Starting Monday, the SEA is free to demolish the old Mellon Arena.  I guess it’s more like taking it apart piece by piece.  They have to remove all the tiles from the roof to get to the asbestos first.  I bet it’s going to look pretty gnarly for a while.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11267/1177238-53.stm

Here’s a cool overlay of the Mellon Arena / Civic Arena site and what it used to look like.

http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/11107/1138810-455.stm

Carnegie Mellon architecture students put together a huge study an redesign of Pittsburgh’s urban landscaping and planning. One idea included a ski lift like cable car that would go from the top of the civic arena area down to the David Lawrence Convention center (page 103 of the report).  Some other ideas included a water taxi system, dedicated bike lanes, and reusing the civic arena space as a park with a lake and ice skating rink in the winter.

You can order the 178 page book through lulu.com, or just view the pdf for free. You can read a brief article on the study through the post-gazette.

Here’s an awesome time lapse video of the new consol energy arena from start to finish!

http://penguins.nhl.tv/team/console.jsp?catid=19&id=72562

Here’s an update on some Hill District projects:

YMCA: This is going in 2 blocks from my house on Centre Avenue. It is currently slated for an early 2012 completion. Should be awesome to have an indoor basketball court and pool so close! Also, it’ll be one of the city’s largest green certified buildings. Post-Gazette

Grocery Store: Shop ‘n Save has committed to putting in a full service store (FINALLY!). It is scheduled to be completed in November of 2011. This is going to be 3 blocks from my house. Post-Gazette

Consol Energy Center: The new home of the Pens will be opening with Paul McCartney on August 15th. On my walk to work, it’s looking just about done from the outside. still some paint, shrubs, and lights to finish though. It’s on its way to being the highest LEED certified sports center in the nation. http://www.consolenergycenter.com/

Connelley School: At the upper corner of the Mellon Arena’s top parking lot, there’s this old school that has been closed due to asbestos. Now, there’s money to convert it into a place for green start ups and research facility for Pittsburgh Green Innovators. Seems like a pretty cool thing.Post-Gazette

Pharmacy: Duquesne has announced they’d open a pharmacy in the Hill. I’m not sure exactly which store front it’s going in, perhaps the old Carnegie Library Space? That might be too large though. It is slated for later this year. >Post-Gazette

Cambria suites Hotel: The hotel in between the Washington Plaza apartments and Consol Energy Center is close to being structurally done. It has all the blocks in place, now just time to brick it up and put some windows in and finish the interior. Looks like it will open in December 2010. More & pictures

Kaufmann Auditorium: Right next to the Hill House, they’re making a bunch of modernizations and upgrades to this auditorium. Plans also include an outdoor amphitheater. link

Dinwiddie Street: Not sure what all is included here, but they are tearing down a bunch of abandoned houses and blight. I think they plan to build new houses, but maybe it will be apartments. I’m watching the HDCG for updates.

Reposted from my friend, Neil:

*Top ten things Pittsburghers should do to celebrate if the Pens win the
Stanley Cup*

10. Flip over Mellon Arena’s dome and put it on top of PPG Place to make the
biggest, shiniest Stanley Cup ever

9. Load people dressed in penguin costumes into Giant Eagle shopping carts
and roll them down the Hill towards Mellon Arena

8. Everyone wrap themselves in tin foil and run amuck in the city, like
thousands of legged Stanley Cups

7. Mail jock straps (cups) to every “Stanley” listed in the local phone book

6. Egg the house of every “Joe” and “Lewis” listed in the local phone book

5. Use the Cup to serve borscht soup in tribute to Geno’s mom

4. Use the Cup to serve vodka in tribute to Geno’s dad

3. Fill the Cup with urine, give it to Hossa, and tell him it’s IC Light

2. Change the name of “Australia” to “Crosby” so “Sidney Crosby” owns yet
another one of the Capitals

1. Buy foreign cars

They imploded the old St. Francis hospital today across Centre Avenue from the Mellon Arena to make room for the new arena being built for the Pittsburgh Penguins.  They had failed to pull it down a few weeks ago, so they just blew it up.  I’m happy they did.

they’re going to blow up the old St. Francis hospital across the street from the Mellon Arena next Saturday.  YAY!  I don’t know if you’ll be able to hear or feel the explosion from my house, but I’ll definitely get as close as possible to see it happen.  That will be a fun thing for Erik to see too I think.