What brought you back to Pittsburgh? (houses, move, suburbs)

[DoulaKaren]

I went to Pitt for undergrad and then to Boston for grad school and worked for 5 years thereafter. My husband, also a Pitt alum, and I couldn't stand Boston because it was a very difficult place to settle in as a transplant, it's taking your life in your hands to drive there, the Patriots/Sox fans are about the worst of the worst, and the cost of living was entirely too high. As soon as I became pregnant in 2004 we made plans to return to Pennsylvania. We did not want to set down further roots somewhere we didn't like, and as a born-and-bred Pennsylvanian, I wanted my kids born in PA!

[raubre]

Originally Posted by pghcleak

I think it counts even more that you didn't grow up in Pittsburgh.

I get that feeling that a lot of Pittsburgh is really on the rise as well. It has it's fair share of problems, of course, but nothing that other cities (especially in this part of the country) aren't experiencing.

I heard something interesting on TV the other night. I heard that the so-called population decline doesn't really suffer from people leaving Pittsburgh, but the decline usually refers to the college students living in Pittsburgh and leaving after they graduate. They were discussiing this on PCNC's Night Talk on Friday night. THe same problem occurs in Ann Arbor, MI which is supposedly a college town as well.

[ExPit]

I was born and raised in Pittsburgh, East Liberty and the near South Hills, and since then my work has kept me on the move. I've lived in Baltimore, Houston, NYC and Los Angeles, and I've spent considerable time in alot of other towns, New Orleans, San Francisco, and Boston to name a few, and I think what you come to figure out is whatever you like about a city is exactly what gets on your nerves after a while. In New York, you might love the hustle and bustle, the excitement, the electricity in the air that gives you the feeling that at any moment the whole place could blow, but spend more than a month there and it begins to close in on you. The great thing about Pgh. is that it's not as big and wild and cold as say even a Philadelphia, and of course that's the thing that you miss there too, but for my money, a medium sized city, and I can't say I know the small town or rural life, is a great middle ground. NYC and LA will drive you nuts after a while. Pittsburgh and San Francisco and places like that are a nice, slow, healing step behind.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by raubre

I heard something interesting on TV the other night. I heard that the so-called population decline doesn't really suffer from people leaving Pittsburgh, but the decline usually refers to the college students living in Pittsburgh and leaving after they graduate. They were discussiing this on PCNC's Night Talk on Friday night. THe same problem occurs in Ann Arbor, MI which is supposedly a college town as well.

That loss should be offset by college students arriving. FWIW, I have looked this up several times, college students are counted in their college town.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Katiana

That loss should be offset by college students arriving.

Indeed, and if you look at the net numbers, I believe the recent estimates are that Pittsburgh is actually gaining population among people in the most relevant age groups.

So if this is a problem in some statistics, it would have to be statistics looking only at the people leaving, and not the net numbers (including people coming and leaving).

[steelers01055]

Originally Posted by wordzgirl

I just moved to SC, right outside of Charleston myself, and I have to disagree with much of your post, especially the high taxes part. Are you kidding me?!?!? In Pittsburgh we paid almost $4,000 a year in property taxes for a $135,000, 50 plus year-old house. Here, the taxes on a brand new $250,000 home are around $1,800. Plus, there are no municipality taxes like you have in the 'burgh.

I worked in the court system in Pittsburgh and work in the court system here, and you can't really compare the two. In Pittsburgh, there is at least one murder trial going on every single day; down here, maybe one every couple of weeks. Yes, things are slower. I've got to say I'm happy that things aren't so rushed here. As far as traffic, Charleston is nothing compared to Pittsburgh in rush hour. It used to take me over an hour to get downtown and I lived eight miles from the city. Here, I can leave my house 27 miles from Charleston and get to work 45 minutes later. No comparison.

And I have to disagree that people down here are stupid. That's kind of a narrow-minded outlook you have. And to complain about the education system when you've obviously got some spelling issues is kind of ironic, don't ya think?

BTW, I love Pittsburgh, and no one place is perfect, of course. But I do disagree with practically everything in the above post.

Are you kidding me? North charleston is 3rd highest violent crime rate in the U.S, charleston is up there too. Pittsburghs worst neighborhoods look like great places compared to North charleston, and charleston. Even in summerville which is 25 miles out of the city its bad. I dont know what court you work in but that is a joke to say that pittsburgh has worse crime than sc, and if you really believe that you must be blind. SC is the 4th most dangerous state in the us, and charleston is the 6th most dangerous city... do some reserch before you make a statement. Another fact you might want to look up while your at it is south carolinas education.. they rank 49th out of 50 in education, only state thats worse is Miss. You can tell that as soon as these people open there mouths. SC also has a 52 percent hs dropout rating, that is pathetic. I work with a guy 42 years old, has lived here his whole life and cant spell charlotte, he spelled it sharlet. Most girls my age, or even younger than me (im 21) have 4 kids to 3 different dads, married and divorced already. Driving is a joke down here... these rude people dont yeild getting on the highway, go slow in the passing lane, theres no such thing as turn signals down here. If you dont think theres something wrong with the driving down here again you must be blind, or very sheltered... i see about 3-5 accidents every single day in summerville alone. The job economy sucks down here, wages are a lot lower for most jobs, and theres not a whole lot of jobs to begin with. Everyone i know here from anywere up north will tell you the same thing i just told you. I know a few people who are moving back just so there kids dont have to go to school here. But i got a good laugh reading your post... either you just moved here yesterday, or you just belong here. Oh if you think its such a great place go take a walk down sprull ave, or remont road.

oh yea and almost forgot about taxes.. i dont own a home here, but a lot more money gets taken out of my paycheck for state taxes here than in pa... probley to support the very high number of people that collect welfare around here. also theres tax on food, and clothing here. Taxes are a lot higher. Almost forgot the tax you have to pay on your car every year...

[wordzgirl]

Originally Posted by steelers01055

Are you kidding me? North charleston is 3rd highest violent crime rate in the U.S, charleston is up there too. Pittsburghs worst neighborhoods look like great places compared to North charleston, and charleston. Even in summerville which is 25 miles out of the city its bad. I dont know what court you work in but that is a joke to say that pittsburgh has worse crime than sc, and if you really believe that you must be blind. SC is the 4th most dangerous state in the us, and charleston is the 6th most dangerous city... do some reserch before you make a statement. Another fact you might want to look up while your at it is south carolinas education.. they rank 49th out of 50 in education, only state thats worse is Miss. You can tell that as soon as these people open there mouths. SC also has a 52 percent hs dropout rating, that is pathetic. I work with a guy 42 years old, has lived here his whole life and cant spell charlotte, he spelled it sharlet. Most girls my age, or even younger than me (im 21) have 4 kids to 3 different dads, married and divorced already. Driving is a joke down here... these rude people dont yeild getting on the highway, go slow in the passing lane, theres no such thing as turn signals down here. If you dont think theres something wrong with the driving down here again you must be blind, or very sheltered... i see about 3-5 accidents every single day in summerville alone. The job economy sucks down here, wages are a lot lower for most jobs, and theres not a whole lot of jobs to begin with. Everyone i know here from anywere up north will tell you the same thing i just told you. I know a few people who are moving back just so there kids dont have to go to school here. But i got a good laugh reading your post... either you just moved here yesterday, or you just belong here. Oh if you think its such a great place go take a walk down sprull ave, or remont road.

oh yea and almost forgot about taxes.. i dont own a home here, but a lot more money gets taken out of my paycheck for state taxes here than in pa... probley to support the very high number of people that collect welfare around here. also theres tax on food, and clothing here. Taxes are a lot higher. Almost forgot the tax you have to pay on your car every year...

Okay, I was trying not to bite here, but I must take exception to some of your points. My children go to Dorchester District 2 schools, which are some of the best in the state, and my husband teaches there as well. I've got to say that I'm really happy with the schools here. BTW, about half the population of Summerville is from the North, so there's lots of educated folks down here, and whether you want to believe it or not, not everyone in South Carolina is stupid and uneducated.

Yes, North Chuck has a high crime rate. I work in the Circuit Court in the 9th District, which includes Charleston, and no, I'm definitely not blind. It's a much smaller area than Pittsburgh, so the crime is all relative. Yes, there's crime. Is it worse than the 'burgh? No, I can't say that it is. I lived in Pittsburgh for 43 years and worked in the courts there for 18, so I definitely know what I'm saying. You're 21? Not to be snotty, but I think I've got a bit more life experience to realize that there's a great big world outside of Pittsburgh. There's plenty of unmarried, young women in Pittsburgh who have many children out of wedlock. SC does not have the market on that, unfortunately.

And, just for your own clarification, your spelling and grammar is completely atrocious. If you're a product of the schools in Pittsburgh, I don't know that that would be a selling point for anyone. Check out some of the locals on the SC board, and I'm sure you'll find some locals that know how to spell much better than you.

BTW, I LOOOOVE Pittsburgh. It's my hometown, and it will always have a place in my heart. But it's not the end-all, be-all that you are making it out to be.

[wordzgirl]

Originally Posted by wordzgirl

Okay, I was trying not to bite here, but I must take exception to some of your points. My children go to Dorchester District 2 schools, which are some of the best in the state, and my husband teaches there as well. I've got to say that I'm really happy with the schools here. BTW, about half the population of Summerville is from the North, so there's lots of educated folks down here, and whether you want to believe it or not, not everyone in South Carolina is stupid and uneducated.

Yes, North Chuck has a high crime rate. I work in the Circuit Court in the 9th District, which includes Charleston, and no, I'm definitely not blind. It's a much smaller area than Pittsburgh, so the crime is all relative. Yes, there's crime. Is it worse than the 'burgh? No, I can't say that it is. I lived in Pittsburgh for 43 years and worked in the courts there for 18, so I definitely know what I'm saying. You're 21? Not to be snotty, but I think I've got a bit more life experience to realize that there's a great big world outside of Pittsburgh. There's plenty of unmarried, young women in Pittsburgh who have many children out of wedlock. SC does not have the market on that, unfortunately.

And, just for your own clarification, your spelling and grammar is completely atrocious. If you're a product of the schools in Pittsburgh, I don't know that that would be a selling point for anyone. Check out some of the locals on the SC board, and I'm sure you'll find some locals that know how to spell much better than you.

BTW, I LOOOOVE Pittsburgh. It's my hometown, and it will always have a place in my heart. But it's not the end-all, be-all that you are making it out to be.

Let me correct myself - your spelling and grammar ARE atrocious. Sorry about that - my bad. I'm still not convinced that you're seriously this illiterate and concerned about the school system in the South. I'm thinking you're maybe typing with your eyes closed.

[missytoe]

I lived in the San Francisco area for 25 years and moved back so we could buy a house. The cost of living in SF is ridiculous. I also find Pittsburgh really friendly and down to earth. I like the weather. And I have relatives here.

[alleghenyman]

I lived in Central PA for four years for college, NYC for four years for work, and upstate New York for three years of Law School.

I was tired of the expense of living in NYC. I don't make as much income in Pgh as I would make there and the job market is slower for attorneys here in Pgh. But the cost of living and starting any sort of business in New York made it a far worse long-term proposition as an attorney. I never felt like I was a part of any sort of community while living there even though I liked the place and had lots of friends. I just felt like one more alienated immigrant in the big city, the same as someone from Poland or Tunisia.

Ithaca was another story. Far too sleepy and unchanging for me, although it is one of the more progressive small towns around and I liked the area.

After traveling around the great cities of Europe and the US I can honestly say that I have everything I need here. Four real seasons, good outdoor sports, a city that is large enough to be culturally alive but small enough to be safe, inexpensive, and accessible, a great spirit of community. I miss the restaurants of NYC, but in perspective, this is a far better place to live for someone with more interests in life than a job in a skyscraper.

I'll edit this to add that of all the places I've been I do like London more and San Francisco has its appeal, but London won't happen and San Fran is too expensive to try to move there and start from scratch, and I doubt I'll feel part of any community there.