Safety in Wilkinsburg/Swissvale and around (Pittsburgh, Columbia: sublet, apartment complex, to rent)

[EastAsianLover]

Hello everyone,

I urgently (like in a week) need to move from Shadyside to area near North Braddock Avenue. I have been reading the forums for safety issues in Wilkinsburg and Swissvale and am overwhelmed by all the information around. Like one block is okay and one is not.

For some background, my office is moving on North Braddock, and although it is easily accessible from the place I am currently living at, my roommate situation is not so good and I would really like to rent a studio/ 1BR apartment. I have been looking at apartments in and around the above mentioned areas and regent square is really out of my budget. I would like to keep everything under 600$, max 650$/mo. (If I don't get a sublet in my current apartment I'll eventually be paying rent for two places, hence such a tight budget.)

My commuting method would be walking/ bus. So, if I am taking the bus, the 650$ should include 100$ for transportation per month. My problems are:
1. I am finding apartments in Wilkinsburg south to Penn Ave (Wood and South) but they come pretty close to the gang regions as posted on maps in different posts here on the forum. How safe/ walkable areas are those?

2. There is no data whatsoever about area around Columbia Ave in Swissvale. If anyone has any idea about it, kindly let me know.

3. Will the area near Delaware Ave and Hawthorne Ave (not St.) be cutting too close to the shady areas in Swissvale?

Please help this female who's looking to save some money but move alone in an apartment. Thanks in advance.

For reference, these are the postings I am looking at:
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/ap...735896629.html

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/D...?fullpage=true

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/2...?fullpage=true

https://www.apartments.com/columbia-...reviewsSection

[norcider]

[quote=EastAsianLover;53742327]Hello everyone,

I urgently (like in a week) need to move from Shadyside to area near North Braddock Avenue. I have been reading the forums for safety issues in Wilkinsburg and Swissvale and am overwhelmed by all the information around. Like one block is okay and one is not.
Yeah, but lots of "good" areas of Pittsburgh are like that.

For some background, my office is moving on North Braddock, and although it is easily accessible from the place I am currently living at, my roommate situation is not so good and I would really like to rent a studio/ 1BR apartment. I have been looking at apartments in and around the above mentioned areas and regent square is really out of my budget. I would like to keep everything under 600$, max 650$/mo. (If I don't get a sublet in my current apartment I'll eventually be paying rent for two places, hence such a tight budget.)

My commuting method would be walking/ bus. So, if I am taking the bus, the 650$ should include 100$ for transportation per month. My problems are:
1. I am finding apartments in Wilkinsburg south to Penn Ave (Wood and South) but they come pretty close to the gang regions as posted on maps in different posts here on the forum. How safe/ walkable areas are those?
It was straight up sketchy when I lived off Pennwood in the 90's, I can't comment on it now. I'd take a drive through there at different times of the day and do your research.

2. There is no data whatsoever about area around Columbia Ave in Swissvale. If anyone has any idea about it, kindly let me know.
Columbia Avenue is safe, lived on Hampton for a few years and walked around with the dogs at all hours.

3. Will the area near Delaware Ave and Hawthorne Ave (not St.) be cutting too close to the shady areas in Swissvale?
No.

Please help this female who's looking to save some money but move alone in an apartment. Thanks in advance.

I'd personally stick to the streets on the hill (Columbia, Westmoreland, Delaware, Columbia streets area etc) in Swissvale regarding an apartment. Good luck!

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by EastAsianLover

1. I am finding apartments in Wilkinsburg south to Penn Ave (Wood and South) but they come pretty close to the gang regions as posted on maps in different posts here on the forum. How safe/ walkable areas are those?

The best part of Wilkinsburg south of Penn and east of the Busway is Hamnett Place. Looks like there's one listing around there now.

Originally Posted by EastAsianLover

2. There is no data whatsoever about area around Columbia Ave in Swissvale. If anyone has any idea about it, kindly let me know.

Not the best part of Swissvale, nor the worst. Avoid that apartment complex up on the hill though - there as a murder there relatively recently. Also maybe avoid living on the blocks directly facing the Busway. Otherwise that area is fine.

Originally Posted by EastAsianLover

3. Will the area near Delaware Ave and Hawthorne Ave (not St.) be cutting too close to the shady areas in Swissvale?

I think that's an okay area - it doesn't get very bad until you're south of S. Braddock.

Edit: I'd also consider this. Maybe this too.

[elnrgby]

Only tangentially related to this topic, but I have two quick questions:


1. Which Pittsburgh neighborhoods are generally the best and safest?
2. Are there any good and safe areas of Pittsburgh where one might be able to buy a very small condo (ie, a studio) for less than $200k? What areas would those be, and what downsides do they have?



Thanks a lot for any info related to my questions.


PS. Dear Pittsburgh moderator - if you see a more suitable thread for my questions, please move them there. Thank you.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by elnrgby

1. Which Pittsburgh neighborhoods are generally the best and safest?

Best is subjective. And the absolute safest neighborhoods would be totally residential ones with little in the way of urban amenities, since even in trendy areas like Lawrenceville or Downtown you'll have some random property crime.

Squirrel Hill probably offers the best balance of lots of amenities and very low crime though.

Originally Posted by elnrgby

2. Are there any good and safe areas of Pittsburgh where one might be able to buy a very small condo (ie, a studio) for less than $200k? What areas would those be, and what downsides do they have?

You could buy a small condo unit basically anywhere there are condos in Pittsburgh (Downtown, North Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill). for under $200,000. Obviously it could be a dated unit in an ugly building however.

[elnrgby]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Best is subjective. And the absolute safest neighborhoods would be totally residential ones with little in the way of urban amenities, since even in trendy areas like Lawrenceville or Downtown you'll have some random property crime.

Squirrel Hill probably offers the best balance of lots of amenities and very low crime though.



You could buy a small condo unit basically anywhere there are condos in Pittsburgh (Downtown, North Oakland, Shadyside, Squirrel Hill). for under $200,000. Obviously it could be a dated unit in an ugly building however.

Thank you kindly for the info. I don't mind dated (I am dated meself; my questions relate to retirement lifestyle :-), and an ugly bldg is perfectly fine as long as it is safe.


Here is the matter. I am a traveler, a world traveler. I already have tiny, very tiny condos in 3 expensive cities on both coasts. Two of the condos (San Francisco and NYC) are in the areas where I would not dare to leave the condo locked with my belongings inside while I am away. The third condo (Boston) is safe, but the underlying value of that condo is relatively high (about $375k), plus I don't really like Boston that much (but have to keep my primary home there for 6 more years). I kind of liked Pittsburghwhen I visited it a few times over the years, and moving my home base to Pittsburgh would free up about $175k extra cash tied up in my Boston condo, plus I think the cost of living would be a little less in PA. Plus, there is a senior care arrangement available only in PA that interests me. Anyway, the Pittsburgh condo would serve mostly as the reliable storage for my old memorabilia (not worth much, but I'd be heartbroken if somebody broke in and rifled through it - particularly because the stuff means everything to me, and is worthless to anyone else) while I am off traveling. Thanks a lot again for the valuable info.

[EastAsianLover]

Originally Posted by norcider

Columbia Avenue is safe, lived on Hampton for a few years and walked around with the dogs at all hours.

Thank you so much, your reply takes a lot of tension off my head. I really appreciate the information.

Originally Posted by eschaton

Not the best part of Swissvale, nor the worst. Avoid that apartment complex up on the hill though - there as a murder there relatively recently. Also maybe avoid living on the blocks directly facing the Busway. Otherwise that area is fine.

Alright. I'll start contacting people then. Thank you so much for the information and the links. I'll check them out!

Despite its shortcomings, living in Pitts has been a pleasure so far (been here for 2.5 years now). I hope it remains so. Will update when I get a new apartment. Thank you again everyone for your inputs.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by elnrgby

Thank you kindly for the info. I don't mind dated (I am dated meself; my questions relate to retirement lifestyle :-), and an ugly bldg is perfectly fine as long as it is safe.


Here is the matter. I am a traveler, a world traveler. I already have tiny, very tiny condos in 3 expensive cities on both coasts. Two of the condos (San Francisco and NYC) are in the areas where I would not dare to leave the condo locked with my belongings inside while I am away. The third condo (Boston) is safe, but the underlying value of that condo is relatively high (about $375k), plus I don't really like Boston that much (but have to keep my primary home there for 6 more years). I kind of liked Pittsburghwhen I visited it a few times over the years, and moving my home base to Pittsburgh would free up about $175k extra cash tied up in my Boston condo, plus I think the cost of living would be a little less in PA. Plus, there is a senior care arrangement available only in PA that interests me. Anyway, the Pittsburgh condo would serve mostly as the reliable storage for my old memorabilia (not worth much, but I'd be heartbroken if somebody broke in and rifled through it - particularly because the stuff means everything to me, and is worthless to anyone else) while I am off traveling. Thanks a lot again for the valuable info.

PA is a good state to make your permanent residence, because the state doesn't tax any retirement income whatsoever, whether it's Social Security, defined-benefit pensions, or 401(k) withdrawals. Plus you get a discount on your property taxes.

[bluecarebear]

Originally Posted by eschaton

PA is a good state to make your permanent residence, because the state doesn't tax any retirement income whatsoever, whether it's Social Security, defined-benefit pensions, or 401(k) withdrawals. Plus you get a discount on your property taxes.

There is an income limit to the no tax plus PA doesn't offer a Homestead Exemption tax.

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by bluecarebear

There is an income limit to the no tax plus PA doesn't offer a Homestead Exemption tax.

My house has a homestead exemption, what do you mean?