Relocation, looking for rentals (Pittsburgh, Oakmont: apartment complex, lofts, crime)

[superk]

I'm just starting on the process of relocating for a new job opportunity. I'm hoping to come up this weekend and make some efforts to drive around to see the layout of the area. I'd like to possibly spend some time looking at rental properties. I'm interested in what are good areas for me to target.

The job is in Freeport, but I don't have to be there in the office every day, so I'm open to any location that's within a 30 or so minute drive. I'm not concerned about price, and I'll have a roommate to split the expenses with.

Ideally, I'd like something that's close to shopping, parks, greenways, entertainment, and/or nightlife. Maybe something in a mixed-use neighborhood with retail/business on the main levels and residential units above. A place where, after work, you can just park the car and reach everything easily on foot.

Some other criteria:

- Garage(s) or indoor secured parking.
- 2BR/2BA minimum.
- Pool, fitness center, clubhouse.
- A place with lots of young professionals would be a big plus.

[Bong477]

The combination of garage and pool in the city in a managed building or complex (which is what it sounds like you want) is tough. You may need to give up something be it the garage, location, or pool. I think the Cork Factory (in the Strip District) meets all of your criteria, they definitely have a pool and pretty sure there is covered parking.

[PeterRabbit]

For what you want I don't think you'll find it within 30 minutes of Freeport.

[superk]

That's what I'm starting to get afraid of. It could be a show-stopper for me to not accept the job offer.

[ex-burgher]

Heinz Lofts? It would not be walking distance to stores and nightlife but it's right on the riverfront bikeway to these areas.

[gg]

Originally Posted by superk

That's what I'm starting to get afraid of. It could be a show-stopper for me to not accept the job offer.

Freeport is about 30 minutes from the Highland Park area. If you can go 35 minutes you can get into Shadyside area. Your commute would be against traffic and should be pretty easy.

You CAN live at the Cork Factory. The drive will be against traffic and easy. The time would be around the 30 minute mark because you can access Rt 28 so easy from there. Your commute is best from areas close to route 28. Currently the road is under construction, but the traffic flow is actually moving better now than ever. You wouldn't be in the traffic because you would be driving out of the city in the AM.

If 30 minutes give or take is your goal, you can do that. Go on Google Maps and look for yourself. Freeport is low traffic and easy driving.

[SteelCityRising]

The idyllic town of Oakmont may suit your needs. From here you'd be able to cross the Hulton Bridge and pick up Route 28 in the Harmar area, where you'd have probably a 20-minute drive or so to Freeport for a total commute each way of about 25 minutes (give a 5-minute fudge factor each way depending upon traffic on the Hulton Bridge).

Oakmont Landing is one option here. It may not be as luxurious as what you seek; however, they do have a pool, central air, fireplaces, a fitness center, a "Walk Score" of 75, and a riverfront locale. I don't believe they have "secured" indoor parking, but why would you need that in a town where the biggest crime is an elderly woman's cat getting stuck in a tree? The entrances to each building are secured via intercom. I've made some deliveries here before, and I've always liked this complex.

Oakmont Landing Apartments For Rent in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania - Apartment Rental and Community Details - ForRent.com

For $1,170-$1,210/month you can get a 2-BR/2-BA unit with a fireplace and a "view" (presumably riverfront). I'm considering this complex in Summer 2012 for if and when my partner and I move in together, as it is also pet-friendly (which may be of concern to you if you don't have pets).

I wouldn't not accept the job offer, especially with how fragile our national economic picture is right now, just because you'd have to compromise on some things. If this apartment complex isn't to your liking I know they're also building a new master-planned community along the riverfront in Oakmont, too, which is going to be mostly owner-occupied if I'm not mistaken, but someone speculative may buy a dwelling or two and then rent them out for rental income if they're not planning to move in immediately (i.e. an empty-nester couple who wants to live here in a couple of years once their children leave).

Oakmont isn't exactly crawling with young professionals, but some do exist. A Panera Bread just opened on the town's brick main drag, the Oaks Theater attracts a younger crowd, and there are a few cool restaurants. There's also a Caribou Coffee, a Bruegger's Bagels, and an old-fashioned Ace Hardware store. About five minutes from town across the river in Harmar you have a Target and some other stores and restaurants. You're not THAT far from the city. I personally don't know if I'd be comfortable recommending anywhere south of the Highland Park Bridge to you due to the perpetual construction gridlock along Route 28. It's become more tolerable since they streamlined the "choke points" at the 31st Street and 40th Street Bridges, but I've still been caught in delays of 15-20 minutes at times during some deliveries. Route 28 will be amazing once this major overhaul is finished, but for the time being (especially as a renter) it makes more sense for you to avoid the hassle if you can.

[gg]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

The idyllic town of Oakmont may suit your needs. From here you'd be able to cross the Hulton Bridge and pick up Route 28 in the Harmar area, where you'd have probably a 20-minute drive or so to Freeport for a total commute each way of about 25 minutes (give a 5-minute fudge factor each way depending upon traffic on the Hulton Bridge).

I thought about Oakmont, but that Hulton Bride and then dealing with the worst intersection at that Harmerville exit, next to that Target, I just didn't want to recommend it. It is closer, but you would be better off in Aspinwall. Yes, you heard me right, you would be better off in Aspinwall because you are on the right side of the river and don't need to deal with that traffic. Just had dinner last night in Aspinwall and it was crawling with people eating at outdoor places and enjoying the town. It sure has come a long way and with that riverfront development coming, it is going to be even better. Of course there is no place with a pool.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I thought about Oakmont, but that Hulton Bride and then dealing with the worst intersection at that Harmerville exit, next to that Target, I just didn't want to recommend it. It is closer, but you would be better off in Aspinwall. Yes, you heard me right, you would be better off in Aspinwall because you are on the right side of the river and don't need to deal with that traffic. Just had dinner last night in Aspinwall and it was crawling with people eating at outdoor places and enjoying the town. It sure has come a long way and with that riverfront development coming, it is going to be even better. Of course there is no place with a pool.

I agree with you that Aspinwall > Oakmont in terms of this individual's preferences; however, I didn't recommend it because I'm hard-pressed to think of ANY large-scale rentals there, let alone one with the posh amenities he seeks. I profiled Oakmont because it's only a slightly longer commute than Aspinwall, and that apartment community I listed meets most (not all) of his needs while being on the upper end of his 30-minute commuting range. Aspinwall really is my favorite suburb in the area---home to a great hospital (UPMC-St. Margaret), proximate to a major shopping center (Waterworks), and just across the Highland Park Bridge from not only the namesake Highland Park but also the East End attractions in Shadyside and Squirrel Hill (along with the impending projects in East Liberty). It's very near to that great O'Hara Twp. park along Fox Chapel Road across from the intersection with Delafield Road, and it's near to the trail system in Fox Chapel Borough. It's undoubtedly more family-oriented than "young professional"-oriented, though, and the absence of many rentals reflects that. A search for "Aspinwall" on CraigsList turns up only 22 listings since early-April. A few of those are duplicates and a few of those aren't even in the town. Filtering that for 2+ bedrooms, and that drops to just 10 listings for Aspinwall (once again a few are duplicates). Not many "young professionals" are affording the rather high housing prices in Aspinwall ($200,000+ is commonplace) and won't be buying there until they are ready to have kids and enroll them in Fox Chapel Area Schools.

Aspinwall would really take off for young professionals if there was a place there that could be converted to a large-scale loft housing rental community (similar to the Heinz Lofts or Cork Factory). There may be opportunities for that in Sharpsburg.

[greg42]

Yeah, the thing is, that description starts out mainly as what comes in a suburban apartment complex (garages, 2BR/2BA, pool, clubhouse) but then you throw in walking to nightlife and wanting to be near young professionals. That's pretty much the antithesis of suburban apartment complexes these days. Young professionals are hanging out more in the city, at least if you want a decent critical mass of them. And you don't find too many apartment complexes like that in the city, although some of the things mentioned like Cork Factory could work. Also, Morgan at North Shore is pretty much like this and just across the river from downtown with easy access to Rt 28. They do have pool, fitness center, etc.

I think you'd want to live in the city, and to do that your drive might push the 30 minute barrier at least if you commute at rush times. It is a true reverse commute, but 35-40 min is probably a safer estimate to use from downtown. You might get a few minutes closer in somewhere like Lawrenceville, Highland Park, etc. but that isn't going to give you the type of apartment complex you're looking for that I can think of. Cork Factory, Heinz Lofts, Morgan at North Shore, Encore on 7th, those might suit your needs quite well with price not an issue. I think they have pretty much what you're looking for. These are all reasonably new (Morgan is oldest at 10+ years) or new renovations so they have modern preferences in mind. Garage parking should be available at/near all of them (I don't know Encore's parking status; the others all have their own garages). The only downside to those is you're probably going to want to allow 40 min for the commute.