Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
New to not just lurking here, First post.
I'm looking to relocate and am thinking of Braddock. I want to get away from the mainstream, ever upscaling Starbucks homogenization that's taking over everyplace. I'm not chasing the American Dream or looking to get rich. Just want to do my thing and be a part of a laid back community.
I want to buy a cheap old. house/ building I can afford: trying to avoid a mortgage. I'm more concerned with liking my home than having it appreciate and don't want to grind away at a job to pay a mortgage. And I'd like a fixer-upper, not a gut rehab.
If I can get the right kind of building I'm thinking of opening an architectural salvage /antique hardware hardware/furniture refinishing business. But is Pittsburgh already crawling with them?
Does Braddock sound like a plan? I'm single and female, will be living alone and have heard conflicting things about safety.
And what's the best way to check out houses? A Realtor? Is there anyone anyone recommends? I may be going there next week for a few days .
Thanks!
I live in nearby East Pittsburgh. Personally, I don't care for Braddock. The neighborhood is rough, defenitly not safe. There is a buzz about Braddock because Mayor Fetterman (a young big guy with tattoos) is trying to turn the town around. He has a long ways to go. There is no grocery store or pharmacy there, but they do have a Family Dollar. Anyway, maybe something nearby may better for you like East Pittsburgh or Turtle Creek.
i'd suggest getting in touch with the mayor and seeing if you can meet with him while you're there - his website is Braddock Pennsylvania - Braddocc - Home and his e-mail address is on there. i can pm you his phone number as well, but he seems to respond faster to e-mail. if you can't get in touch with him you can even go knock on his door - he lives in the house with the nice garden and the shipping container on top of it, between the church and the elks lodge on library st. he has get togethers at his house every week that are a great place to meet local residents and talk to them about the pros and cons of living in braddock. he'll also be able to direct you toward properties that might suit your needs, and/or rentals where you could live while you're looking for or fixing up a place.
what's going on in braddock is definitely exciting and innovative, and is a fantastic opportunity for urban pioneer types, but the area is extremely abandoned (which is both a plus and a minus for safety), and i don't think anyone would call it totally safe. it's more about your comfort level when it comes to perceived safety. there are other places in the pittsburgh area where you can get houses for similar prices that are probably a bit safer and have more services - for example my neighborhood, hamnett place in wilkinsburg (a place that many of the people on this board wouldn't even drive through, but i really like living here).
oh and there is one big architectural salvage place in pgh called construction junction. it's a nonprofit. i don't know of any other ones, and i'm not sure about furniture refinishing etc. it might be hard to have a retail business in braddock since people would have to be going there specifically to go to you, and you'd really have to have a unique service for people to come out there for it. you might be able to get by selling mostly to local residents fixing up their houses, but i dunno. you might want to look up fossil free fuel and talk to dave, asa and colin about running a business in braddock. they offer a service that doesn't exist anywhere else in the area though.
I actually think Braddock sounds like a good fit for you. There are some cool, affordable old homes in the neighborhood. You may also want to consider several Pittsburgh neighborhoods, such as Troy Hill or Spring Garden, which have ample affordable properties and are relatively safe. Other options include Homestead, McKees Rocks/ Stowe Twp, East Pittsburgh, Ambridge, Tarentum, Brackenridge, Natrona (there are dozens more). These are all older towns surrounding Pittsburgh which resemble Braddock (more or less) and have similar affordable old homes. Safety generally wouldn't be a concern for me in any of these neighborhoods, of which Braddock and Homestead are the most likely to have crime issues.
Good luck to you, and don't be discouraged by those who try to dissaude you from being an urban pioneer in a crumbling town. I did it, and I love it.
Oh we have plenty of neighborhoods for you, some of which may be closer to downtown and therefore a more favorable location if you wanted to start the business. What's your price range?
New to not just lurking here, First post.
I'm looking to relocate and am thinking of Braddock. I want to get away from the mainstream, ever upscaling Starbucks homogenization that's taking over everyplace. I'm not chasing the American Dream or looking to get rich. Just want to do my thing and be a part of a laid back community.
I want to buy a cheap old. house/ building I can afford: trying to avoid a mortgage. I'm more concerned with liking my home than having it appreciate and don't want to grind away at a job to pay a mortgage. And I'd like a fixer-upper, not a gut rehab.
Does Braddock sound like a plan? I'm single and female, will be living alone and have heard conflicting things about safety.
Oh God... Don't let the buzz of a few hipster urban pioneers gloss over what Braddock is - a dangerous and horrifically rundown neighborhood that looks like a nuclear bomb was dropped on it.
Move to Polish Hill. It is infinitely safer, has some artsy young people and it is in the city.
Oh God... Don't let the buzz of a few hipster urban pioneers gloss over what Braddock is - a dangerous and horrifically rundown neighborhood that looks like a nuclear bomb was dropped on it.
Move to Polish Hill. It is infinitely safer, has some artsy young people and it is in the city.
Hey, if no one had optimism a certain place would never improve. I wouldn't want to live in Braddock, but I greatly admire the types that seek to improve it. Much respect to all the folks who are trying to combat blight in Pittsburgh.
Like the Levi's commercial says, "maybe the world breaks on purpose... so we have work to do."
This is an active board! Thanks for all the responses - definitely gave me food for thought. I'll look into those other areas, too. Braddock stands out because its obvious active and puts the whole grassroots, urban pioneer ethos into action. I don't want to be a hermit.
I emailed John Fetterman last week and he did respond with lightning speed. I'm going there tomorrow if I can leave early enough and staying in the hostel. Has anyone stayed there or know anything about it?
My price range? As cheap as possible. I've found a bunch of places under $20,000 that I want to see.
I'll check out Construnction Junction. Since they're a not for profit they may have a lock on all the teardowns. Location-wise, the good architectural salvage places tend to be in sketchy neighborhoods or the back of beyond. My regular job is teaching Pilates and I could see problems opening a studio in Braddock . But who knows? I've had clients come ridiculous distances. And again, I haven't been there, but it's all about perception. Familiarity doesn't necessarily breed contempt. As things become familiar, they are less scary. And Pilates needs to be made more accessible (it's really amazing -exercise that feels good while you're doing it and makes you mad strong) but the cost of apparatus has prevented that from being a possibility. Maybe it's possible now. The economy has caused studios to close and there's tons of used equipment out there. I read recently about yoga classes where students pay what they can/want. People overcome fear when it involves a good deal! I may just talked myself into possibly opening a Pilates studio.
I'm getting another idea, too. Why not have a Braddock non-profit salvage/restoration/ repurposing operation? Will have to bring that up.
Crime. Is it mostly individuals in a dispute or gangs taking sides against one another? Or are there lots of random victim crimes? Are there any neighborhoods that are closer-knit or areas to avoid that are actually dangerous?
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $53,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 1.5 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
Braddock Questions
Thanks - I'm getting ideas . . .
