University Times

Pitt’s plans for building athletics fields near Trees Hall — part of its $1 billion 12-year master facilities plan — have been delayed, pending further review by Pittsburgh’s City Planning Commission of the updated plan.

Last week the commission tabled a vote until its June 17 meeting on Pitt’s revised master plan. That plan includes building soccer, baseball and softball fields and a track and field complex on a 12-acre site at Robinson Court (formerly Allequippa Terrace). Pitt purchased the site for $4 million in 2007 from the Pittsburgh Housing Authority.

As part of the project, the University has requested that the area’s zoning be changed from a residential planned unit development district to an educational/medical institution district.

If approved, phase I of the project would build baseball and soccer fields by fall 2009; phase II calls for converting the existing baseball field to a track and field complex by fall 2011, Pitt officials said. A goal of the new facilities is to enable Pitt to host NCAA and Big East events, and to provide on-campus home fields for the soccer and softball teams, which currently schedule home games off campus.

Pitt’s updated master plan outlines “areas of opportunity” for possible academic, research, administration, athletic, residential and parking development on the Pittsburgh campus. Pitt released its master facilities plan, which outlines capital facilities projects in four-year phases, in May 2007. (See University Times May 17, 2007.)

Among other projects in the updated plan, Pitt seeks to expand undergraduate housing, add research space adjacent to the Chevron Science Center and build an art gallery extension to the Frick Fine Arts Building.

In addition to securing a planning commission recommendation, Pitt’s facilities projects must be approved by Pittsburgh City Council. Prior to new construction, Pitt also must submit a project development plan for each project to the Planning Commission for review.

—Peter Hart