More Regent Square area info? (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: apartment, lease, crime)

[emusha]

Hello everybody,

I've been lurking here for a few months while my husband and I planned our move to Pittsburgh. Without knowing it, you've all been very helpful, and I hope that you can answer a few more questions for me.

My husband recently accepted an offer, and we have had a whole three weeks to relocate. We're moving from a rural area, and I'm getting a little nervous about my new urban life. We had to settle on an apartment quickly, and we signed a lease for a place around the intersection of Savannah Avenue and Biddle in the Regent Square area. I've realized that the house is technically in Wilkinsburg Borough (which threw me for a little bit of a loop, I'll admit, after reading threads here), but my address is Pittsburgh. Does anyone know why the postal system and the municipalities don't seem to line up?

Is there any information I should know about the safety level of this area before we move in? Any advice? The immediate neighborhood seemed fine when we visited, but I know that there are issues with crime not too far from the address as you move deeper into parts of Wilkinsburg. I hate that we had to choose so quickly, and I'm getting anxious. Luckily, we were able to secure a six month lease.

My husband will be riding the bus during the daytime to downtown from a stop in our neighborhood, and I noticed that it seems to run through Wilkinsburg and (it seems) part of Homewood along the way. Do you feel that the buses are safe?

Also, if anyone reading this happens to know anything about the locations of the elementary schools in Penn Hills, I would love to hear about it. I received an interview offer for a temporary position that rotates among them, and I'm trying to find information about whether or not I could get to them and back home safely.

Thanks in advance, everybody.

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by emusha

My husband will be riding the bus during the daytime to downtown from a stop in our neighborhood, and I noticed that it seems to run through Wilkinsburg and (it seems) part of Homewood along the way. Do you feel that the buses are safe?

What's your busline?

[emusha]

Google Transit tells me that it will be 63B Rankin Exp. Thanks!

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by emusha

Google Transit tells me that it will be 63B Rankin Exp. Thanks!

I am not familiar with that particular line, but I can tell you that I ride a bus daily that spends half its route in Wilkinsburg (the rough part, even), and have only had a problem once (2 drunk passengers being a bit annoying). In fact, I've found the "thugs" who typically ride in the back of the bus to be more friendly and polite than the college students who get on in Oakland. And they don't constantly yap on their cell phones about stupid crap, which makes them much nicer to sit next to on the ride home than the people who get off during the "better" portion of the bus route.

Also, I know that the Regent Square portion of Wilkinsburg is much less scary than the "other side". I have a friend who lives there, and honestly you can't tell where Regent Square ends and his neighborhood begins. He hasn't complained about crime or crazy neighbors either. There may be someone else here who can give you more detailed info about your particular location.

So...you probably don't have that much to be concerned about - just the normal big city stuff. Don't worry, be happy, and enjoy your move!

[emusha]

Thank you so much! I didn't think the bus route would be a problem, but I wanted to make sure before we sent hubby on his way. I can relate with the cell phones and irritating conversations. We're by State College now, so you can imagine the joy that public transit is here!

[PeterRabbit]

We have several communities that deliver another town's mail. Wilkinsburg would deliver mail for the city of Pgh. in your area as much of it is the 14th ward and it's just more convenient like that even though it's not a part of the city. I think they also deliver the mail in Forest Hills. Swissvale and Edgewood have the same zip code and I forget which one has the post office. Even though they have Pgh. zip codes beginning with 152xx they are suburbs.

Your area is pretty safe. I've seen cop cars from Pgh., Swissvale, Edgewood and Wilkinsburg all show up at the same time near the traffic light on Braddock Avenue. It ended up being no big deal. It was good to see the area getting such good service.

[Geeo]

The 63B Rankin Express is an express bus that gets on the East Busway and travels on a bus-only highway into the city. The express buses are nice because they serve certain neighborhoods and then get on the busway for the rest of the ride. It will only take ten minutes to downtown once the bus gets onthe busway. Can't beat it.

[raubre]

Regent Square is a nice little neighborhood. It's near Edgewood which has the Regent Square movie theater (shows mainlyindie and foreign films), a few antique shops, a couple of bars, a coffee shop, an art studio (or two?) and the Square Cafe diner.

Regent Square is becoming a trendy place.

The main busline is the 61B which runs daily. The others (I think) only run through the week.

[emusha]

Thank you all for the information!

Geeo-- Great to know that the bus will travel on a bus-only highway. My husband will be very happy to hear that his commute sounds so smooth.

PeterRabbit-- Thanks so much for responding and clearing up the postal address versus actual location issue. Also, I appreciate your passing along your observation that there seems to be good police service. That's great to hear.

Raubre-- Thanks so much for your response and your take on the neighborhood! We do drive, so I don't think the weekday only bus will be a problem. It's just that parking is so expensive downtown!

[BrianTH]

My wife and I used to live right around the corner from your place (near Biddle and East End), and we still live just a couple more blocks down toward Hutchinson. We also have a Pittsburgh mailing address even though we live in Edgewood. It is just a function of zipcodes not matching up with the interwoven municipalities around here.

The area you are in is still solidly in Regent Square. It is very safe--in fact, we are constantly walking past your new place with our two-year old son as we stroll around the neighborhood. What you will probably find though is that you will mostly want to head North, West, or South from there if you want to stick in the nicer parts of the neighborhood. The farther Northeast you head, the more you will be in Wilkinsburg and getting into more economically depressed areas. There is no real problem driving or taking the bus through those areas--we do it all the time--but it isn't that pleasant for walking.

My wife and son take the 63B downtown and back every day (for work and daycare respectively). It is a very convenient bus route. If your husband takes it at a regular time, he will probably get to know everyone (maybe even my wife and son!).

Unfortunately, I can't help you on Penn Hills, although I wouldn't be overly concerned about driving over that way if that is your plan.

Hopefully that was helpful, and welcome to the neighborhood!

PS If you like french fries or beer at all, immediately go to D's in "downtown" Regent Square. Also check out the other local restaurants and shops at your leisure--they are definitely worth exploring and very convenient to where you will be.