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We're currently renting in Squirrel Hill and love it, but want to buy a house. We can't afford SqHill, but have been looking at the South Hills, particularly Brookline & Beechview. They seem nice and affordable, and we like the fact that they are so convenient to transportation, but we can't really tell whether we would like them or not.
Anybody out there have an informed opinion about either of these neighborhoods? (Pittsburgh-hating trolls don't bother - I'm a transplant from the Southwest, love it here, and am staying despite all the bitter locals)
Are they reasonably safe? How do they compare to say, Greenfield or Regent Square in terms of crime?
What's it like to live there? Are they completely full of old geezers or are there a few young people living there too?
If you like Squirrel Hill, I'd recommend Regent Square over the Brookline/Beechview area. For starters, you'll still have access to Frick Park, just from the other side of it. The atmosphere is similar and it has a decent business district along Braddock Avenue. I've also found the housing stock more likely to be in "move-in" condition whereas it seems most of the Brookline housing stock is in serious need of interior updating. IMO Regent Square is the best value on the East End. You might also look into Point Breeze, though I have noticed that houses are starting to get a bit pricey there. There's nothing wrong with the Brookline area but it has a much different feel than Squirrel Hill does; it's a little bit more "old-school" blue-collar Pittsburgh, more of a bedroom community and not much in the way of a business district. It's hard to beat Brookline in terms of amount of house for the money and still be in a safe area. Greenfield is much the same way but at least you'll have quick access to the Squirrel Hill business district.
I have been in Brookline for over 2 years. This is a overall a nice neighborhood. I have very nice neighbors and we keep an eye out for each other. Despite all the rumors, I have not heard or seen anything bad. I love the location since it is easy to get to any major freeway, easy access to transportation and so close to South Side, Mount Lebanon, and minutes to downtown. My house was completely renovated and I believe several houses in the neighborhood were also remodeled. I strongly recommend Brookline!
Always has been, especially in Brookline. I know a lot of people there and I lived there for a while when I was a kid. Moore Park was a notorious junkie haven, what it's like now I just don't know. Between Beechview and Brookline go Brookline. The convenience to downtown and the semi-suburban setting is what makes the near South Hills, these two plus Banksville and Greentree and Dormont and the McFarland Avenue part of Mt. Lebanon, good choices.
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