In hindsight it is easy to second-guess their optomism...but in 1966 leaders of the Allegheny Conference and the local Philanthropy/Corporate Community fell into a big vision trap.
In the spring of 1966 Pennsylvania Railroad owned most of the property on the edge of downtown from 11th Street to 21st Street. The properties along the Allegheny River were a railyard and the railroad still owned its station...the current Pennsylvanian. The executives at Pennsylvnia railroad foresaw that the economy was changing and they needed an infusion of cash to maintain solid balance sheet. The strategy was to propose something huge and hope the money starts to flow them.
So, with an assist from the Regional Industrial Development Corporation in May 1966 they announced this hulking vision of a 148 acre and multi-million redevelopment --Pennsy Park.
It appears no investment was forthcoming, the railroad industry continue to collapse and by the 70s the Pennsylvania Railroad did not even exist. Eventually the successor railroads were forced to sale the real estate under duress, and the Buncher Company was in the right spot to purchase.
The best investment for them was surface parking and that use still remains. Through the years various redevelopment proposals were made and received various levels of support. But often opposition developed, sometimes from agencies arguing that development here will accelerate the demise of the Golden TRiangle. It has been a struggle to have the 10 blocks from the Convention Center to 21st Street redeveloped.
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