Move to Wilkinsburg? (Pittsburgh, Franklin, Penn: home, buying, schools)
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I understand, juliegt. Although it's different for me to hear a native Californian considering moving to a place with 4 definitive seasons. Many of the folks I've met here in Ca. say they'd stay no matter what because of the mild weather, etc. The Northeast definitely gets very cold and icy - and very hot and humid in the summer. The older buildings in SF and surrounding areas are very beautiful, but the prices keep many of us out for sure. That is something I miss about the east areas I grew up in...the historical structures and scenery. Plus it is nice to have real seasons that mark the passing of years. I want an old building badly. A large old multi-story structure that could be moderately restored while not erasing it's past. I'm hoping to find a good 're-zone' opportunity, and be closer to my 'roots' and family along the eastern states. I've enjoyed my years in Ca., but it's about impossible to own something close to what I yearn for here. ugh. ..and I won't miss the earthquakes one bit!
I understand, juliegt. Although it's different for me to hear a native Californian considering moving to a place with 4 definitive seasons. Many of the folks I've met here in Ca. say they'd stay no matter what because of the mild weather, etc. The Northeast definitely gets very cold and icy - and very hot and humid in the summer. The older buildings in SF and surrounding areas are very beautiful, but the prices keep many of us out for sure. That is something I miss about the east areas I grew up in...the historical structures and scenery. Plus it is nice to have real seasons that mark the passing of years. I want an old building badly. A large old multi-story structure that could be moderately restored while not erasing it's past. I'm hoping to find a good 're-zone' opportunity, and be closer to my 'roots' and family along the eastern states. I've enjoyed my years in Ca., but it's about impossible to own something close to what I yearn for here. ugh. ..and I won't miss the earthquakes one bit!
Me either -- and you're closer to the ones that have been happening at Alum Rock!
I miss the four seasons, and really -- every day it's sunny and blue skied. It may be hard for people to understand, but boy, it gets old. By October, I've had an a$$ full of sunshine -- and I start screaming to bring on the rain! I don't think in the 20 years I've been here, I've ever had enough rain. There was one year, though... it got as close as it had ever been.... I staved it off by stopping for a Peet's coffee and sipping it while going 30MPH on 24 through the Caldcott --
Status:
"Gave final notice at my place in SF."
(set 12 days ago)
Location: Crafton and San Francisco
1,627 posts, read 800,258 times
Reputation: 452
Quote:
Originally Posted by EasternerInDaWest
I understand, juliegt. Although it's different for me to hear a native Californian considering moving to a place with 4 definitive seasons. Many of the folks I've met here in Ca. say they'd stay no matter what because of the mild weather, etc. The Northeast definitely gets very cold and icy - and very hot and humid in the summer. The older buildings in SF and surrounding areas are very beautiful, but the prices keep many of us out for sure. That is something I miss about the east areas I grew up in...the historical structures and scenery. Plus it is nice to have real seasons that mark the passing of years. I want an old building badly. A large old multi-story structure that could be moderately restored while not erasing it's past. I'm hoping to find a good 're-zone' opportunity, and be closer to my 'roots' and family along the eastern states. I've enjoyed my years in Ca., but it's about impossible to own something close to what I yearn for here. ugh. ..and I won't miss the earthquakes one bit!
Did you mention in an earlier post that you're involved in the arts? An artist friend of mine (and a Pittsburgh native) got an incredible deal on her studio space. I believe it was through a grant or loan from the Penn Ave Arts Initiative. They have grants/loans available to help artists find affordable space and to revitalize Penn Ave. Check out Penn Avenue Arts Initiative :: Home It really reminded me of the Bay Area in the late 60s & early 70s when there were still affordable spaces in "iffy" neighborhoods.
I do wonder about the growing trend of boomers moving to urban areas; and with places like NY & SF being out of reach for all but a few, if cities like Pittsburgh will eventually start to grow again? There's an organization called CEOs for Cities - www.ceosforcities,org (broken link) - that has lots of interesting data about revitalizing America's cities. Their next big conference is going to be in Pittsburgh.
:-) Thanks you for the links juliegt. I will be checking them out. I'm not sure if I had mentioned any arts affiliation before, but actually we are! :-) I was an art major in college...but here in Ca. I've been working in the tech industry for over 10 years. My fiance' is a graduate of the Pa. School of Art & Design in Lancaster, Pa. My son is in his last years of high school and his interests are in writing and music production. We also run a home website and graphic design business...everything from websites, SEO, logo design, graphics, printed items (hats, shirts, bus. cards, brochures, signs, etc.), and music/shows/acts promotions. Our goal is to have a large old building as a live-work space where we can have our bus. office, a small gallery, an art studio to make messes in, and a recording studio. I was also thinking of incorporating a small boutique. I've been looking at the incentives associated with this site also: NewPA.com : What is a Keystone Opportunity Zone? (http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=346 - broken link). Thinking that if we got into a developing area, even if it will take time to get local clients and 'walk-ups' due to community 'in process of revitalization', we'd still have the internet with which to do business. We have clients all over and can manage from just about anywhere that we can 'plug in'. I'd share more..but I like the sense of anonymity on forums. ;-)
Status:
"Gave final notice at my place in SF."
(set 12 days ago)
Location: Crafton and San Francisco
1,627 posts, read 800,258 times
Reputation: 452
Quote:
Originally Posted by EasternerInDaWest
:-) Thanks you for the links juliegt. I will be checking them out. I'm not sure if I had mentioned any arts affiliation before, but actually we are! :-) I was an art major in college...but here in Ca. I've been working in the tech industry for over 10 years. My fiance' is a graduate of the Pa. School of Art & Design in Lancaster, Pa. My son is in his last years of high school and his interests are in writing and music production. We also run a home website and graphic design business...everything from websites, SEO, logo design, graphics, printed items (hats, shirts, bus. cards, brochures, signs, etc.), and music/shows/acts promotions. Our goal is to have a large old building as a live-work space where we can have our bus. office, a small gallery, an art studio to make messes in, and a recording studio. I was also thinking of incorporating a small boutique. I've been looking at the incentives associated with this site also: NewPA.com : What is a Keystone Opportunity Zone? (http://www.newpa.com/default.aspx?id=346 - broken link). Thinking that if we got into a developing area, even if it will take time to get local clients and 'walk-ups' due to community 'in process of revitalization', we'd still have the internet with which to do business. We have clients all over and can manage from just about anywhere that we can 'plug in'. I'd share more..but I like the sense of anonymity on forums. ;-)
Let me know what you discover. I've also seen an ad for Oil City, PA that says they offer low interest loans to artists relocating there. I'm not sure where it is exactly.
I was really amazed at the opportunities in pgh for artists compared to the bay area. It's so different than here where even with the downturn, things are still not even close to affordable. And there's certainly no need to offer incentives for people to move here.
no you should not live in wilkinsburg that is the worst place to live i live in wilkinsburg now and there is alot of shooting our stuff has been stoolen so i don't recomend living here
Pennwood and Edgewood Avenues run N-S through the Wilkinsburg area.
Once you start going East over those streets the neighborhood really changes, lots of abandoned and run-down homes, etc. As someone had mentioned previously in this post, there is quite literally a "wrong side of the tracks" in this case.
Just my opinion, having walked through those areas quite frequently to go to the libraries in those areas (The Wilkinsburg Public and C.C. Mellor Libraries).
Last edited by skyystarz; 04-09-2008 at 11:22 PM..
Reason: sp!
I've also seen an ad for Oil City, PA....I'm not sure where it is exactly.
Its a few hours North of Pittsburgh in the middle of nowhere (deep Appalachia). There are probably 14 jobs paying above minimum wage and welfare is rampant. It's one of those places where instead of working, people spend their time doing crystal meth and watching Nascar.
Also, there is this town around Oil City, maybe Oil City itself, that smells like rotting trash or dirty diapers (paper mill). I think it's depressing up there...though oddly I came from a similar area.
...and yeah, my Oil City friend jokes about the meth problem. It seems that a house occasionallly goes BOOM during the meth-picking season.
Was that your kinda nice way of saying I don't want to live around black people!!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by garbanzette
My boyfriend and I are looking to move to the Pittsburgh area and we are looking at a place located on Rebecca Avenue at Centre Street in Wilkinsburg. Can anyone offer any advice as to whether or not this is a decent neighborhood or a place to stay away from? I'm sure it makes no difference, but just for the sake of knowing, we're both in our early 20's, I'm white and he's hispanic. Any advice is greatly appreciated.
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