Homewood (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Liberty: real estate, crime, houses)

[Mermaid77]

I am thinking of moving to Homewood to Monticello St--does anyone think this is truly dangerous? Do any other whites live in Homewood?

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

I am thinking of moving to Homewood to Monticello St--does anyone think this is truly dangerous?

I think it's truly dangerous. It's right in the middle of Brushton. Goodness, it's not even on the outskirts.

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

Do any other whites live in Homewood?

I don't know the percentage. I just know that Pimps will tell you that you'd be crazy to move into Homewood.

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

I am thinking of moving to Homewood to Monticello St--does anyone think this is truly dangerous? Do any other whites live in Homewood?

Homewood is generally considered as the most dangerous place to live in the Pittsburgh metro area. Whether it's "truly dangerous" ultimately depends on your own assessment of what is safe and what isn't, but I think it is.

As for your other question, according to the 2000 Census, the census tract Monticello St is in is 96.1% black (out of 2,637 people). The census tract just south of it is 96.5% black (out of 1,913). The census tract just north is 96.3% black (out of 1,632). The larger census tract northeast is 84.4% black (out of 5,067), and the census tract just northwest is 93.4% black (out of 2,234). Finally, the census tract just west is 88.9% black (out of 1,274). Here's a link:

US census maps

Clearly, the answer is yes, other whites live in Homewood and around it, else the figures above would all have been 100%

[Mermaid77]

Some of the homes are so beautiful--I know it sounds ridiculous but the homes have 4-6 bedrooms usually two bathrooms, french doors--such beautiful architecture and in such a convenient location--it's ashame not to take advantage of the prices and let the neighborhood destory itself. Perhaps we will buy the house and sit on it--the homes in Homewood are truly magnificent! Such a surprise...perhaps if more young professionals move in, we can change the area?

[barneyg]

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

Some of the homes are so beautiful--I know it sounds ridiculous but the homes have 4-6 bedrooms usually two bathrooms, french doors--such beautiful architecture and in such a convenient location--it's ashame not to take advantage of the prices and let the neighborhood destory itself. Perhaps we will buy the house and sit on it--the homes in Homewood are truly magnificent! Such a surprise...perhaps if more young professionals move in, we can change the area?

Why would they move there? The problem is, it's incredibly cheap, but there are many other urban places in the Pittsburgh area (an example close to Homewood: East Liberty) that have similar houses, not as cheap but still very affordable for young professionals, just as convenient if not more, and that are light-years ahead in terms of revitalization and crime control.

I don't know enough about revitalization to give you specific examples of how neighborhoods in other cities similar to Homewood, with potential but in a terrible situation, turned it around and became desirable. I would guess that contributing factors for such turnarounds are 1) massive local/state/federal investments in the area, and 2) people who are priced out of surrounding neighborhoods and who take a chance with the bad neighborhood because it's really the only place they can afford. From what I know there are examples of this second factor in NYC (parts of Brooklyn, perhaps Harlem) and DC. Pittsburgh's still in a very different situation in terms of demographics, growth and economics than those two cities.

Currently in Pittsburgh, some people may be priced out of Shadyside and the Southside, but that's it. They have plenty of other places to turn to, such as Friendship, Brighton Heights, parts of Highland Park, or Regent Square, and many other neighborhoods that may not have as much potential but are very affordable and do not suffer from Homewood's problems (Bloomfield, Morningside, Carrick). My opinion is that if you buy that house and you sit on it, you're looking at a 20-year investment before you see any returns, and the magnitude of those returns is very hard to predict at this point.

[Mermaid77]

Hopes---I find it hard to beleive that you would want to discuss real estate with pimps or that you have.

Barn--I don't know--they are redoing Wilkinsberg which connects to homewood--I don't think the investment would take 20 years--I give it 10, tops--they did put money into the Homewood library and the Y there...I have heard they are putting millions into the high school...but I am going to put my daughter in private schools...

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

Hopes---I find it hard to beleive that you would want to discuss real estate with pimps or that you have.

Pimps is a member here on citydata, Mermaid.

He grew up in the ghetto. He knows what he's talking about.

If Pimps says a neighborhood is too dangerous, you'd be wise to believe him.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by Mermaid77

Some of the homes are so beautiful--I know it sounds ridiculous but the homes have 4-6 bedrooms usually two bathrooms, french doors--such beautiful architecture and in such a convenient location--it's ashame not to take advantage of the prices and let the neighborhood destory itself. Perhaps we will buy the house and sit on it--the homes in Homewood are truly magnificent! Such a surprise...perhaps if more young professionals move in, we can change the area?

Wow. I don't believe that there is much chance that Homewood will ever change. If you buy a home there, I think you'll find that you'll be buying nothing but trouble and headaches.

You must ask yourself: WHY is it that homes are so drastically cheaper?

[boardmanite]

I drove through Homewood for the first time a couple weekends ago trying to avoid the rerouted 376 traffic. I too was surprised by the architecture of some of the houses. It does have a lot of potential. And it was surprisingly close to a really nice part of town. I turned down Dallas Ave (if I remember correctly) and within a few blocks I was in a gorgeous, tree-lined neighborhood (which I'm not sure what that is considered, maybe Point Breeze???) Homewood did seem fairly dangerous, but the housing was more intact than other "bad" neighborhoods I've been through in Cleveland, Detroit or even Youngstown. I also drove through Penn Hills (for the first time) and parts seemed pretty rough as well.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by PApisces

Wow. I don't believe that there is much chance that Homewood will ever change.

I agree. Last time we were discussing Homewood on here, we looked at some of the real estate on the assessement website. We were amazed to see how property values have dropped just within the past 10 years. Property purchased for 20k is now worth a mere $700 dollars at times! That's outrageous. There's simply no way Homewood is going anywhere but down. The buildings are slowly being torn down as they deteriorate. Eventually, I suspect Homewood might simply cease to exist---50+ years from now.