bi-racial family looking to relocate to pittsburgh (York, McKeesport: upper-class, 2010)

[Madisonbaby]

Originally Posted by guylocke

Short and sweet??

No.

There's not.

hahaha.

I'm sorry to say, but that's the truth. VERY few hispanics. We have almost zero in-migration of hispanics. I think our largest in-migration population, modest as it might be, is Asian.

Thank you.

[Terrynat]

I have to be honest about something. I have been coming to this site for a few months now and as a black female it is very, very difficult to read some of the postings here, such as cryschap's posting how you insinuate that just b/c an area is mainly black it is also bad. It is VERY offensive that you even write "black/bad." This sickens me. If I could I would move my family back to California. I lived in San Francisco for 3 years and didn't face the negative stereotypes that I have to face here in Pittsburgh as a black person. I log onto this site for the same reason as any of you: looking for information from people who have more knowlege about a subject than I do (such as buying a home).

I grew up in Wilkinsburg and to be honest it pains me to move from there. I want to buy a home in the Beacon Hill area of Wilkinsburg, which by the way is a nice area. Areas in Wilkinsburg near Churchill and Edgewood are quite nice and IN FACT you will find many white people that live happily and peacefully alongside blacks in Wilkinsburg. The home across the street from my apartment building in Wilkinsburg just sold for over $200K.

I am so sick and tired of the bigots that post here. Why can I not log onto this site for entertainment and to seek out information like anyone else without being offended????

Granted the school district in Wilkinsburg is not good (which is why we want to move to the city), but that is due to a lack of funding. I graduated from Wilkinsburg High School and went on to graduate from University of Pittsburgh I have a great job as an Analyst with a major employer in Pittsburgh. My twin brothers are BOTH straight "A" students. None of us have committed any crimes and yes we are from Wilkinsburg. Quite frankly other than the times I spent in California I never wanted to live anywhere else. There are black families in Wilkinsburg who live quite well and make good money. They stay there b/c it is easier to live there than to live beside racists who don't want you in their neighborhood just because you are black.

My sister will not even come to this site anymore. She is so tired of being offended. I might have to join her.

[Madisonbaby]

Originally Posted by Terrynat

I have to be honest about something. I have been coming to this site for a few months now and as a black female it is very, very difficult to read some of the postings here, such as cryschap's posting how you insinuate that just b/c an area is mainly black it is also bad. It is VERY offensive that you even write "black/bad." This sickens me. If I could I would move my family back to California. I lived in San Francisco for 3 years and didn't face the negative stereotypes that I have to face here in Pittsburgh as a black person. I log onto this site for the same reason as any of you: looking for information from people who have more knowlege about a subject than I do (such as buying a home).

I grew up in Wilkinsburg and to be honest it pains me to move from there. I want to buy a home in the Beacon Hill area of Wilkinsburg, which by the way is a nice area. Areas in Wilkinsburg near Churchill and Edgewood are quite nice and IN FACT you will find many white people that live happily and peacefully alongside blacks in Wilkinsburg. The home across the street from my apartment building in Wilkinsburg just sold for over $200K.

I am so sick and tired of the bigots that post here. Why can I not log onto this site for entertainment and to seek out information like anyone else without being offended????

Granted the school district in Wilkinsburg is not good (which is why we want to move to the city), but that is due to a lack of funding. I graduated from Wilkinsburg High School and went on to graduate from University of Pittsburgh I have a great job as an Analyst with a major employer in Pittsburgh. My twin brothers are BOTH straight "A" students. None of us have committed any crimes and yes we are from Wilkinsburg. Quite frankly other than the times I spent in California I never wanted to live anywhere else. There are black families in Wilkinsburg who live quite well and make good money. They stay there b/c it is easier to live there than to live beside racists who don't want you in their neighborhood just because you are black.

My sister will not even come to this site anymore. She is so tired of being offended. I might have to join her.

I"m sorry I hope I didn't offend you. I was just trying to see if there were any hispanics so if we move back my husband didn't feel so alone. I don't care about black or white neighborhoods because living in Tampa I have every race around me. I hope you don't leave because of a few.

[PApisces]

Originally Posted by Terrynat

I have to be honest about something. I have been coming to this site for a few months now and as a black female it is very, very difficult to read some of the postings here, such as cryschap's posting how you insinuate that just b/c an area is mainly black it is also bad. It is VERY offensive that you even write "black/bad." This sickens me. If I could I would move my family back to California. I lived in San Francisco for 3 years and didn't face the negative stereotypes that I have to face here in Pittsburgh as a black person. I log onto this site for the same reason as any of you: looking for information from people who have more knowlege about a subject than I do (such as buying a home).

I grew up in Wilkinsburg and to be honest it pains me to move from there. I want to buy a home in the Beacon Hill area of Wilkinsburg, which by the way is a nice area. Areas in Wilkinsburg near Churchill and Edgewood are quite nice and IN FACT you will find many white people that live happily and peacefully alongside blacks in Wilkinsburg. The home across the street from my apartment building in Wilkinsburg just sold for over $200K.

I am so sick and tired of the bigots that post here. Why can I not log onto this site for entertainment and to seek out information like anyone else without being offended????

Granted the school district in Wilkinsburg is not good (which is why we want to move to the city), but that is due to a lack of funding. I graduated from Wilkinsburg High School and went on to graduate from University of Pittsburgh I have a great job as an Analyst with a major employer in Pittsburgh. My twin brothers are BOTH straight "A" students. None of us have committed any crimes and yes we are from Wilkinsburg. Quite frankly other than the times I spent in California I never wanted to live anywhere else. There are black families in Wilkinsburg who live quite well and make good money. They stay there b/c it is easier to live there than to live beside racists who don't want you in their neighborhood just because you are black.

My sister will not even come to this site anymore. She is so tired of being offended. I might have to join her.

I am sorry that you feel offended. I believe that when people point out that the "mostly Black areas" are typically higher in crime, this can easily be backed up by crime statistics. Garfield, Homewood, The Hill District, and parts of East Liberty, parts of Wilkinsburgh ARE the areas in Pittsburgh with the HIGHEST crime rates. That's a statistical and actual fact. I don't believe that people's comments are meant as "racist".

For people new to Pittsburgh or considering a move to Pittsburgh, it is more than appropriate to point these facts out to them. In addition, there have been several African American posters on this forum that have said the exact same thing.

Certainly, not ALL blacks are criminals, nor do all of us white folks believe they are. It might be good to try and not be so sensitive to racial issues.

[guylocke]

am sorry that you feel offended. I believe that when people point out that the "mostly Black areas" are typically higher in crime, this can easily be backed up by crime statistics. Garfield, Homewood, The Hill District, and parts of East Liberty, parts of Wilkinsburgh ARE the areas in Pittsburgh with the HIGHEST crime rates. That's a statistical and actual fact. I don't believe that people's comments are meant as "racist".

For people new to Pittsburgh or considering a move to Pittsburgh, it is more than appropriate to point these facts out to them. In addition, there have been several African American posters on this forum that have said the exact same thing.

Certainly, not ALL blacks are criminals, nor do all of us white folks believe they are. It might be good to try and not be so sensitive to racial issues.

Well that's exactly right. I wouldn't doubt there are nice areas in Wilkinsburg, I'm glad you pointed that out. But it is more than fine and actually appropriate to tell people who want to move here where the bad areas are. Just because many of the bad areas HAPPEN to also be where a bulk of the black community is isn't my/our fault.

I'm not going to lie to people..

If there are really nice and lovely area's in Pittsburgh that were mostly black I would have no problem whatsoever in recommending them. As far as I know, I am not aware of any. Maybe you can enlighten us?

[Terrynat]

Statistics are quite fine and dandy, but the issue here is not statistics. The issue is that posters have quite frankly come right out and stated that any area that has a black population is dangerous.

I think for me in looking for a place to live I too am concerned about crime, but the fact is that many posters here know nothing about the areas you are talking about other than what you read in the newspaper. You cannot know a place unless you live there. I know there is an assumption that just b/c a place has a large black population it cannot possibly be a good area. Oakland is not exactly a good place to raise a family either due to crime. When I was a student at Pitt I was warned not to move there due to robberies and breakins. There had always been an ongoing campaign against rapes in Shadyside. I guess that is why I don't get it. There are areas around the city that people have to be concerned about too. The statistics don't talk about that...experience does.

It would seem to me that anyone who is looking to move to Pittsburgh and reads the number of posts about how very few people of color live here in the first place and why the races are so polarized anyway (so many blacks in Homewood, Wilkinsburg, Penn Hills) would be suspicious of the area anyway. You shouldn't have to ask where you should move just b/c you are a bi-racial couple. You should be able to move and live your life. My ex-husband is arabian. We met and lived in California without an issue. We didn't have to ask anyone where we could move as a bi-racial couple. My current husband is bi-racial. Most people don't realize he is. They think he is Latino. We appear to many ppl to be an interracial couple which is why we do try to stay near the areas where more blacks live or at least in Squirrel Hill where there is a multitude of nationalities and colors. Use an ATM at PNC bank in Squirrel Hill and look at all the languages that come up. I love that!!!

People really just want to be accepted. There are a lot of things we can talk about at this site when it comes to the question of "where should I move?" such as my sister's friend who has a daughter in the Fox Chapel School district who is constantly teased by the white students for being so dark. Crime is one thing, but when ppl of color or bi-racial couples ask about where they should live there is more that comes into play. It would break my heart if kids were teasing my child about being so dark. If you want to tell the truth then why not warn people about potential racism you may run into here in Pittsburgh too? I have a white friend who doesn't like Mexicans, but she is ok with me? Go figure.

[guylocke]

Statistics are quite fine and dandy, but the issue here is not statistics. The issue is that posters have quite frankly come right out and stated that any area that has a black population is dangerous.

Statistics aren't the issue? Is that right? Well maybe if the statistics weren't so damning towards places like Wilkinsburg people would actually recommend the place.

I've never seen anyone say that any area that has a black population is dangerous. I have seen people say that the most dangerous areas are often the ones with the highest african american populations. It might sound like the exact same thing, but it isn't. One is a fact.. pure and simple. Or, at least it in Pittsburgh. I'm sorry, I wish it wasn't, but it is.

[Terrynat]

I've lived in Wilkinsburg most of my life (since 1969) and never had one bad thing happen to me there. Penn Hills has a very large black population and homes are still selling like hotcakes there, but I have read on this site that it used to be a good area until the blacks started moving in. I've been all over this site looking for information about buying our first home. Yes. People have said to steer clear of black areas. I take issue with this soley b/c I have to raise a child to believe he is just like everybody else. I don't want him to grow up with self esteem issues. I don't want him to think he is bad b/c white people say that black areas are bad. It is hard to protect him from those things. The best thing to do would be to not buy a house here afterall, but to leave Pittsburgh in droves like the other professional blacks in this town have been doing for years. Even the PG has written articles about this. In CA there are areas that are bad areas where there are large minority populations, but no one ever said that the areas were bad b/c of blacks which has been stated on this site over and over again. But that's Pittsburgh for ya.

[Shenandoah]

Cold weather is here, so most Flea Markets have moved indoors:

HUGE indoor/outdoors year 'round Flea Market, about 1 1/2 hour drive from Pittsburgh in Rogers Ohio

Another HUGE one, not quite as large as Rogers Ohio - Trader Jack's in Carnegie PA (west of the city of Pittsburgh)

Woodland Drive In - as far as I know, just outdoors in the summer, but it's been years since I've gone.

Perryopolis PA (south of Pittsburgh on rte 51) at the auto auction yard, Saturdays - indoors and outdoors

Many many more scattered throughout the area. Spring and summertime brings out the rummage sales and yard sales.

Love antiques? Take a drive thru the city of Monongahela.

Many festivals throughout the year - spring and summer, fall and winter.
Apple Festivals, Buckwheat Festivals, Maple Sugar Festivals, Ramp Festivals in WV, Steam Engine Festivals, French and Indian War reenactments, Civil War reenactments, many history museums. This area played an extremely important role in the formation of our country. Take the kids to Fort Pitt Museum, Fort Necessity, the History Museum, the Whiskey Rebellion Museum, so many many more.

blessings and Welcome!

Shen

[pghquest]

Originally Posted by caltex42

Hi,
Can anyone give me good feedback on how life is in Pittsburgh? We are considering moving from sacramento, ca to this city. I want to know about home prices, gas prices, high schools, elementary schools, and the cultural/ recreational life? Are there festivals and farmers markets do you have flea markets or swap meets. As I stated in my title we are a bi racial family looking for ethnic diversity. Please give me some honest information. If this city is all I hope it to be. I will be prepared to move full steam ahead with my relocation plans.

Bi-racial family here, try to stay in the subburbs of Pittsburgh, but overall, provided you stay out of the really bad neighborhoods, most areas are pretty open if the biracial is the issue.