Moving to East Liberty (maybe) (Pittsburgh, Highland Park: rental, hotel, neighborhoods)

[EddieOlSkool]

Hey guys,

So after looking for places with rent I can afford and that are close to work in case I need to walk (your traffic is insane and I don't want to drive up/down hilly roads to get to work in the winter), I have come across East Liberty as a place I can afford.

The problem is when I drove through East Liberty it seemed a bit umm...not-so-nice. Now, coming from Chicago, East Liberty ain't got nothing on our South Side (which I am from), but at the same time, I don't want to really go from one ghetto to another (and in my white boy lack of street cred, the South Side was nicer when I was growing up).

Is East Liberty all that bad? I mean, can I walk through E. Lib without much trouble or should I really just avoid it altogether? It seemed like a diverse neighborhood and where I come from, diverse neighborhoods are usually safe. I will be working on Penn ave near Shadyside Ave and THAT neighborhood seems fine (is that still Shadyside?) but I heard that when it comes to E. Lib one must be careful. BUT, I also know that I have walked through many a Chicago neighborhood and the worst thing that happened to me in my whole life was theft (and that was in a REALLY bad area that makes E. Lib look like McMansions). So, is it bad?

BTW, I can't afford Shadyside at the moment.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

The problem is when I drove through East Liberty it seemed a bit umm...not-so-nice. Now, coming from Chicago, East Liberty ain't got nothing on our South Side (which I am from), but at the same time, I don't want to really go from one ghetto to another (and in my white boy lack of street cred, the South Side was nicer when I was growing up).

If you think East Liberty is ghetto, you should visit our real ghetto. I'm not saying East Liberty is a great place, but it should be fine for someone with street smarts who claims to live in a more dangerous neighborhood in Chicago.

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

I will be working on Penn ave near Shadyside Ave and THAT neighborhood seems fine (is that still Shadyside?)

It depends on which side of Penn Avenue your employer is located. Penn Avenue and Shady Avenue is the border of Shadyside and East Liberty. Penn Avenue and East Liberty Boulevard is the border of Shadyside and Larimer. I consider Larimer more dangerous than East Liberty. If it is officially in Shadyside, it's right on the edge near East Liberty and Larimer.

Originally Posted by EddieOlSkool

but I heard that when it comes to E. Lib one must be careful. BUT, I also know that I have walked through many a Chicago neighborhood and the worst thing that happened to me in my whole life was theft (and that was in a REALLY bad area that makes E. Lib look like McMansions). So, is it bad?

Of course you should be careful, but you're going to have to walk through and near less desirable neighborhoods wherever you live if you plan to walk due to the location of where you will be working. For example, if you lived in Highland Park or Friendship, you'd still have to walk through East Liberty. If this really concerns you, you might want to reconsider your fear of driving in Pittsburgh snow. That area from East Liberty to Shadyside is very flat so I'm not sure why you're worried about driving on hills to work in the winter if you live in East Liberty.

[UKyank]

Where at in east liberty is it - I ask because realty & rental companies here can be really creative in identifying what neighborhood the property is in.

East Liberty is more or less ok, but it's next too some really really bad areas that some listings also like to identify as 'east liberty'

[AaronPGH]

If you're from Chicago, you'll have no problems. I walk through East Liberty daily, and the neighborhood is quickly on the ups. the Ace Hotel is opening there. Not exactly dangerous turf. lol

[AaronPGH]

Originally Posted by UKyank

East Liberty is more or less ok, but it's next too some really really bad areas that some listings also like to identify as 'east liberty'

Yeah, this would be the one caveat here.

[DaisyDaisy]

You should also do a search for East Liberty on this forum. Seems like a lot of interest from new posters looking in that area so already some good insight available.
Penn Ave gets congested at rush hour but it isn't bad on non peak times.
Have your coworkers to be suggested any specific properties or areas within East Lib?

[charisb]

You cannot really be from Chicago if you think East Liberty is "ghetto", you think the traffic here is terrible, you are worried about air quality here, and you are afraid to drive in snow.

[selltheburgh]

I live in east liberty and enjoy it. I like 98% of my neighbors. I dislike some people from other blocks simply because they leave garbage out but I haven't felt unsafe here in years. I walk around at various times of the day.

It isn't the suburbs and it isn't Sq Hill, but it also doesn't have a Sq Hill price tag.

Feel free to PM me with specific blocks if you want my honest opinion of which is better and which is safer.

[Hopes]

I thought you lived in Highland Park, Selltheburgh.

[BarqCider]

I live in the border of Stanton heights and East lib. Really i only question a few streets in east liberty from my personal opinion, but overall the area(to me) is safe.