Neighborhoods near downtown. Oakland? (Pittsburgh, Upper St. Clair: apartment, rent, condo)

[elm432]

I am may apply for a job transfer that could have me working downtown Pittsburgh, near the US Steel building and Greyhound station. The job would cover cost of public transportation to and from work, so am interested in possible neighborhoods that would have quick transport to this part of downtown.

What I'd be looking for in terms of neighborhoods would be:
--Not more than 30 minute commute total, so maybe 15 minute bus ride considering time to get to and from bus stops.
--Kid-friendly things to do: parks, playgrounds, libraries.
--Good school options
--We'd be visiting family in New Kensington on weekends, but also have family in Oakland & Upper St. Clair, so those are all places we'd want decent access to.

Does some place like this exist?

I wonder what Oakland itself would be like for a kid to live in? I wonder about buying a condo at the building where my family member is located, but it looks like the local school is rated as a "2" out of 10, so that does not sound great. Thanks for any advice.

[gg]

Originally Posted by elm432

I am may apply for a job transfer that could have me working downtown Pittsburgh, near the US Steel building and Greyhound station. The job would cover cost of public transportation to and from work, so am interested in possible neighborhoods that would have quick transport to this part of downtown.

What I'd be looking for in terms of neighborhoods would be:
--Not more than 30 minute commute total, so maybe 15 minute bus ride considering time to get to and from bus stops.
--Kid-friendly things to do: parks, playgrounds, libraries.
--Good school options
--We'd be visiting family in New Kensington on weekends, but also have family in Oakland & Upper St. Clair, so those are all places we'd want decent access to.

Does some place like this exist?

I wonder what Oakland itself would be like for a kid to live in? I wonder about buying a condo at the building where my family member is located, but it looks like the local school is rated as a "2" out of 10, so that does not sound great. Thanks for any advice.

Aspinwall is a good choice since school is a concern and it checks all boxes on your list, but the commute time might be a little bit longer, but not sure. Most people on here will try and get you to move into the city limits, but that is your choice. Tons of kids in Aspinwall and no private school needed.

[fleetiebelle]

Dormont.

[RogersParkTransplant]

You might consider the North side -- lots of families coming in, great parks, fantastic bus connections, and Allegheny Traditional Academy is getting better every year.

[gg]

Originally Posted by RogersParkTransplant

You might consider the North side -- lots of families coming in, great parks, fantastic bus connections, and Allegheny Traditional Academy is getting better every year.

https://www.schooldigger.com/go/PA/d...70/search.aspx



https://www.schooldigger.com/go/PA/s...50/school.aspx

[RogersParkTransplant]

Full disclosure: I am a professor at Pitt. A large percentage of my students come from this area. My personal and professional experiences have led me to believe that school district rankings and statistics are primarily a reflection of the socioeconomic status of the families that live in these areas. I have met students from truly terrible schools who went on to Harvard and I have met students from elite schools who were kicked out of Pitt for poor study habits, and everything in between. There is such a thing as schools that are dangerous, sadly enough, but Allegheny Traditional is not in that category. My comments are based on conversations with other parents and the research that I have done for my own children. Many of us are happy with ATA.

I am really, truly not interested in yet another city-data.com argument about schools. If the OP is interested they can use the search function and find plenty of bickering on this site. I think it's best if the parents on here just speak from personal experiences, and we all agree that people who care about statistics can use Google on their own.

OP, keep in mind that the Pittsburgh public district is complicated and has many options. About Oakland itself, it is a great area, but frankly I am scared to cross the street sometimes because people drive so recklessly, and I worry about safety every time I take my kids to work with me -- not because of crime, but because of the reality of the roads and the drivers who have no patience for pedestrians. The Northside has many quieter neighborhoods that are close to downtown and yet easier for kids to explore, and it's a big part of why we live here.

Feel free to message me with questions; I am going to walk away now so I don't have to read comments from people who don't live close to bus stops or within 15 minutes of downtown (which were the criteria that made me think of the North side), but will come here just to troll my family for living in the city.

[gladhands]

I recommend Shadyside, near the East busway. You can get downtown in 10 minutes on the P1 bus. It's walkable to everything, and zoned for Colfax K-8, which is widely considered the best in the city.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by gladhands

I recommend Shadyside, near the East busway. You can get downtown in 10 minutes on the P1 bus. It's walkable to everything, and zoned for Colfax K-8, which is widely considered the best in the city.

Yes, Shadyside is a great recommendation as long as the OP is a 1%'er since that is the level of income necessary to comfortably afford to buy a single-family home there or rent an apartment large enough to house a family.

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by elm432

I am may apply for a job transfer that could have me working downtown Pittsburgh, near the US Steel building and Greyhound station. The job would cover cost of public transportation to and from work, so am interested in possible neighborhoods that would have quick transport to this part of downtown.

What I'd be looking for in terms of neighborhoods would be:
--Not more than 30 minute commute total, so maybe 15 minute bus ride considering time to get to and from bus stops.
--Kid-friendly things to do: parks, playgrounds, libraries.
--Good school options
--We'd be visiting family in New Kensington on weekends, but also have family in Oakland & Upper St. Clair, so those are all places we'd want decent access to.

Does some place like this exist?

I wonder what Oakland itself would be like for a kid to live in? I wonder about buying a condo at the building where my family member is located, but it looks like the local school is rated as a "2" out of 10, so that does not sound great. Thanks for any advice.

I'm guessing you're talking about North Oakland as I don't know of any condo's that would be in south Oakland, in that case, your should be fine as it relatively removed from the student ghetto and home to many professionals. Lots of parks & such located in & around Oakland.
Pittsburgh city schools are generally not very good, that would be the one hangup.

[PghYinzer]

If you want to live in the city, Brookline is an affordable and safe area that is great for kids. Brookline K-8 is a solid neighborhood schools, there are two parks, a rec center, a pool, a library, and a very active youth sports program. As for commuting to work, I take the bus everyday and my commute is pretty much what you are aiming for. I leave my house at 7:13 to catch the 7:16 bus and am at my desk at 7:45. The commute to the bus stop can vary greatly, but if you concentrated your search to the areas along the bus route, it can easily be a 2-3 min walk to the bus stop.