pittsburgh Penguins Senior Vice President Kevin Acklin said in a statement emailed to the Tribune-Review. “This CFA grant will help us create better pedestrian connections across the first phase of the development and assist Intergen’s efforts to achieve the affordability component under the CCIP (Community Collaboration and Implementation Plan).”

Acklin was referencing Pittsburgh-based Intergen Real Estate Group, which is overseeing residential development at the 28-acre site where the iconic Civic Arena once stood and has been the subject of redevelopment plans for a decade.