May 22, 1960: The caption in The Pittsburgh Press read: “This helicopter shot shows plenty of wide open spaces. Only four years ago it was the worst residential slum in the City.”
From the accompanying story: ”The lower Hill redevelopment project replaces 95 acres of slums, which formerly housed 1800 families. Net cost is $18,304,151, with the Federal government contributing two-thirds or $12,202,767. In the center of the site is the 20-acre patch occupied by the Civic Arena now under construction at a cost of $15,512,000.”
“The arena, to be finished in June, 1961, will have a retractable, stainless steel roof 415 feet in diameter and weighing 1350 tons, the largest sliding dome in the world.”
The demolition of the Civic Arena was completed in March 2012.
(Pittsburgh Press photo)
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