any pros and cons of living in strip district area? (Pittsburgh: for sale, apartments)

[justinoptions]

I am relocating to pit at the end of this month. Want to find an apartment within 30 min commute distance from my company(in strip district). any suggestion for apartment renting? anything I really need to take care?

How about the safety level in strip district? comparing to some areas like shadyside etc?

[RogersParkTransplant]

Strip district is fun but expensive. More "urban" than Shadyside (ie, more of a downtown-feeling business district, fewer homes), but not unsafe. There's some really nice recently renovated apartment/loft buildings to choose from, but the rents are fairly high compared to the rest of the city.

We lived at Allegheny Center when we first moved to town last year, and we really liked the neighborhood. The #54 bus will take you from there to the Strip District in just a few minutes (check Google Maps), and there's a number of other bus lines that will take you downtown very quickly. The proximity to the Mexican War Streets and the Central Northside makes it feel a little more homey than the Strip District itself, and it's a nice walk over the bridges into the city when the weather is good.

Check it out: Contact Us - Allegheny Center Apartments

The apartments are under new management as of the past few months, so the price has gone up a little but the amenities have also improved; I *think* it's still cheaper than living directly in the Strip District, but others on here might know of specific buildings that are better deals than the ones we saw last year.

[pman]

Pro: you will eat well without getting in your car

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by justinoptions

I am relocating to pit at the end of this month. Want to find an apartment within 30 min commute distance from my company(in strip district). any suggestion for apartment renting? anything I really need to take care?

How about the safety level in strip district? comparing to some areas like shadyside etc?

I would put the strip as definitely less safe then shadyside after dark if you wanted to go for a walk or whatever; completely fine in the day time.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by UKyank

I would put the strip as definitely less safe then shadyside after dark if you wanted to go for a walk or whatever; completely fine in the day time.

Eh. I'd put the two on a pretty level playing field, having gone running and made deliveries in both neighborhoods after dark. The Strip feels "unsafe" because there's very little foot traffic after dark, which means you're traversing lonely streets past creepy-looking old warehouses and other large low-profile buildings; however, it's not like there's people with guns standing around every other corner waiting to mug you. Shadyside has more foot traffic in the evenings and is also closer to Homewood, East Liberty, Larimer, and other areas that are still sketchy as they endure slow yet sure gentrification. Just a couple of years ago there was a rash of armed muggings on/around the Ellsworth Avenue corridor---that made me edgier as a delivery driver than anything else in town at the time.

A lot of people are out walking their dogs, jogging, walking to/from dinner, etc. now in the blocks closest to the Cork Factory and Lot 24 complexes, so, if anything, the "eerily vacant" vibe of the Strip is improving after dark. With that being said, the Strip District probably has some of the most expensive rents in the city, with most 1-BR units commanding at least $1,500/month, so be advised that Shadyside is actually a "bargain" in comparison, although it, too, is often touted as being expensive by Pittsburgh standards.

OP, if you had the money I'd personally live in the Strip in a heartbeat. We live just up the hill in Polish Hill to save on rent, and we cherish being able to walk down to Dulcinea Bakery; Klavon's Ice Cream; Chicken Latino; Reyna Foods; Penn Mac; Wholey's; Penzey's; In the Kitchen; the Pittsburgh Public Market; Marty's Market; Pitttsburgh Popcorn Company; and so much more. Just be willing to shell out lots of cash for it, as all of the other hundreds and hundreds of lofts/condos under construction will also be on the very expensive side, too. Developers are catering to the affluent exclusively these days, for better or for worse.

[UKyank]

^though just a month ago you had 6 people shot in th Strip. There's no arguing it's a lot better now & trending in the right direction, but the area has been associated with violence (see why it's once vibrant nightlife all but disappeared) which hadn't completely gone away.

[gg]

Originally Posted by UKyank

^though just a month ago you had 6 people shot in th Strip. There's no arguing it's a lot better now & trending in the right direction, but the area has been associated with violence (see why it's once vibrant nightlife all but disappeared) which hadn't completely gone away.

Seems the problems are around Art's Tavern I guess. I don't consider the Strip dangerous at all, but my guard would go up around Art's. I don't think there are any other bars that would have issues. The Strip is a pretty cool place and I would live there for sure. Close to everything and a lot going on. There were concerts there on Sunday and lots of people everywhere. That bike lane on Penn into the city is great! Just rode it for the first time. How luxurious. I think the crime would be about the same as Shadyside, but like a lot of neighborhoods some streets are as safe as the safest neighborhoods. For example, Westminster or Devonshire in Shadyside would be very safe, but the streets bordering East Liberty would be less safe. All the dumps like Whiskey Dicks that catered to a lousy drunk crowd are gone in the Strip, so the nightlife is a bit better other than Arts.

I am a little surprised at your answer UKyank. I didn't think you would feel the Strip unsafe.

[Moby Hick]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

All the dumps like Whiskey Dicks that catered to a lousy drunk crowd are gone in the Strip, so the nightlife is a bit better other than Arts.

They named a bar after alcohol-induced impotence?

[Evergrey]

I saw some historic rowhouses for sale immediately adjacent to Art's Tavern. I would never live near that nuisance bar. Can't believe it's still in operation after shooting after shooting. Nearby 'Street King's' has also been troublesome.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

I saw some historic rowhouses for sale immediately adjacent to Art's Tavern. I would never live near that nuisance bar. Can't believe it's still in operation after shooting after shooting. Nearby 'Street King's' has also been troublesome.

My wife's office is right across from Art's. In the years it has been there there have been two shootings - the recent one and one which happened right after they relocated there from Regent Square. Thankfully her office is not making people work after dark any longer due to the general concern within the office.

In general though, the Strip has cleaned up a lot with the closure of the other nuisance bars/clubs and with the hundreds of new residents out on the streets. I still think I'd prefer living somewhere nearby (like say Lawrenceville) rather than the Strip itself though, provided I was still young/single enough to want an active nightlife, as it can get eerily quiet in a lot of the strip in the evening.