Braddock PA article in Ready Made article (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: rental, house)

[musegimm]

hello Cheryl
MuseGimm/Ivanna
Thank You, and I hope to become an integral part at least in North Braddock After a Long winters nap, I was wondering if you could answer any of the questions I had in my first post ???
Thank you again and beforehand

[backin60's]

Originally Posted by musegimm

I'm desperate to leave where I'm at and due to other difficulties which I will not go into now I have to leave ! "family Illness" briefly put, and this is the opportunity I've been allowed to have at this time so I must take advantage of it !!!

Thank You Muse....

Hi Ivanna,

I certainly think it is wise to look into a move but as stated in your quote above, this move is the opportunity you have been allowed to have.
I have not been to Braddock since the 60's so I can not speak with any authority about the crime in Braddock. You could get this info from police,
or researching through newspapers the crime.

I think that everyone with children need consider many things when making a move. How are the schools? How is transportaion? I mean as a single mom
who may not have a reliable vehicle how close are you to shopping, hospital/medical services? The house you are considering, is it in an area of alot of abandoned buildings? I know my sons both grown now but as children
they were explorers. Definately some dangers in going into old unsafe
buildings. I think it might be unsettling for a single mom to be residing in a
house surrounded by empty houses. We did it at the old High School when we were kids. So without knowing your exact situation and unsure of where exactly you will relocate it is hard to say.

I think if the house you are relocating to is in Mayor Fettermen's jurisdiction
he could probably answer all your questions. I understand he is happy to show people around. Might want to get in touch with him.

This certainly constitutes a great debate. Many people will have very keen
observations given their own experiences. One former resident here advises
not even to drive through there. He/She probably has some valid reasoning based on first hand experience.

When I lived there it was on the decline, everyone was poor, struggling and
wanted to move out. But I experienced Braddock not by the poverty, decline
and decay. I expereinced Braddock by the goodness of the people. People took care of each other, looked out for each other and when something hit
somebody hard the outpouring of kindness and giving was impressive.

Bad things happened as they do in every city all across the nation but as I
look back as an older person I learned lessons for life that I don't think I could of learned antwhere else.

Thinking maybe I will write a book and call it growing up Braddock. I have
some feirce pride in my roots and some greater understanding with the passage of years that all things good and bad served me well.

Whatever you decide should be after looking into it and considering all of
the needs/limits of your family.

But as you said this is the opportunity that has presented and as a christian
you can have the confidence that God's plan is the right plan.

Cheryl

[churchof1000]

As much as I'd like to see this historic community survive & thrive, I am hesitant to recommend anyone move to Braddock. I live in North Braddock, which is right up the hill from Braddock proper. I've been living here since 2004. It's not ALL bad. I have some nice neighbors. There ARE good people in the area.

But I don't feel safe. Our house was broken into once. I have lost count of how many times our cars have been vandalized. It seems every month there is some horrible story in the news; shooting, stabbing, houses burning down, kids being abused/neglected. Since I moved here in 2004 I have kept all these articles in a word document. The document is up to 54 pages!

There are always teenagers loitering and leaving trash around. They're probably the same ones perpetrating the vandalism, but unless you catch them in the act there is nothing you can do about it. In a lot of ways, I feel like this is what the wild west must have been like.

[backin60's]

To
Church of 1000

54 pages sounds like alot of articles. Curious what motivated you to save them? I understand that the Mayor has tattooed the dates of the 3 or 4 murders that occurred in Braddock on his arm. I looked up those but could find no articles regarding those incidents.

Childhood memories are often foggie. In trying to sort things out I was trying
to determine directionally where things are. Would you happen to know where McCrea Way is? Think it was Braddock Avenue and McCrea Way.
Current maps I have found do not show McCrea Way. I can pinpoint certain directions from the place I lived as far as being left or right on Braddock Avenue, but not sure now if this was Braddock Proper.

I think your right in the thought that the wild west with it's sense of lawlessness is an unsafe feeling. Is North Braddock more populated? Is
there public transportation? What about Turtle Creek is that next to Braddock Proper or North Braddock?

Would you consider sharing that word document? I would like to see the
articles to see if any area descriptions jog memories.

Your first hand knowledge is probably going to be of value to Ivanna. You
are likely the one who can answer her questions about schools etc.
Thanks for responding. Yours is a valuable perspective.

Cheryl

[musegimm]

HELLO ALL

Thank You for answering, both fortunately and unfortunately, (I will be visiting the area tomorrow my Grandmother' "93" yrs went to be with the Lord early Saturday morning so the unfortunate part will be dealing with the contractor), LOL, with contractor in tow, the property is located in the 1700 block of Grandview Ave...

Thanks especially with the vote of confidence*** Cheryl, I've never been afraid to follow his lead and so therefore.... shall go forth.....

I actually did send Mayor Fetterman a private message but of course he is a busy guy and I have yet to hear back from him but 'nothing ventured nothing gained !!!

I have been waiting ELEVEN YEARS to move home "Pittsburgh Area", and now starting over at 48 in a new place is Serendipity at it's utmost !!!!

Maybe I'll run into in town Cheryl if your located nearby I would love to,

Thank you all for answering !
Blessings
musegimm/Ivanna

[backin60's]

My heartfelt condolences over the loss of your grandmother. Grandma's
are usually among the most special people we have in our lives. It would
seem you had the good fortune to have her a long time. Often makes the
loss even greater. She will however live on in the hearts and minds of
those who will remember her.

Ahhh yes contractors, certainly they can bring headaches although in
defense of the good ones you may actually have one who is knowledgeable
and helpful which could actually reduce headaches. A rare breed but I
have met a few. Let's hope you have one.

I took the liberty because I am very curious to research Grandview Street
I saw a tremendous amount of vacant land in the area. Have you been to
see the property yet? To be honest the vacant lots do give me pause.
But I do believe that nothing happens that isn't supposed to and feel for
some reason your move is what is supposed to be.

Starting over at any age is both terrifying and exciting. Been there a time
or two in my life. Am actually currently in a start over place once again.
I have learned through the start overs that everything is possible and
although there is struggle the end result is better than what I had ever
thought. Life really is about the journey. Some roads we travel down
happily like a child skipping to a happy song that plays in the mind, not
a care in the world, some roads are rocky with stones and crevices that
trip us and have us wishing we had not entered the road, but in the end
we are right where we were supposed to be.

Serendipity as in the act of great discovery by accident is really a very
wonderful experience. I hope it is a joyful road with few stumbling
blocks.

I think you are right that Mayor Fetterman is very busy but I have no
doubt that you will probably run into him out and about. Is a nice
thought when you think the Mayor of your town is a pretty down to
earth guy that you are likely to meet in your neighborhood.

As I read your posts I can hear the excitement you feel at going home.
I hope it begins with a great contractor and the sense of comfort that
comes from being home.

I do wish I were in Pittsburgh. I am 29,867 miles from Pittsburgh lol. I
am not likely to be visiting home except virtually through this computer
but if I were there it would be nice to meet you.

Will be wishing you a great journey with happy music and few stumbling
stones.

Regards,
Cheryl

[backin60's]

Ivana
I see where I had been looking into Grandview Street and not Avenue. So going back I
did find many owner occupied houses on Grandview Avenue in the block. Allegheny County has given most of these houses a poor rating. Likely the age and that they have
not been kept up. But they appear to be houses with alot of history. One on the market now is selling for 24,000.00. Hard for me to imagine a whole house at that price with the
way the housing market out west is. Out here even a fixer upper starter home is likely to
cost upwards of 100,000.
The one I found for sale was a 3 bedroom 2 full baths, a basement built in 1920. Love those houses built in the 1900's although I imagine getting them up to grade can be quite expensive. I also saw something heartbreaking. It seems there are condos on
Grandview that were built in the 80's. It appears someone paid 212,000 dollars when they bought in 85 and today in 2007 it's market value is only 27,000. That would be
hard to take.

Sounds like you are buying something that needs work, so hoping your contractor is good. If you are up to some of the work yourself it could save you some money. Fixing
up an old house can be daunting but also can be alot of fun. If the floors are wood and
in good shape sanding an revarnishing although alot of work is well worth the sweat equity. Like wise if the trim and window sils are painted wood bringing them back
to the original wood is well worth the effort. Keep me posted as to the experience with
your contractor. Are you having to deal with electrical and plumbing? Any old house can be a money pit thats for sure.
Looking forward to hearing from you after your meeting with the contractor.
Cheryl

[backin60's]

A few weeks back I wrote about finding the Braddock Chronicles which were a film series done in Braddock beginning in the 70's by Tony Buba, a life long Braddock resident. I was very disappointed to learn that these could only be sold or rented to
schools and groups. But as stated I am obcessed so I contacted Mr. Buba directly and
to my happy surprise he offered to sell me the Braddock Chronicles. He further provided me with an answer to my query about not finding the old block I lived on. It had become a part of the mill. I guess that must have happened in the 70's since we were there in the 60's.
Human nature is funny. I mean the place was a literal rat infested dump, Alot of the time I was afraid there because of the rats. Yet the news it had been torn down made me feel sad. Go figure!!!! Perhaps the sadness is a reflection of feelings of invisability that
happens when we are soul searching and find so much of the tangibles in our lives have
been removed. Another childhood home in PA. was also torn down in the 80's I didn't learn that until I began to look into the past to get a sense of who i am, how I arrived
here. The raising of that place is a shame and a real historical loss. It was for me as a child akin to a castle. It had been a speakeasy in the 20's and a beautiful place. It's
history was one of mystery, tragedies and the promise of dreams. Many never realized.

Anyway progress isn't really progress. I hear that the apartment complex that replaced
RED TILE INN was built poorly, tenants complain about all the problems and all feel it is
not worth the money they pay. I recently found a relative of the original owners of Red Tile Inn who ran the speakeasy and lived there in the arena of Bethyl Park's upper crust. He sent me a picture of the Inn in the 20's and it was a grand place. That house, and the time I stayed there is really what began my journey back in time. In 1998, my youngest child died. Needless to say I was devastated. I began having a dream about witnessing a man's murder. The dream was strange and disturbing. Long Story short, after a year of being troubled by the dream I finally was convinced by my husband to see a counselor. We thought the dream manifested because of our sons death. We were partially right. Apparently as a very young child, I witnessed the murder of my great grandfather. Being too young to process what I saw, being very overwhelmed I stored the event in the recess of my mind. Apparently when my son died, a most overwhelming loss I was attempting to process this overwhelming emotional trauma and unlocked the
early memory. So been on a journey back ever since............. Not sure the journeys purpose other than to look into self. Not sure the purpose I began this remains the purpose I pursue. Now why did I just write all that? Shrugs????????

Ivanna I hope all is well. What did the contractor have to say?
Cheryl

[Dorian]

Braddock is finished, there is no hope for that place. It is run by the drug dealers, it is full of crackheads and it smells like sulfur because of the mill. If they want to have any chance at turning it around they would have to bulldoze it down and start from scratch(including the mill), totally restaff the out of control police department, exterminate the whole neighborhood for roaches and mice, and build a wall on there border with Rankin,LOL.

[backin60's]

Hi Dorian

Those are strong responses. Did or do you live there? I agree rats and roach extermination would be a part of the plan. I can't respond with regard to police
not being there for years but bulldozing in my opinion is an extreme measure that
Allegheny County takes way too often. The drug epidemic is Nation Wide. Bulldozing
the buildings won't eliminate drug sales or addiction. Being someone who has had a long career working with gangs and addicts the location change that would be caused by
bulldozing Braddock would not impact the social ills.
Not sure I understand the comment "build a wall on their border with Rankin LOL". By
the Rankin statistics it does not appear Rankin is faring any better than Braddock. So do
they bulldoze that too? And Homewood? How about the North side? I don't see a bulldozer as Braddock's answer.
Cheryl