Developer of arena eyes partnership with iconic Hill theater

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

The Philadelphia developer working with the Pittsburgh Penguins on a destination entertainment district at the former Civic Arena site may be looking to extend its reach farther into the Hill District.

Core Realty has been in talks with the Hill Community Development Corp. about a possible partnership, apparently involving the redevelopment of the iconic New Granada Theater, a one-time jazz hot spot.

Marimba Milliones, president and CEO of the Hill CDC, confirmed that the group is in discussions with Core and that both are considering a possible “symbiotic relationship.” But she declined to discuss the nature of those conversations or any other details.

“I don’t have any announcements at this time, but we are certainly continuing our discussions with Core Realty,” she said.

The Hill CDC has been involved for more than a decade in an effort to bring new life to the theater, a venue built in the late 1920s that once hosted the likes of Louis Armstrong and Duke Ellington.

Its latest plan calls for a threestory, 30,000-square-foot mixeduse conversion featuring commercial, retail and entertainment space — the kind of development that has interested Core in other parts of the city.

As part of its plan, the Hill CDC is hoping to put a multipurpose space in the old building that could be used for entertainment, special events, concerts and conferences, Ms. Milliones said.

She added that the organization is “in discussions with multiple partners about the development.”

Michael Samschick, Core’s president and CEO, could not be reached for comment.

While the Hill CDC is working on the plan for the permanent reuse of the theater, construction is getting ready to start on an interim development dubbed Hillworks. It involves street-level retail facing Centre Avenue and community space.

“Our hope is to start as soon as possible. We still have to finalize details and partnerships,” Ms. Milliones said.

The Hill CDC has spent $1.2 million to stabilize the theater. The venue’s redevelopment is part of a broader plan for the block that calls for 7,500 square feet of retail and 50 mixed-income apartments.

At the 28-acre former Civic Arena site in the lower Hill, Core has been talking to the Penguins hockey team about a 250,000square-foot entertainment development anchored by a live music venue.

There are also conceptual plans