Biomed tower construction delayed

Because of a lack of additional parking spaces, the city’s planning commission decided to… Because of a lack of additional parking spaces, the city’s planning commission decided to delay Pitt’s construction of a new $188 million biomedical science tower Jan. 14.

At the commission’s meeting, Chairman Tom Armstrong asked the city planning commission staff to research the effects of the new tower on parking and traffic in Oakland and to present its findings the next week. The new tower, which will be located on Fifth Avenue between Darragh and Lothrop streets, includes no additional parking for the 500 scientists, researchers and students who will use it.

Vice Chancellor for Public Affairs Robert Hill said it was “astounding” that during tough economic times in Pennsylvania, the commission would delay the construction project that would provide 400 jobs during its building and hundreds of jobs to scientists and their staffs upon its completion.

“Its benefit to Southwest Pennsylvania and the city of Pittsburgh is enormous,” he said.

Susan Golomb, the commission’s director, said the commission is trying to get the tower’s approval done.

She said, “I can’t say this [delaying construction because of parking] is normal or abnormal. The commissioners normally bring up issues and ask the staff to look into them.”

The commission always looks into parking and traffic issues, though, she added.

Pitt had expected the commission to approve the project at the meeting last Tuesday, Hill said. According to him, the commission could have added conditions to address the parking issue with its approval of the project.

Armstrong said although the commission could have passed the construction project with conditions, “it would have been irresponsible on our behalf to go ahead [without addressing the parking issue].”

“Parking is such a sensitive issue in Oakland,” he added. “That’s a very large and important building, and I just wanted to make sure the staff had an opportunity to look into it.”

According to Hill, workers and students could park in Pitt’s current on-campus parking facilities that are within walking distance. The delay of the commission’s approval could push back the construction schedule, causing the cost to increase, Hill said.

Armstrong said the scheduling should not be affected because the commission will likely approve the tower’s construction next week. He added that the recent weather would likely not have allowed Pitt to move ahead on the construction even if the commission had approved the project.