What are the city's shortcomings? How can we improve? (Pittsburgh: sale, transporting)

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by pman

...corporations are not people...

Not according to Mitt Romney.

[Corvidae22]

1) Better transportation. A non-corrupt pension bloated and terribly inefficient Port Authority would be a good start.

2) A downtown that doesn't close at 5PM.

I think a merger with Allegheny County would be the best thing possible. If more idiots want to move to 50 miles away and commute to the city to avoid taxes then let them.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

IBut who RETIRES to Pittsburgh from somewhere else? No one.

Me. I'm planning to for many of the reasons you state. I currently spend close to $30k a year on rent here in CA. Buying a home and spending half that or less on property taxes seems good to me.

[Goinback2011]

Interesting juliegt.

The city should start a marketing campaign targeted at well-off retiring seniors who left Pittsburgh or nearby cities during the rough times.

Title it: Coming home.

[gg]

Originally Posted by juliegt

Me. I'm planning to for many of the reasons you state. I currently spend close to $30k a year on rent here in CA. Buying a home and spending half that or less on property taxes seems good to me.

I think every area of the country except the NYC area would look cheap to anyone coming from the Bay Area. Pittsburgh isn't cheap compared to most of the state of PA. Go up to Warren PA or Titusville if you want cheap. Pittsburgh has high taxes and they are going to get higher. Also the residents are going to get less and less for those tax dollars. Just too much money going to pensions from all angles. Nothing left for those still working.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

I think the lack of uniform local income taxes are the biggest detriment for upper middle class and above. Certainly it is one of the scarier things for me to commit long term by purchasing in the city. I think parity among income taxes, at least in allegheny county, would eliminate confusion and maybe even help reverse some of the flight from PPS.

Another thing I don't understand is the deed transfer tax. It seems like 4% is a lot and probably prevents more development and slows sales of existing homes.

[rr61]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

If you do the arithmetic, the people who gain the most by living in the city are retirees. If they're not working, they aren't paying the wage tax, and pensions and interest income are exempt from taxation.

But who RETIRES to Pittsburgh from somewhere else? No one.

I did.
Maybe I don't count because I'm from here and was away for only 21 years - and I was retired for 7 years before moving here.

In line with the theme of this thread, if the PAT cuts are as drastic (or close to it) as threatened, I will very much regret moving here and I would encourage anyone who believes transit is important for a major city to stay away.

[eccotecc]

rr61,

After a recent visit and active participation on C-D, I've rethought my retirement plans. I've decided to make more visits than to actually relocate.

[gg]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

Another thing I don't understand is the deed transfer tax. It seems like 4% is a lot and probably prevents more development and slows sales of existing homes.

There are a host of problems in the city that really deters fixing up homes and growth. Growth still happens a tiny bit, but the powerful people sure make it about impossible. Not a friendly place to try and fix homes up and sell them. It is a shame they don't think more progressively, but that isn't going to change. Taxes kill real growth around here.

[Goodjules]

Originally Posted by Goinback2011

Interesting juliegt.

The city should start a marketing campaign targeted at well-off retiring seniors who left Pittsburgh or nearby cities during the rough times.

Title it: Coming home.

Yeah, but I'm not well off. That's why I want to move there. The cost of housing here in San Francisco is killing me. And, I like city living. I could find many rural and suburban areas that are way cheaper than SF, but I want all that city life has to offer. After exploring many places, I'm close to choosing Pittsburgh. I'm coming to visit later this year to see if I like it as much as I did when I visited in 2006.