The Hill District's nearly 30-year wait for a decision on a new grocery store for the neighborhood will take a little longer -- maybe a month more.
The city's Urban Redevelopment Authority likely will wait until at least November to choose between discount grocery chain Save-A-Lot and locally owned full-service Kuhn's markets, which are vying to put a store on Centre Avenue, officials said Tuesday.
Some parties involved in the project, including officials of St. Louis-based Save-A-Lot, had expected the URA board to consider a decision on the competing proposals at this month's meeting Thursday.
However, the issue is not on the agenda, Kyra Straussman, the agency's real estate director, said yesterday.
"We're going to hold it," said Tonya Payne, a URA director and city councilwoman whose constituency includes the Hill District.
She said representatives of community groups Hill House Economic Development Corp. and One Hill Neighborhood Coalition requested the delay to allow time for Kuhn's to alter its proposal, but she did not know how.
"I got so many calls and comments in support of Kuhn's," Payne said. "I want to be sure about Kuhn's proposal before I say anything about it."
Save-A-Lot wants to put a 16,850-square-foot store along Centre Avenue on land controlled by the URA. Prices would be 40 percent less than those in a regular grocery store.
Kuhn's has proposed a 100,000-square-foot store on the same site that would include a pharmacy, bakery, deli, meat counter and a fresh fish section.
The Kuhn's store would be part of a larger development called Centre City Square. The Kuhn's proposal is being made in conjunction with Hill House Economic Development Corp. and developer McCormack Baron Salazar. It envisions other retail space, restaurants and parking.
Officials of Kuhn's and Save-A-Lot could not be reached for comment yesterday.
"I spoke to Save-A-Lot people earlier today, and their plans were to be at the meeting on Thursday," Howard Slaughter, CEO of Landmarks Community Capital Corp., said yesterday. Slaughter has been working with Save-A-Lot in its efforts to bring a store to the Hill.
Either proposal is expected to be aided by $2 million in financial support -- $1 million from the URA and a like amount pledged by the Pittsburgh Penguins -- as part of a Community Benefits Agreement designed to spark development in the Hill in conjunction with construction of a $290 million arena for the hockey team.
The Hill District hasn't had a supermarket since the early 1980s when a Centre Avenue Shop 'n Save closed.
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