New appartments, but close to bad neighborhoods? (Grove City, Crafton: apartments, wages)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by PPG

Broadhead manor is not still standing. This used to be directly across from westgate village. Fairywood is next to westgate. The projects in fairywood are still standing but most are boarded up as a result of the flood. These are still projects. Drive down to broadhead and w. prospect and you'll see what the area is like, although you shouldn't have to drive that way to get to and from your apt. Closer to your complex there is a school that is closed down, the community center that is boarded up, and a pool/playground that is closed and dead. I'm not trying to scare you but drug dealers frequent the area so don't be suprised if you hear gunshots.

Pimps, I see what you mean about the government putting the projects in remote places. Looking at the google map the OP posted, it's amazing that projects were built in such a remote area. That can't be good for giving people hope. Furthermore, being so isolated helps promote illegal activity that holds people down.

I'm utterly amazed that you know so much about all of these areas. I've never heard of these projects. It looks like it could be a beautiful area to live because it's surrounded by woods. You're right about warning about drug dealers and drug addicts. They certainly would hang out in abandoned buildings nearby. I doubt any former residents will be moving back into the OP's specific apartment community.

Originally Posted by Mortico

Luckily, the complex I live in has some (armed) private security and will soon be gated (They are still building that part).

The armed security guards should have been a clue. That's not the norm for the Pittsburgh area.

You've received some solid advice from people who are very knowledgable about the area. Heed their warnings regarding which ways to drive, etc. Use street smarts and stay away from abandonded buildings.

Your year there should be uneventful if you use simple common sense. You'll have plenty of time to figure out where to move when you're lease expires.

[new2theNC]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Pimps, I see what you mean about the government putting the projects in remote places. Looking at the google map the OP posted, it's amazing that projects were built in such a remote area. That can't be good for giving people hope. Furthermore, being so isolated helps promote illegal activity that holds people down.

I'm utterly amazed that you know so much about all of these areas. I've never heard of these projects. It looks like it could be a beautiful area to live because it's surrounded by woods. You're right about warning about drug dealers and drug addicts. They certainly would hang out in abandoned buildings nearby. I doubt any former residents will be moving back into the OP's specific apartment community.


The armed security guards should have been a clue. That's not the norm for the Pittsburgh area.

You've received some solid advice from people who are very knowledgable about the area. Heed their warnings regarding which ways to drive, etc. Use street smarts and stay away from abandonded buildings.

Your year there should be uneventful if you use simple common sense. You'll have plenty of time to figure out where to move when you're lease expires.

I think alot of people in Pittsburgh have heard of Westgate and Broadhead, at least when they were still being used. And while most people wouldn't have to pass thru for any reason outside of trying to take a shortcut, they aren't really that "remote" as you say. And yes, Fairywood in general isn't really all that nice, even the little neighborhood at the end of Broadhead Road is kinda dangerous. And trust me, it's not a priority of the PGH city cops to patrol down there, thats probably why the security is needed, things got out of control down there for the longest time because the whole area was kinda neglected and that lead to alot of the crime problems.

[Agbor]

I remember Broadhead,had to go to school with kids from there as I lived up the street from it,and went to play down there often...they built Westgate and some people moved to Westgate and it went downhill...Most of the bad
element (and I know some of them personally) have spread out to other parts
of the city or are in jail some have got themselves together and went to
college or are productive citizens working everyday...So I would say it WAS
a tough area but still not as bad as some other housing projects in the city..
haven't lived over that way in 30 years..

[Mortico]

Originally Posted by kare893969

My boyfriend and I looked at these new townhouses back in May. I asked the person who showed us the place if they used to be section 8/hud apartments before. She did admit they were and that they all had been gutted. I asked her how long ago they were governtment housing and she said they have been empty for 6 years. So I am sure the riff raff have found other homes by now..LOL
We liked the townhomes and liked the fact that they have a security guard that drives around the plan. I believe she also said it will be a gated community and they will be building some stores there as well.

Yeah, it sounds pretty promising, as far as the actual complex goes, it's great so far. I'd definately encourage you to take a look. There are at least two security guards, and they seem to be pretty attentive.

I know i saw last night they were investigating a car whose passenger side door was left open... I think the owner jsut forgot to close it but it was nice of them to check around and make sure everything was ok.

My wife was also stopped by them when we first moved in - they were just making sure she was supposed to be there.

I'm not sure how long before the guards become lazy or start eating too many donuts, but so far so good :P

I suspected that fairywood might be bad, but i don't really have to go down there for any reason, the complex i'm at is right off of the main road, its the first thing you come to, so you don't have to go anywhere near fairywood.

You've received some solid advice from people who are very knowledgable about the area. Heed their warnings regarding which ways to drive, etc. Use street smarts and stay away from abandonded buildings.

Your year there should be uneventful if you use simple common sense. You'll have plenty of time to figure out where to move when you're lease expires.

Well i'm greatful for the advice ,and the specificty of it as well. I don't have street smarts because i'm from Morgantown, West Virginia. I'm not exactly a country bumpkin, but i'm definately new to big-city life. We don't have much of any crime down there - it's safe to walk just about anywhere.

The armed security guards should have been a clue. That's not the norm for the Pittsburgh area.

Actually it wasn't a clue (to me), because I don't know what the norms are. I do now. So the common sense you call for isn't so common. It never occurred to me to stay away from abandoned buildings either, actually. So thanks for all the help. If you guys have any more specific/detailed wisdom to bestow upon me, I'm all ears.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Mortico

Actually it wasn't a clue (to me), because I don't know what the norms are. I do now. So the common sense you call for isn't so common. It never occurred to me to stay away from abandoned buildings either, actually. So thanks for all the help. If you guys have any more specific/detailed wisdom to bestow upon me, I'm all ears.

I wasn't meaning to insult you. I'm just sometimes sarcastic.

Here's a tip:

When driving through a dangerous area, keep alert of your surroundings. Keep your doors locked and your windows rolled up.

Never pull up immediately behind the car in front of you at a stop sign or traffic light. Leave enough distance so you can't be boxed in by a car behind you. That way you can pull around the car in front of you quickly if necessary. This is to avoid getting car jacked.

If someone rams into your car with their car and you feel you are in an unsafe area, don't get out of your car. Instead, indicate for them to follow you to a populated area before examining damage and exchanging information.

If someone holds a gun to you for your car, give it to them without resisting.

Perhaps you might be interested in buying this book on street smarts:

Amazon.com: Street Smarts, Firearms, And Personal Security : Jim Grover's Guide To Staying Alive And Avoiding Crime In The Real World: Books: Jim Grover,Kevin Steele

[new2theNC]

WOW I doubt he needs to buy a book about it, the situation isnt THAT serious. Just use your head, the place sounds alot better now so just mind your own business and you'll be fine. I mean maybe buy the book if you start seein dudes sellin crack outside your house or something, but you should be straight.

[Hopes]

He's not trusting his instincts since he's never experienced urban living. He wants to learn street smarts. Since he's more of a country fellow now living in the city, it's not a bad idea. He could accidently drive into any part of town by accident.

[ChapmanPlace]

Go here to compare crime rates for neighborhoods... you'll see Fairywood (where Emerald Gardens is) has a low (you'll see how it's declined) crime rate compared to many other neighborhoods in Pittsburgh...

Squirrel Hill - Pittsburgh - Crime

[zman63]

Originally Posted by Mortico

I've just moved to Pittsburgh, and I'd like to know a bit more about the area I live in...

I've moved into what I've been told used to be a housing project two years ago, but has now been remodeled into *very* nice town homes. The guy who installed my cable was telling me that it was probably the worst neighborhood in Pittsburgh before it was shut down, bought up again, and remodeled. Well, it got me a bit worried, and now I'm kicking myself for not having researched this BEFORE I moved.

Luckily, the complex I live in has some (armed) private security and will soon be gated (They are still building that part). These security guards told us once that it used to be a “bad” neighborhood, essentially I’m here to get a feel for how bad it is now, or if there are any nearby areas I should avoid.

I live just north-west of Crafton and Ingram, in a complex called Emerald Gardens. Only two rows of roughly 10 are being rented right now, the rest are still being remodeled.

Village Rd. Pittsburgh, PA 15205 - Google Maps

I'm actually a little afraid to ask, but ignorance is not bliss - This complex is very nice, some good people living here, I'm mostly curious about the surrounding area. I quizzed my cable guy for a bit about the surrounding area and his response was mostly that this place used to be really bad, but the surrounding area is fine.

What's worse is I don't much have a concept of crime... I just moved from my home town of Morgantown, WV - where any kind of major crime is unheard of.

Any information is helpful, just don't tell me not to move there... I already have.

As a native Pittsburgher and current city worker I will tell you all I know about the Fairywood neighborhood.

Fairywood was home to public (Broadhead Manor) and private (Westgate Village) owned HUD complexes otherwise known as housing projects. The popluation of this neighborhood was once 3,800+ people most of which lived in either of these housing projects. Currently I do not know the population of this neighborhood.

The houses that currently exist in Fairywood are mostly low income and section 8.

Broadhead Manor is boarded up and closed. This is the complex at the end of Broadhead-Fording Road. Broadhead Manor Complex is owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. If you take a drive down this way you will notice tons of empty lots. This was once a large complex with 364 projects. In 1998, 300 of the Units (majority of buildings) were demolished. Only 64 remain as they surround the old baseball field. Broadhead Manor was officially closed in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan flooded the area. Old residents want these projects reopened to low income. However, it appears there is no federal money to fix what is left. I highly doubt these will reopen unless a private entity buys them up.

Then you have Westgate Village (Emerald Gardens) across from the dilapated strip shopping mall. Westgate Village, like Broadhead Manor, was projects but owned privately and funded by HUD. Westgate Village had its own private police 24 hours a day. They weren't rent a cops. They will fully armed and wore bullet proof vests. In 2002, Westgate Villiage closed due to a shift in HUD funds. Basically there was no more federal money available to keep the projects open. In 2006 Westgate Village was purchased and now renovated and renamed Emerald Gardens. If you look past the renovated buildings you will see what Westgate Village used to look like.

A community counseling center is down there as well as a closed elementary school that catered to those living in Broadhead and Westgate.

I don't remember much as a child, but I will not forget the time my grandmother took my sister and I down to the Hills Department Store that once existed in the abandoned shopping complex. This was in the early 90's. We were the only white people in the store and everybody was staring at us. Other kids were running amuck and tearing open boxes and literally destroying items in the store. It was a scary event for a 9 year old child.

This area was so bad with both Westgate Village and Broadhead Manor that the Pittsburgh Police had two patrol cars and a Paddy wagon specifically assigned to the Fairywood neighborhood.

The fire department would stop at the top of windgap/broadhead fording road and wait for a police escort before driving down there to put a fire out. They started doing this because in the 1980's there was a fire in Broadhead Manor and the engine stopped at the hydrant near Westgate Village. They dropped off the one fire fighter at the hydrant. The operator of the truck called for water and the was no response from the hydrant guy on the radio. The police discovered the firefighter lying on the ground with his skull split open.

Unfortunately that is what it used to be like down in that area. In the present it is still a mystery how it will evolve.

When Westgate was purchased and now turned into Emerald Gardens neighborhing communities were worried that it was going to become projects again.

I took it upon myself yesterday to drive down and see the progress. I spoke with the armed security guard of Emerald Gardens (old Westgate) and he claims they are being renovated into luxury apartments. He said new tenant applicants will have to pass a background check before being admitted into the complex. He also added there were hundreds of people that applied to live in emerald gardens and were turned down because of the failed backround check.

I told him I wish the best and hope it works out and doesn't regress into Westgate Village. It seems they are strict so you should be ok. Only thing I am weary of is that he is an armed security guard with a gun. If the area is cleaned up and they aren't going to become projects again why is he carrying a gun?

Otherwise the new renovated buildings look nice. I am hopefull it doesn't regress....

I hope this helps...

[PPG]

Originally Posted by zman63

As a native Pittsburgher and current city worker I will tell you all I know about the Fairywood neighborhood.

Fairywood was home to public (Broadhead Manor) and private (Westgate Village) owned HUD complexes otherwise known as housing projects. The popluation of this neighborhood was once 3,800+ people most of which lived in either of these housing projects. Currently I do not know the population of this neighborhood.

The houses that currently exist in Fairywood are mostly low income and section 8.

Broadhead Manor is boarded up and closed. This is the complex at the end of Broadhead-Fording Road. Broadhead Manor Complex is owned by the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh. If you take a drive down this way you will notice tons of empty lots. This was once a large complex with 364 projects. In 1998, 300 of the Units (majority of buildings) were demolished. Only 64 remain as they surround the old baseball field. Broadhead Manor was officially closed in 2004 after Hurricane Ivan flooded the area. Old residents want these projects reopened to low income. However, it appears there is no federal money to fix what is left. I highly doubt these will reopen unless a private entity buys them up.

Then you have Westgate Village (Emerald Gardens) across from the dilapated strip shopping mall. Westgate Village, like Broadhead Manor, was projects but owned privately and funded by HUD. Westgate Village had its own private police 24 hours a day. They weren't rent a cops. They will fully armed and wore bullet proof vests. In 2002, Westgate Villiage closed due to a shift in HUD funds. Basically there was no more federal money available to keep the projects open. In 2006 Westgate Village was purchased and now renovated and renamed Emerald Gardens. If you look past the renovated buildings you will see what Westgate Village used to look like.

A community counseling center is down there as well as a closed elementary school that catered to those living in Broadhead and Westgate.

I don't remember much as a child, but I will not forget the time my grandmother took my sister and I down to the Hills Department Store that once existed in the abandoned shopping complex. This was in the early 90's. We were the only white people in the store and everybody was staring at us. Other kids were running amuck and tearing open boxes and literally destroying items in the store. It was a scary event for a 9 year old child.

This area was so bad with both Westgate Village and Broadhead Manor that the Pittsburgh Police had two patrol cars and a Paddy wagon specifically assigned to the Fairywood neighborhood.

The fire department would stop at the top of windgap/broadhead fording road and wait for a police escort before driving down there to put a fire out. They started doing this because in the 1980's there was a fire in Broadhead Manor and the engine stopped at the hydrant near Westgate Village. They dropped off the one fire fighter at the hydrant. The operator of the truck called for water and the was no response from the hydrant guy on the radio. The police discovered the firefighter lying on the ground with his skull split open.

Unfortunately that is what it used to be like down in that area. In the present it is still a mystery how it will evolve.

When Westgate was purchased and now turned into Emerald Gardens neighborhing communities were worried that it was going to become projects again.

I took it upon myself yesterday to drive down and see the progress. I spoke with the armed security guard of Emerald Gardens (old Westgate) and he claims they are being renovated into luxury apartments. He said new tenant applicants will have to pass a background check before being admitted into the complex. He also added there were hundreds of people that applied to live in emerald gardens and were turned down because of the failed backround check.

I told him I wish the best and hope it works out and doesn't regress into Westgate Village. It seems they are strict so you should be ok. Only thing I am weary of is that he is an armed security guard with a gun. If the area is cleaned up and they aren't going to become projects again why is he carrying a gun?

Otherwise the new renovated buildings look nice. I am hopefull it doesn't regress....

I hope this helps...

Good story! I remember that Hills! That's where my parents used to shop and it was always crazy. You could just go in open up a box and steal. It was known all over that you could steal from there. We used to ride the bikes and skateboards all over the store. There was absolutely no control. It was the only store left in a boarded up strip mall. You took me back with that one. I even walked there from crafton heights with other kids no more that 8-10yrs old. With no money!

As far as the projects, you are correct. I had family there and used to hang out there in high school. There are so many stories. One night I was with my white buddies coming back from the movies and the driver was a rich kid from the suburbs who just got his liscence a new car and he had no idea how to get home. So I started directing by saying "turn Right here" and "turn Left here". After a while my other buddies new where I was taking us but the driver had no clue, and had never been to that area. So we get to Westgate and mind you it is 2:00am, and all I hear is OH S#@T!!! Everyone and I mean everyone was out and just stared at us as this blonde haired white guy with a brand new camaro, and three other white guys and a black guy drove thru. We were laughing so hard. The driver was not too happy.

Also, my friends dad was a cop and told him that someone got shot down there everynight most of the time not making the news.

I advise any one moving there today to buy a metal detector. I bet you could find all types of buried gold chains and bullets and such.