Brandon McGinley: The empty Lower Hill is a symbol of Pittsburgh’s paralysis

It’s one of the better-known stories of destructive “urban renewal” in American history: In the late 1950s, under the decisive leadership of Mayor David L. Lawrence, Pittsburgh razed the Lower Hill District to make space for a “cultural acropolis” overlooking the Golden Triangle.

As a result, thousands of people — disproportionately though not exclusively Black — were removed to other parts of the city; the thriving commercial center of East Liberty — also disproportionately though not exclusively Black — was reconfigured with wide roads and high-rises in part to receive refugees; and in the end, only the Civic Arena was built, with several acres of parking lots cutting off the Hill from Downtown.

The knock-on effects of this single decision continue to this day.

This week, the Penguins