In the 1950s, the city of Pittsburgh announced their newest plan for commercial development within the city: the Civic Arena. In Pittsburgh, and many American cities at the time, urban renewal was an attractive concept to city officials, and this proposal meant clearing the Lower Hill to house this new entertainment center. The Lower Hill was an ideal location for the new arena because of its proximity to downtown and other major business districts of Pittsburgh. However, this new development would have significant ramifications not only for the future of business owners and families, but also for the history of the wild and wonderful Hill District.
The plan for construction was proposed by the city’s mayor, David L. Lawrence, with the intention of clearing out buildings and structures deemed as slums. As part of an effort by the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh, the plan would allow for these dilapidated buildings to be replaced with new infrastructure for the city. In its place, the Civic Arena would bring business and entertainment to the city. The arena was to be the first in the world to have a retractable roof, and the growing demand for entertainment made the arena an attractive addition. The plan also included newly constructed housing developments that would create more up-scale living. These new apartments, however, would not be affordable for the residents who previously occupied the area.
The destruction of housing in the lower Hill District left community members with no choice other than to relocate their homes elsewhere. According to the Pittsburgh Courier newspaper article that outlined the reconstruction plans, the Pittsburgh Housing Authority was faced with the responsibility of relocating the 9,000 residents that were bound to lose their homes. However, the suddenness of the demolition and the new construction left the families scattered into neighboring areas. As a result, the middle-class residents of these other Pittsburgh neighborhoods chose to leave the city because of this new overcrowding. The community that was the Lower Hill was fractured and dispersed among the city, breaking deep-rooted connections and relationships that had been around for generations.
As a result of the city’s redevelopment efforts, Pittsburgh’s Hill District took on a completely different appearance by the 1960s. The businesses that were displaced had to find new ways to operate, and many of the lively clubs and music joints found temporary locations to keep the spirit and social atmosphere of the Hill alive through this transition. Some of the most noteworthy buildings that were demolished included the very popular Loendi Club, Stanley’s Tavern, and the Crawford Grill, among many others as well. The bustling streets that were once a center for community and business were replaced with an oversized sports arena and an intrusion into a culturally rich society.
The Civic Arena closed in 2010 and was demolished shortly after. Today, a parking lot sits at the site of what was once the bustling neighborhood of the Lower Hill District.
