Arena Demolition Project on Hold

**James** · #1 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 09:04 AM

Demolition is on hold at the former Saint Francis Hospital in Pittsburgh.

A support pillar in the center of the old hospital may bring the entire building down once it's removed.

Crews were unable to finish the work last Friday night, because the crane couldn't get enough traction on the wet ground.

The building lacks support, making it too dangerous to plant explosives.

Workers said they'll wait and see if having dry ground makes a difference.

The building is being taken down as part of the construction for the new arena.

rdz · #2 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 10:34 AM

kdka.com - An attempt was made on Friday night to bring down St. Francis but crews were unsuccessful.

1Pyro · #3 (**permalink**) 02-11-2008, 12:13 PM

Former St. Francis Central Hospital shows its mettle - Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

I don't like it, brings back memories of the recent PH in SF and Jack Frost sugar in Philly. None went as planned.

1Pyro · #4 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 05:00 AM

Streets Closed For Hospital Demolition Near Arena - News Story - WPXI Pittsburgh

NukeWorker · #5 (**permalink**) 02-13-2008, 08:48 AM

Penguin fans had to park blocks away and walk to the arena. Their parking lots are closed.
I hope they get this thing down soon because with the crappy weather Pittsburgh is getting then you get into calculating different snow loads etc. etc.

demobud · #6 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 11:36 AM

Does anyone have the reason the Sports Authority gave for not using explosives?

NukeWorker · #7 (**permalink**) 02-14-2008, 02:11 PM

Pittsburgh has a tacit ban on implosions. We had an industrial structure that we were considering using explosives. Rather than give everybody the run around we went to the city first. They said "No absolutely not!" Evidently that last 4 implosions around there went awry. The guy told me that "if it was a problem with just 1 contractor it might be different but we had problems with 3 different contractors".
The Housing Authority has in the past year or so had some beautiful structures to implode but they too said the city wouldn't allow it.
Maybe they will change their minds on this one. You never know.

tjd · #8 (**permalink**) 02-18-2008, 12:38 PM

anybody heard anything, not much in the papers

1Pyro · #9 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 07:27 AM

As of 8:15am this morning the roads are still closed, so I guess its still up.

1Pyro · #10 (**permalink**) 02-19-2008, 01:25 PM

12:53 PM 2008/2/19CENTRE AVE between WASHINGTON PL and CRAWFORD ST:
Construction work: CENTRE AVENUE IS DOWN TO 2 LANES OUTBOUND AND 1 LANE INBOUND...THE SOUTH SIDEWALK ON CENTRE IS CLOSED...COLWELL STREET IS ALSO CLOSED IN THIS STRETCH...RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE FOR DEMOLITION OF THE FORMER ST. FRANCIS HOSPITAL