Highland Park? (Pittsburgh, Liberty, Penn: apartment, low crime, townhouse)

[*Danielle*]

Is this a good area to live in? I have a hubby and 2 little girls...is it family friendly?? Safe?? Give it to me straight! What do you know??

The townhouse we saw on Craigslist is at the corner of Negly and Mellon St... or something like that....

Anyone have any info on that area????

What about schools?

[Drover]

Highland Park can be a little rough around the edges, especially where it abuts East Liberty. But the part up by the park and zoo is really nice. Because it's isolated from the "nice part of the East End" continuity (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze and to some extent Greenfield), you can get a lot of bang for your buck in HP if you look carefully.

Thing is, Negley and Mellon are parallel to each other, and they both run the length from the good part of HP through the run-down part. The one exception is where Negley intersects Mellon Terrace. If you're looking up by Negley and Mellon Terrace, you really can't go wrong up thee.

[NowACityGirl]

I live on Stanton, off of Negley and I've never had a problem. Where you're saying is down even further from there so I don't think you'll have any problems. I love Highland Park because there are a lot of areas to walk, there's a cool coffee house, a nice park, and you're close to everything. It's really a nice place to live. I know a girl who lives on Wellesley and Negley and she's never had any problems either, and she has a young son. They are very happy there.

[*Danielle*]

THe place we are looking at is on N Negley right where it intersects with Mellon Terr. It almost looks like Negley runs into Mellon?? I am checking things out from MI...planning a trip to PA next month...Anyway, the listing does say it is close to a park, the zoo and a resevoir of some kind...

I am really looking for a family oriented area...would this be one or do you think it is a tad rough??

[Drover]

Nah, you'll be fine. Lots of single-family homes in that area, some of them quite stately in fact. In fact that's a pretty ideal place for kids what with all the park space right at your doorstep.

[*Danielle*]

By any chance,,,do you know what school district this is in?

[Mr. Mon]

Originally Posted by *Danielle*

By any chance,,,do you know what school district this is in?

It is in the Pittsburgh school district. Many of the children in the neighborhood either attend private/Catholic schools or are enrolled in the Pittsburgh Public Schools magnet program.

[*Danielle*]

Well, I would have a daughter attending Kindergarten while we lived there....so is the Pittsburgh Public School system good for that? I know these questions might seem a tad dumb but we are moving there from another state...

Thanks for you help!

[PeterRabbit]

You aren't asking any dumb questions.

Highland Park, Pennsylvania crime

Highland Park, PA, violent crime, on a scale from 1 (low crime) to 10, is 1. Violent crime is composed of four offenses: murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery, and aggravated assault. The US average is 3.

Highland Park, PA, property crime, on a scale from 1 (low) to 10, is 2. Property crime includes the offenses of burglary, larceny-theft, motor vehicle theft, and arson. The object of the theft-type offenses is the taking of money or property, but there is no force or threat of force against the victims. The US average is 3.
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Compared to the rest of the country, Highland Park's cost of living is 26.00% Lower than the U.S. average. Highland Park public schools spend $5,519 per student. The average school expenditure in the U.S. is $6,058. There are about 15 students per teacher in Highland Park.

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Great Schools rates Pgh. school system a 6 out of 10.

[BrianTH]

Highland Park is one of the most suburban-feeling of Pittsburgh's East End neighborhoods--which isn't surprising, since it is a classic "streetcar subway". Basically, in the 1890s they extended electricfied streetcar lines from Downtown Pittsburgh through the East End, including to Highland Park. What resulted is something similar to the suburban flight in the car era: a lot of people moved out of the areas in or around Downtown to these new "streetcar suburbs", including some "robber barons" and various white collar professionals. Around the same time, the large park of the same name and the Pittsburgh Zoo were established.

By WWII or so, Highland Park was pretty much built up into what you see today, with a few more modern exceptions here or there (including, in fact, a high-rise apartment building where the old streetcar line terminated). Eventually the old streetcar lines were torn out, and of course a lot of people started to move out of the city to the new automobile-era suburbs, but Highland Park has remained one of the more stable East End neighborhoods, and always had some wealthy residents in its nicer homes along with a more middle class mix.

Ironically, with the new interest in urban living, Highland Park may almost be TOO suburban for some people. Still, the relatively affordable housing and proximity to the park and zoo have kept Highland Park a popular neighborhood for young families.