July 29--The news from the Point was good Tuesday for Pittsburghers who are bullish on the fabulous look of Downtown at the end of the Fort Pitt Tunnel. A spokesman for the Hilton Pittsburgh said exterior work on the hotel's unfinished renovation will resume next week and might even wrap up by Thanksgiving.

Sure, sure. We've heard it all before. Yet the hotel's off-again, on-again facelift has been an eyesore for more than a year not only to Pittsburgh's visitors but also to residents and commuters.

What should have been an extensive $25 million addition including an indoor swimming pool at the city's largest hotel, sits as a lonely framework of exposed beams. It's been that way since workers for P.J. Dick walked off the job in May 2009 after the contractor was not paid. Then assorted claims were filed in court against the hotel, and eventually the Hilton, owned by Shubh Hotels Pittsburgh, underwent a financial restructuring.

This week a new assurance came from the construction management firm that will supervise the project. Frank Amedia, president of TC Property Solutions, said that a Cleveland-based steel fabricator was already on site, "getting everything tagged up and ordered." Work on the facade will start next week, he said.

We can only hope. This construction zone has been dormant for too long -- and at Downtown's prominent doorstep, no less. It's time for the Hilton to finish the job. The neighbors are getting restless.

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