The team behind the plans to redevelop the former Civic Arena site in Pittsburgh’s Lower Hill District made their case again Wednesday as the long-awaited project awaits further regulatory approvals, this time to the city’s Urban Redevelopment Authority.

The URA board will vote on the plans when it meets at 2 p.m., June 10.

Members of the Buccini Pollan Group, the Wilmington, Del.-based group that is overseeing the project, redevelopment authority staffers and others briefed the URA board Wednesday for more than four hours Wednesday during a virtual briefing in advance of URA’s vote to move the project forward. The board includes Ed Gainey, who won the Democratic nomination in Pittsburgh’s mayoral race last week.

The first phase of the $1 billion project includes a 24-story, $200 million tower that is expected to be the headquarters for FNB Corp. at Washington Place and Bedford Avenue in the neighborhood.

Chris Buccini, president of the firm that’s working with the Pittsburgh Penguins to develop the site, called the plan among the “biggest and boldest” in the country.

Earlier this month, the first phase of the project gained approval from the Pittsburgh Planning Commission, and the URA board is among the other entities whose approval is required before it can move forward.

Pending those approvals, work is expected to start this summer. The FNB tower is expected to be finished by 2024.

The 28-acre site was razed in the 1950s to make way for the Civic Arena, which itself was demolished in 2011 in anticipation of the redevelopment plans.

There are lingering scars from the destruction of the once-vibrant, largely Black neighborhood that was destroyed decades ago in an example of “red-lining,” the systemic destruction of the area.

It’s something those involved in the project have acknowledged and affirm they are committed to correct in the present project.

Kimberly Ellis, who works as a historical consultant for the project with the Buccini Pollan Group. She’s also a Hill District resident and is famed playwright and Hill District native August Wilson’s niece. Ellis said she understands that distrust people have for the project.

The distrust is earned, she said, but the developers are working to right past wrongs.

They’ve committed to involving the community and said they are honoring now-years-old agreements and promises made to residents and neighborhood groups.

The development team repeatedly said they’re committed to doing so, and most of the people who submitted comments to the URA supported the project.

Some remained skeptical, however, and urged the board to scrutinize the plans and gain binding commitments from the developers, who say what they’ve agreed to is binding.

Derrick Tillman, president of Bridging The Gap Development, said the tone of the agreements were “non-profit heavy” and that more small business owners and others needed to be involved. He asked the board to table any voting until it can be worked out.

“We as a community are ready to move forward with development of the Lower Hill. It is a worthwhile effort,” said Leonard Hammonds, a spokesman for state Rep. Jake Wheatley, who represents the neighborhood in Harrisburg.

Marimba Milliones, president of the Hill Community Development Corp., detailed the rejections the Pens and Buccini Pollan Group have made to requests for other commitments to future phases of the project.

She asked the URA board to “demonstrate the highest level of discernment” before making a decision to move the project forward.

The group supports the project “in general” but wants more commitments from the developers, Milliones said.

The question: Why is it OK for taxpayer to provide tens of millions of dollars to the project without guarantees of more than construction jobs for Hill District residents? Milliones said.

Others also asked for more legally binding documents to be signed before the project moves forward.

Residents can apply for jobs to work on the project at the Lower Hill First Source Employment Opportunity Center at Hill House, 1835 Centre Ave.

FNB has also committed $7 million to programs that aim to improve the neighborhood and foster small business development.

Other plans include a concert venue, commercial, retail, residential and parking spaces.

The area will be adjacent to a cap over Interstate 579 that is expected to be finished later this year. It will include a park over the highway that will connect the Hill District to Downtown.

People will again be able to comment about the project at the June 10 meeting.

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