Can we please stop recommending Pittsburgh's suburbs? (Philadelphia, Plum: townhouse, neighborhood)

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by gladhands

The reason isn't my concern. My point is, that compared to the suburbs of almost every major metro, Pittsburgh's are shabby, underdeveloped and/or depressing, and the roads leading into the city make access more difficult than it should be.

Really? Fox Chapel, Plum Boro, Murrysville, Cranberry Township, Wexford, Upper St. Clair are shabby? Underdeveloped? Depressing?

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by ny789987

Rich, high profile people prefer to live this way. People like Teresa Heinz want to live on large estates without sidewalks and shoulders to park on to keep the riff raff out. Some people refer not to live in a bustling, walkable, central locale.

It's not just rich, high profile people. Many people prefer it.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by tclifton

Really? Fox Chapel, Plum Boro, Murrysville, Cranberry Township, Wexford, Upper St. Clair are shabby? Underdeveloped? Depressing?

I was wondering the same thing. The more I read the more I realize how few must actually venture out of the city.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by ny789987

Rich, high profile people prefer to live this way. People like Teresa Heinz want to live on large estates without sidewalks and shoulders to park on to keep the riff raff out. Some people refer not to live in a bustling, walkable, central locale.

Tell that to all the rich, high profile people living in NY and London. A certain type of person prefers rural seclusion, but it has nothing to do with their wealth.

Originally Posted by tclifton

Really? Fox Chapel, Plum Boro, Murrysville, Cranberry Township, Wexford, Upper St. Clair are shabby? Underdeveloped? Depressing?

Western Pennsylvanians overrate these towns because they are the local seats of affluence and aspirational white flight destinations. Add that to the fact that, when visiting other cities, one tends not to spend a lot of time in the suburbs, giving a lot of people a limited frame of reference. With the exception of Mt Lebanon, there's nothing to be desired in Pittsburgh's suburbs as compared to the suburbs of other mid-sized or major cities.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by gladhands

Western Pennsylvanians overrate these towns because they are the local seats of affluence and aspirational white flight destinations. Add that to the fact that, when visiting other cities, one tends not to spend a lot of time in the suburbs, giving a lot of people a limited frame of reference. With the exception of Mt Lebanon, there's nothing to be desired in Pittsburgh's suburbs as compared to the suburbs of other mid-sized or major cities.

You said that they were shabby, underdeveloped, and depressing. In what ways are they that?

[ny789987]

Originally Posted by gladhands

Tell that to all the rich, high profile people living in NY and London. A certain type of person prefers rural seclusion, but it has nothing to do with their wealth.

Most rich, high profile people prefer seclusion. I am sure Teresa Heinz has town houses in DC and other major cities, but it is no accident that her primary residence is in a secluded suburb. Just like the Clintons prefer to live in Westchester, NY in a town that is very similar to Fox Chapel. When you are rich, the suburbs are ideal. You are centrally located with easy access, yet can afford to have a lot of space and not be crammed in an ugly sprawled out subdivision.

[gladhands]

Originally Posted by tclifton

You said that they were shabby, underdeveloped, and depressing. In what ways are they that?

and/or. Most of them are one or more of the above.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by gladhands

and/or. Most of them are one or more of the above.

In what ways are Fox Chapel, Plum Boro, Murrysville, Cranberry Township, Wexford and/or Upper St. Clair shabby, underdeveloped and depressing?

Please elaborate.

[Mtl-Cns]

I don't want to speak for others here but I do understand the general sentiment that even Pittsburgh's inner ring suburbs are quite lackluster when you compare them to the suburbs of a larger city. For example, where are the Main Line suburbs like Philadelphia's Ardmore? Where is something comparable to Boston's Salem? Where is something like Alexandria, VA? Fox Chapel, Plum, Murrysville, Cranberry, Wexford, USC, and even Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley don't really compare to these areas at all on the basis of things like accessibility to the city and convenient amenities. For me it's not the typical suburbs vs. city debate that we've all grown tired of on here, rather, the debate should be more about Pittsburgh's suburbs vs the suburbs of other cities.

[speagles84]

Originally Posted by Mtl-Cns

I don't want to speak for others here but I do understand the general sentiment that even Pittsburgh's inner ring suburbs are quite lackluster when you compare them to the suburbs of a larger city. For example, where are the Main Line suburbs like Philadelphia's Ardmore? Where is something comparable to Boston's Salem? Where is something like Alexandria, VA? Fox Chapel, Plum, Murrysville, Cranberry, Wexford, USC, and even Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley don't really compare to these areas at all on the basis of things like accessibility to the city and convenient amenities. For me it's not the typical suburbs vs. city debate that we've all grown tired of on here, rather, the debate should be more about Pittsburgh's suburbs vs the suburbs of other cities.

Tell me how mount Lebanon (one of the most walkable neighborhoods in the state) is not connected to the city.

It has 5 bus lines, a rail line, 3 road arteries connecting it to the city. 25% of its municipal border is with the city. Please explain how is accessibility to the city is poor.

Places like aspinwall, Wilkinsburg, Bellevue, avalon, brentwood, Edgewood, swissvale, dormont, crafton,ingram, and McKees rocks all blend into the city as well.