Homewood (Pittsburgh: employment, elementary school, quality of life)

[jap124]

To the original poster: Don't move to Homewood--it's a very bad area; not all of it, but why risk moving to any of it. As far as Pittsburgh being safe, the statistics would say probably not. Pittsburgh was in the 10-15 range in 2007 for homicides and in 2008 our rate jumped by 30% meaning that we will probably crack the top ten when the FBI releases the 2008 stats. As one poster said many murders have occurred in Homewood but it is not the only dangerous area. Lincoln-Larimar, the hill district, wilkinsburg, Braddock, Mt. Oliver Mckeesport, Manchester, Allentown, Hazelwood, Garfield, are all bad areas and you should not move to them, however almost all the murders in Pittsburgh are gang/drug related and it is very very rare that a innocent person is hurt/killed. If you don't mix with the wrong people then you should be fine moving here. There are plenty of nice places in the city to move: Shady side, Squirrel Hill, mt. washington, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebonen, Monroeville (probably the best), Churchhill. Many of these places are right outside the city but still have good commute times. Bottom line: Homewood is bad, don't move there, however in almost all the bad places in Pittsburgh it is the gang bangers and drug dealers messing with each other--just stay out of those rings. There are plenty of better options in the city and right outside of it, I would take a look at those.

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by jap124

To the original poster: Don't move to Homewood--it's a very bad area; not all of it, but why risk moving to any of it. As far as Pittsburgh being safe, the statistics would say probably not. Pittsburgh was in the 10-15 range in 2007 for homicides and in 2008 our rate jumped by 30% meaning that we will probably crack the top ten when the FBI releases the 2008 stats

I'd like a link to your statistics....its hard for me to believe Pittsburgh was in the 10-15 range with company like the New Orleans, Detroits, St Louis's and more over the Clevelands.

As one poster said many murders have occurred in Homewood

Over the years yes, but I happen to think areas of the North Side of the city beat it out last year, and so far it's been pretty quiet there this year.

Monroeville (probably the best),

Why do you say that? I think if you look, Monroeville, at least, say, judging by last years stats, had as many murders as Wilkinsburg.

[vtPGH]

Originally Posted by scottrpriester

Over the years yes, but I happen to think areas of the North Side of the city beat it [Homewood] out last year, and so far it's been pretty quiet there this year.

The post-gazette website's 'neighborhood' tab has a link to an article and homicide map for Allegheny County in 2008. The two worst concentration of homicides last year was the area around Addison Terrace apartments and right around the intersection of Bedford Ave and Chauncey Dr, both in the Hill District.

So far this year, the city as a whole has been pretty quiet. 3 homicides YTD vs. 9 this time last year. Two homicides in the Hill District, and a homicide death from an Uptown shooting last fall. The North Side neighborhoods and Homewood have both had some shootings, and there was a justified police killing on the North Side in Perry Hilltop, but no homicides in either of those areas. Hopefully it stays that way.

[scottrpriester]

On a non violent Homewood topic........we just came home from Homewood on North Braddock....there is some BBQ place at the intersection of North Braddock and Hamilton.....anyone ever eat there or have their food?

[MarqueseGilmore]

Originally Posted by LandaJ

Hey I am a Homewood native. My family was the forth black family to move into homewood. I am only 23 but I know that there are very dangerous people where ever you live. I have a harder time walking down the street in shadyside in fear of being mugged than in homewood or any other dominatly black areas. Pittsburgh has a major problem with lableing areas as bad. Homewood, sq.hill or two of the cleanest neighborhoods in the city. Read the paper! Most of the people that were raised in homewood do not ruin or bother other people. It's the miss placed families on low-income housing that damage homewoods image. There are various resturants, bars, churches, funeral homes, schools and auto shops in the area. And lets not mention the growing number of candy store. Homewood has many small business owners and alot of home owners. My family still and resides in there home and so do many of the other neighbors who have lived there for over 40 years. And some of their neighbors are white. There is a dominate white catholic church in the middle of Bennett st. And the students from CAPA found enjoyment walking the so-called dangerous streets of homewood. Honestly the locals were more freaked out by the outfits of the students than the students were of the so-called thugs. Homewood also host the annual bike and foot races every year. So really how bad is Homewood. Going by the news yeah Homewood is awful. Point breeze which cut itself from homewood when mass blacks left the hill and came to the area, bad media reports always says homewood when its point breeze. The so-called bad neighborhood also has one of the best PAT transit routes in the whole city. Homewood has more going on than many know. And as far as drug trades go. The neighbors of those who look down on this part of town are often spotted buying there goods from the same area they despies. I haved lived an many areas and still love the love and respect you recieve from the locals. Once you get to know your surroundings you will know who to deal with and who not too. Most so-called thugs will help anyone in need from and elderly lady trying to cross the street or someone needing help getting their car started. Before you judge goto the area and not with fear,but observance and an open mind. Stop being so Pittsburgh-ish and dumb!

THANK YOU!!!!! I co-sign and to add on to what your saying,Pittsburghers have a tendency to label neighborhoods "ghetto" or "run down" and thats not 100% the case. Yeah theres more crime in homewood because homewood is huge and your right some of the time the news reports crimes in Homewood and most of the time its Point Breeze or something like that. Theres not alot of cases of senseless crime going on in homewood. Mostly drugs and gangs but if you mind your business and stay to yourself theirs no problems. Thugs don't choose to be thugs. The thing is soooo many cities give up on trying to solve the problems and just let neighborhoods like Homewood just go. So then thats where the misused labels come in at.

[scottrpriester]

Originally Posted by MarqueseGilmore

most of the time its Point Breeze or something like that.

Ehhh I don't know about that. Maybe the area thats known as "North Point Breeze", but there isn't a whole lot going on in our neighborhood.

[scottrpriester]

LOL...here we go!

Shooting Victims Found In Penn Hills

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) ―




Police are investigating a shooting that started in a Pittsburgh neighborhood.

Two people were reportedly shot on Canada Way in Homewood.

The victims apparently drove to the BP gas station in Penn Hills on Frankstown Road and called police.

Police and medics are now in Penn Hills.

Dispatchers tell KDKA an infant in the vehicle was injured but not shot. The two shooting victims were taken to the hospital.

There's no word yet on their conditions.

[otters21]

Originally Posted by jap124

To the original poster: Don't move to Homewood--it's a very bad area; not all of it, but why risk moving to any of it. As far as Pittsburgh being safe, the statistics would say probably not. Pittsburgh was in the 10-15 range in 2007 for homicides and in 2008 our rate jumped by 30% meaning that we will probably crack the top ten when the FBI releases the 2008 stats. As one poster said many murders have occurred in Homewood but it is not the only dangerous area. Lincoln-Larimar, the hill district, wilkinsburg, Braddock, Mt. Oliver Mckeesport, Manchester, Allentown, Hazelwood, Garfield, are all bad areas and you should not move to them, however almost all the murders in Pittsburgh are gang/drug related and it is very very rare that a innocent person is hurt/killed. If you don't mix with the wrong people then you should be fine moving here. There are plenty of nice places in the city to move: Shady side, Squirrel Hill, mt. washington, Bethel Park, Mt. Lebonen, Monroeville (probably the best), Churchhill. Many of these places are right outside the city but still have good commute times. Bottom line: Homewood is bad, don't move there, however in almost all the bad places in Pittsburgh it is the gang bangers and drug dealers messing with each other--just stay out of those rings. There are plenty of better options in the city and right outside of it, I would take a look at those.

I believe one day when the economy picks up Allentown Mt. Oliver and areas around there will see revitalization and gentrification. As the southside flats area get more and more expensive ,gentrification may push up the slopes and onto the hilltop area. They are not too far from the action on the Carson St. area and that could be a plus. Wilkinsburg on the other hand is hurting because it is dry. Even though it has great housing stock , people are not being attracted to there. Place like wine bars, cool restaurants and decent clubs etc cannot open there because alcohol sales beverages is not permitted in Wilkinsburg.

[LandaJ]

Ok! I still stand firm on my reply. My main reason is that i currently live in easthills and the gun shots and crime are no less than lincoln-lemington or bentley drive. homewood is a targeted area. I went to Westinghouse the school was at one time a german, polish and italian school. The whole lincoln larimer area was full of Italians and Homewood germans and polish( how ironic). My history comes from my family who was the 4th black family to move into homewood. Where they still reside today. They moved from the northside. Now when any form of violence happens in any surrounding areas near homewood the media will put homewood as the place of the violent act. I went to Westinghouse a fight could of happened a block or two away from the school and the media would say there was a fight at westinghouse today and the staff nor the students knew anything about it. Yes there are alot of violent things happening in this area. I am not denying that. But for the amount of bad that is going on there are a whole lot of positives there. Homewood houses most of the cities elementary schools. Honestly homewood had more city schools in it than any other city neighborhood. And most of them are still in use today. I did not get the pleasure of attneding a school in homewood until highschool, but i went to a great magnet school called easthills and it was mixed filled with people from all over the city and located in the projects.

Now homewood has a center for deliquent boys and girls that service kids from the eastside. A heathcare facility, Music center, a YMCA and a YWCA, many churches and a family advocate center, a post office, etc. When you goto homewood take the time to drive thru it. Go down some of the unknown streets, up some massive hills and you will see some beautiful holmes. And when you go looking at these holmes on these unknown streets you will find the hidden jewels of the city. Alot of people in these places own their homes and are older and have a sense of pride and joy about themselves and their property.

I do miss homewood when i left there, it wasnt by choice. My moms house burnt down. She owned her half of a duplex and our neighbor gave her half to her family who was a lower income bunch. that needed a bunch of growth and jacked up the house then left it to waste away. I can understand everyones negativity on the area. And no i did not compare homewood to sq.hill the Post-gazzett did a story on clean neighborhoods and they were at the top. Hence sq.hill, homewood and point breeze are side by side and the community does alot of public works. Its funny how people are afraid of what they might see in homewood and the people who live in homewood are afraid of what may happen to them if they goto shayside or any other so called upper class area. Homewood has a rich history just like any other neighborhood in the city and i bet a million bucks if half of the residence of homewood moved out rigth now. All of you who say the area is awful would move in like clock work. I bet that on my life!

[Nancysdale]

As with every neighborhood, you have good and bad people. I too grow weary of Homewood being labled as horrific. Chances are your next door neighbor won't be the kind who buries bodies in the backyard or stores them in the fridge. Yes, drug traffic exists. True, no one would recommend taking a late night stroll down Frankstown Ave. Here is my prediction: Homewood is going to take a turn. It is one of the flattest areas in Pittsburgh, close to Downtown and Oakland it is centrally located. I can see the city doing with Homewood just like the Hill district. Moving people out, rebuilding and making it a desirable area convenient to all. Buy the house, hold onto it and sell it when the time is right.