Living in downtown with middle school kids (Pittsburgh, Lawrenceville: renting, home)

[crae09]

The strip district seems like a great idea

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by HariP

The strip sounds wonderful will check it out. Starbucks may kill it for us, becos we have noticed, a Starbucks means smaller coffee and bakeries around it closing down within few years after that. will also check out Lawrenceville.

You don't want to live downtown then, there's like half a dozen of them there.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by ferraris

The Strip is Pittsburgh's market district. It's known for small grocers and produce markets; a Starbucks would be a little out of place, just like the McDonald's that is already there, but it wouldn't be the death knell for neighborhood businesses like it may be in other areas.

Yes. Also, the area I pitched to them---the "Upper Strip" somewhere between 24th Street & Penn and 33rd Street & Penn is a "coffee desert", if you will. We love La Prima (21st Street & Penn), Espressso a Mano (Lower Lawrenceville), and Lili (Polish Hill), but if you live in the 31st Street Lofts or work at UBER or Apple, for example, then all three of these places are quite a long walk during the day to get caffeinated. A Starbucks somewhere near 29th & Penn, for example, would be a quick walk from these sites, would be walkable for the people who live on Washington's Landing, and walkable for the people of Lower Lawrenceville seeking an alternative to Espresso a Mano or Crazy Mocha. It would also be a quick walk for those of us in Polish Hill who want a frappuccino.

I pitched this location also because I know the added foot traffic generated by a Starbucks could serve as a catalyst to boost the languishing retail stretch between Penn & 24th and Penn & 33rd. My dream is for those blocks to all "fill in" someday to create an uninterrupted business district from Penn & 16th right up through Lawrenceville. Plopping a Starbucks down might help the traffic at existing nearby businesses (Salem's Market, Pittsburgh Winery, Klavon's Ice Cream Parlor, The Savoy, DiAnoia's, Edgar's Tacos) and will hopefully entice more businesses to open.

[MamieRose]

Why root for a Starbucks and not another independent..or maybe a branch of an existing coffee shop?

[UKyank]

Originally Posted by MamieRose

Why root for a Starbucks and not another independent..or maybe a branch of an existing coffee shop?

Because there's room in the world for both; it doesn't have to be an either/or thing

[topdoc]

Lawrenceville reminds me of Brooklyn. I've heard others says this as well. Think Park Slope or Fort Greene circa 2006. Not as nice as Brooklyn Heights but getting there.

I think you would enjoy Squirrel Hill near Shady Ave and Forbes. Very walkable with tons of restaurants and shops, although not sure about commute to Downtown.

Check out Shadyside, i.e. Walnut Street. Closest to WT school. Note SS academy elementary school is near Wilikinsburg. The middle and high schools are in Fox Chapel. Also East Liberty/Highland Park.

Check out new Skyvue Apts on Forbes near Halket St, which is in Oakland year the UPMC hospitals.

I personally live in Ohara Township and have no trouble with the commute by car, even with traffic, into sites all across Pittsburgh, which is nice compared to bigger congested cities. Also, there are townhouse communities along river in Ohara and Oakmont where there's minimal plowing/mowing and public schools are excellent. Worth checking out.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by topdoc

Lawrenceville reminds me of Brooklyn. I've heard others says this as well. Think Park Slope or Fort Greene circa 2006. Not as nice as Brooklyn Heights but getting there.

I think you would enjoy Squirrel Hill near Shady Ave and Forbes. Very walkable with tons of restaurants and shops, although not sure about commute to Downtown.

Check out Shadyside, i.e. Walnut Street. Closest to WT school. Note SS academy elementary school is near Wilikinsburg. The middle and high schools are in Fox Chapel. Also East Liberty/Highland Park.

Check out new Skyvue Apts on Forbes near Halket St, which is in Oakland year the UPMC hospitals.

I personally live in Ohara Township and have no trouble with the commute by car, even with traffic, into sites all across Pittsburgh, which is nice compared to bigger congested cities. Also, there are townhouse communities along river in Ohara and Oakmont where there's minimal plowing/mowing and public schools are excellent. Worth checking out.

I initially wasn't thinking about Squirrel Hill as an option for the OP due to the limited condo market (and much of that market being catered towards seniors with not particularly nice units). However, this unit is pretty good, provided it's not too rich for the OP's blood. It's right at the corner of Forbes and Murray, meaning it's in basically the best spot for walking around the business district - a very functional business district which offers everything from a grocery store to a movie theatre. Kids of your child's age are also out playing in the business district after dark all the time there, so that isn't a huge concern (and your child would have lots of friends). Plus the local K-8 neighborhood school (Colfax) is pretty damn good (although you could go there and live in Shadyside too). The down side of the neighborhood is there are no rapid transit options to Downtown, meaning you'd be stuck on surface buses. I think it checks all your boxes, but Shadyside is probably better, given you can use Negley Station/East Liberty Station to get downtown far quicker.

[HariP]

So we did have a look see. We are still leaning towards living in downtown and sending the kid to WT. the only two issues are
There seems to be no clear answer on the kids commute to WT. The school said they will find out.
Also, does anyone know about Gateway towers?? The apartments are within our range but the HOA is very very high.

shady side and squirrel hill are our close second choices. There are no living options in Lawrencevile even though it's an extremely charming town and the strip district is right up our alley but again, nothing yet here.

Thanks again

[HariP]

On a seperate note

Yes, Pittsburgh downtown has no big city downtown buzz to it and most establishments shut down after 7/8pm. There is no decent grocery store and no cinema theatre, but the cultural district and the strip is very very active for evenings out. I am told the real estate is shooting up, but saddened to see that owners are willing to pay quite a bit for an area which is doing nothing to keep families in the city - bad schools and nothing post 8pm.
The reason we are still looking at downtown becos we will be walking distance to work and that is a big draw, a huge draw for us.

[lprmesia]

The 77 picks up and drops off right in front of Gateway Towers - runs about every 30 minutes, and drops off about 2-3 blocks away from WT.