Igloo Demo Imminent

Officials in Pittsburgh have finalized a decision to raze the former Mellon Arena that housed the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins for decades.

In a 6-3 vote June 28, a city council board voted to reject a designation of historic status for the “Igloo,” clearing the way for demolition to begin this summer.

While preservationists have been pushing to repurpose the iconic domed building for some time, city officials were apparently more enthused by the Penguins’ plan to build a mixed-use development on the site that will include housing, retail and office space.

Rob Pfaffmann, who heads up community group Reuse the Igloo, told the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review his group still has a “few more tricks up our sleeves” that could possibly halt the demolition.

“I feel really disappointed, obviously, but not for myself or for preservationists, but for the people who are going to lose the most, the next generation of the Hill District who won’t be able to enjoy the building and its potential,” he said.

Demolition is expected to begin in August and could take as long as a year to complete, the paper said.