House decisively passes sanctions bill curbing Trump’s power
WASHINGTON — Eager to punish Russia for meddling in the 2016 election, the House on Tuesday overwhelmingly backed a new package of sanctions against Moscow that prohibits President Donald Trump from waiving the penalties without first getting permission from Congress.
Lawmakers passed the legislation, 419-3, clearing the far-reaching measure for action by the Senate. If senators move quickly, the bill could be ready for Mr. Trump’s signature before Congress exits Washington for its regular August recess. The Senate, like the House, is expected to pass the legislation by a veto-proof margin. The bill also slaps Iran and North Korea with sanctions.
The 184-page measure serves as a rebuke of the Kremlin’s military
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their first chance to view the proposals and offer opinions during a public meeting from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Calvary Episcopal Church, 315 Shady Ave.
URA board members asked for the submissions after a plan to redevelop the building into an Olympicsize ice rink collapsed because the developer was unable to secure financing.
The second time around, developers again are dreaming big, with a mix of recreational projects supplemented by other uses planned for the 93,671square-foot structure that covers nearly an entire city block.
In all, the URA received four proposals, included two back for the second time. The proposals include:
• An “urban beach” resubmitted by Sutton Management Corp. featuring a pool, sand, palm trees and walking track incorporated into a mixed-use development that also would include 50 residences for “active seniors;” a 20,000-square-foot health club; 20,000 square feet of restaurants, boutiques and medical offices; and 80 parking spaces for cars and 50 spaces for bicycles.
• A 10,000-square-foot forest-style landscaped skating pond that would be converted into a water feature during the summer. The plan pitched by Brinton Motheral and Victory Plaza LLC also includes a one- or two-screen movie theater, a 5,500-square-foot restaurant pub pavilion with outdoor seating, 38 condominium units with access to a landscaped deck and parking for 50 vehicles.
• A “world-class” multisport facility with the capacity for 12 regulation volleyball courts, six regulation futsal courts, six regulation basketball courts, three soccer fields, three baseball diamonds and an elevated running/walking track, along with multiple studios for yoga, spin and other types of classes. Cozza Enterprises also is proposing a sports shop, a restaurant overlooking the playing field, community event space, a 159space parking garage and a “historic wall” honoring the armory.
• A regulation ice rink and squash center that would share space in the main hall. During the summer, the rink would be converted to an all-sports surface for soccer and other field sports. The development team of Steve Mosites, David Light and Lafe Metz also is proposing to build a one-story addition over part of the armory to house medical offices. Also included in the plan is a 100-space parking garage.
No fiscal details were available involving any of the proposals, but URA board member Jim Ferlo said some of the plans “are really weak financially, putting in guesstimates and money that is not real.”
Stung by the collapse of the last plan, Mr. Ferlo, a former state senator and city councilman, and other URA board members have said that any project brought before them must make financial sense.
“I’m very concerned that what might look pretty in terms of bells and whistles, the bottom line is it must be financially viable,” Mr. Ferlo said.
A couple of the proposals, he added, offer less than the minimum $1.8 million set as the sale price for the armory, while others “suggest revenues and projections on financial investment that I’m not sure are there.”
City Councilman Dan Gilman, who represents Shadyside and who has spearheaded community engagement in the redevelopment, said fiscal aspects are “critical,” but added that it’s a little early to speculate about that.
“Right now, I want to focus on the highest and best use,” he said.
Some neighborhood residents did not support housing at the site in the last goround, but Mr. Gilman didn’t see the residential components in two of the plans as disqualifying. Both involved condos, unlike past plans featuring apartments, he said. There also have been concerns raised about potential traffic generated by the redevelopment.
While Mr. Ferlo supports community involvement in selecting a developer, he warned against it becoming a popularity contest. “It is a multimillion-dollar initiative,” he said. “I don’t want to circumvent the URA’s obligations and ultimately the board’s to vote on a financially viable project.”
Kevin Acklin, the URA board chairman who is chief of staff to Mayor Bill Peduto, said the administration is committed to a “transformational development” at the site.
“As board chairman of the URA, we defer initially to the community and URA staff to evaluate the proposals and provide commentary,” he said.
A committee will review the plans and make a recommendation to the board. No timetable for that has been set.
While the URA owns the building, any sale would require approval of the state, the previous owner, which would get 80 percent of the sales proceeds.