What's Esplen Like ? (Pittsburgh, McKeesport, White Oak: real estate, rent, how much)

[Little Big Man]

I'm thinking about renting a house in Pittsburgh and Esplen has caught my eye . Real estate prices seem to be low there , so I assume rent shouldn't be too expensive . I've also checked out a few pictures of this neighborhood and it looks quite quaint.


Anyways what's Esplen like ? Is it gentrifying ? Is it walkable ? Demographically speaking is it mainly locals or does it inhabited by a more diverse group of people ? Is safety an issue ? Last but not least , how much retail is located in the neighborhood ? I'm not a big fan of shopping but it would be great if there was a corner grocery store or something .

Anyways thanks ahead of time guys .

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Little Big Man

I'm thinking about renting a house in Pittsburgh and Esplen has caught my eye . Real estate prices seem to be low there , so I assume rent shouldn't be too expensive . I've also checked out a few pictures of this neighborhood and it looks quite quaint.


Anyways what's Esplen like ? Is it gentrifying ? Is it walkable ? Demographically speaking is it mainly locals or does it inhabited by a more diverse group of people ? Is safety an issue ? Last but not least , how much retail is located in the neighborhood ? I'm not a big fan of shopping but it would be great if there was a corner grocery store or something .

Anyways thanks ahead of time guys .

Anyways what's Esplen like ?

Its a small neighborhood along the Ohio River, that has very old housing.

Is it gentrifying ?

No, not in the slightest.

Is it walkable ?

There are sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, but there is no major buisness district in the neighborhood, and its cut off by water and mountains from other areas.

Demographically speaking is it mainly locals or does it inhabited by a more diverse group of people ?

Definitely more locals. Its not very diverse, its approximately 60% white and 40% black.

Is safety an issue ?

Its not what I'd call a dangerous place, but it is rundown for sure. I believe its bark is worse than its bite.

Last but not least , how much retail is located in the neighborhood ? I'm not a big fan of shopping but it would be great if there was a corner grocery store or something .

Not to my knowledge. Its mainly a residential area.

[I_Like_Spam]

Esplen doesn't have much retail- a couple of bars, an AM/PM mini mart, a radiator shop--- but it is adjacent to the McKees Rocks Shopping Center just on the other side of Charters Creek. You could walk to the Big Lots, Aldi's, Crivelli Chevrolet, and a variety of other stores and restaurants .

[grep]

This thread has some pictures: Exploring Esplen

[Pghuser]

Originally Posted by I_Like_Spam

Esplen doesn't have much retail- a couple of bars, an AM/PM mini mart, a radiator shop--- but it is adjacent to the McKees Rocks Shopping Center just on the other side of Charters Creek. You could walk to the Big Lots, Aldi's, Crivelli Chevrolet, and a variety of other stores and restaurants .

The Big Lots is now closed

[Uptown kid]

IMO its like living in certain parts of Spring Hill, Upper Spring Garden Valley, McKees Rocks by Fedrick St, or Grandview District area McKeesport on side closer to downtown than White Oak, or many Mon Valley/other river towns.

[stremba]

Originally Posted by speagles84

Anyways what's Esplen like ?

Its a small neighborhood along the Ohio River, that has very old housing.

Is it gentrifying ?

No, not in the slightest.

Is it walkable ?

There are sidewalks throughout the neighborhood, but there is no major buisness district in the neighborhood, and its cut off by water and mountains from other areas.

Demographically speaking is it mainly locals or does it inhabited by a more diverse group of people ?

Definitely more locals. Its not very diverse, its approximately 60% white and 40% black.

Is safety an issue ?

Its not what I'd call a dangerous place, but it is rundown for sure. I believe its bark is worse than its bite.

Last but not least , how much retail is located in the neighborhood ? I'm not a big fan of shopping but it would be great if there was a corner grocery store or something .

Not to my knowledge. Its mainly a residential area.

How much more diverse than a 60/40 black-white split are you looking for before you'd call it "diverse"? Sure, it's not 50/50, but few places are. Unless, of course, you are using the word "diverse" to mean something other than it's standard meaning. Remember, a neighborhood that's 90% black, 10% white is not very diverse.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by stremba

How much more diverse than a 60/40 black-white split are you looking for before you'd call it "diverse"? Sure, it's not 50/50, but few places are. Unless, of course, you are using the word "diverse" to mean something other than it's standard meaning. Remember, a neighborhood that's 90% black, 10% white is not very diverse.

I didn't understand that either. What? Is it segregated by streets?

[eschaton]

In 2010 Esplen was around 65% white, 30% black. It may have gotten blacker since then, but given it's not even its own census tract any longer, I don't think the Census keeps any interim information at all.

The population is dropping rapidly as well. In 2000 almost 500 people lived there. By 2010, only 300. It wouldn't shock me if it was less than 200 now. There's only around 100 houses left in the neighborhood, after all, and a substantial amount of them are vacant.

[DaveJRum]

Many of the homes have been torn down due to lack of maintenance, fire, etc. The neighborhood is getting re-zoned soon so the city can come in and make improvements. Rumors abound of retail/hotel development close to the Chartiers Creek.


Carson St. is currently undergoing a complete reconstruction including water/sewer/electric replacement from the creek all the way to the West End Circle. Scheduled completion is fall of 2016.


All the bars are gone as well as the restaurant. Esplen is totally residential.


There's a part of Esplen that's been completely forgotten. It lays between the iron railroad bridge and Corliss Tunnel. There are 3- 4 vacant houses there. One under-going renovation, one that's been renovated and two that need work. Compared to the "lower" (from the iron bridge to the creek) part, the "upper" part is very quiet and remote.


The Pittsburgh Transit Authority has taken all of the out-bound bus stops down. You used to dis-embark on the river side of Carson. It was deemed unsafe and there really weren't any riders that needed it. You can still catch a bus into Pittsburgh but, be prepared for a long walk if you come out from Pittsburgh. If you want to depend on public transportation, do not move to Esplen.


One more thing about Esplen. Norfolk/Southern trains run north and south along the river. At the Chartiers Creek crossing they blow their horns as they highball past. 40- 50 MPH. In the "upper" neighborhood you can hear the NS railway trains as they whoosh by. But...behind the neighborhood, CSX has their rail right-of-way. That's the tracks that cross the river over Brunot Island. So, we are sandwiched between two sets of tracks.


Hope this brings everyone here up-to-date. I really like it here in Upper Esplen, lol.


(btw...an episode of "Cops" was filmed in Pittsburgh complete with a car "chase" [more like a "follow"] through the back alleys of Esplen. I was laughing as I watched the 10- 20 MPH chase. It was a hoot!)