Questions about Neighborhood Racial Diversity (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: relocating, housing, rent)

[AKsMama]

My family is relocating to Pittsburgh and my #1 criteria for finding a neighborhood is Diversity. Are there any neighborhoods where people of color and whites coexist? I have 2 little boys, one black and one white, and would like to raise them in a racially integrated environment that actively promotes racial harmony. My research thus far has lead me to Squirrel Hill and Sewickley in Allegheny County and Peters Township in Washington County. Please help!

[Drover]

I hate to say this, as much as I like Pittsburgh... races in Pittsburgh mix like oil and water. Where the races do mix is on the boundry lines of otherwise segregated neighborhoods, or in places where whites are moving in and blacks are moving out or vice-versa. Which reminds me: races in Pittsburgh consist of black, white, and very little in between. Very few Asians, very few Hispanics. There are Asian-Indians scattered around the area (the convergence of the three rivers in Pittsburgh apparently has strong religious significance in the Hindu religion) but they are so dispersed that they kind of blend into the background and don't form a noticeable constituency in any given neighborhood or community. I think the closest place you're going to find the races blending with any semblance of harmony are the Highland Park and Friendship neighborhoods; perhaps Lawrenceville as well and the portion of Point Breeze that borders Homewood. East Liberty is strongly black with some whites/gentrification moving in. (For what it's worth, the whites moving to East Liberty in seem to be of the liberal/progressive/open-minded variety.) Even then, those neighborhoods are not evenly mixed; it's whites on this side, blacks on that side, and some intermingling in-between.

Sorry to be a downer, but that's how I see it.

[AKsMama]

That's what I thought I'd be hearing...too bad. Unfortunately most other areas of the country with a few exceptions are the same. What do you think about a county other than Allegheny?

[jbrocious]

id say you are best off in and around the universities. the co-mingling is probably best there.

[armchaire]

Actually, the Eastern and South Eastern suburbs have many more integrated neighborhoods, and schools, than the rest of Allegheny county.

just look at this map:
[urlhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Map_of_Allegheny_County_Pennsylvania_With_Mu nicipal_and_Township_Labels.png[/url]

[Mr. Mon]

Overall, I'd have to agree that Pittsburgh is not a mixed place. However, you'd find more of what you're looking for in the Eastern and Southern sections

Highland Park is fairly mixed, but Peabody High School is not considered amongst the city's best. However, the magnet program takes care of that.

Stanton Heights and Penn Hills are places where the black middle class can be found and are therefore a little more racially mixed than other areas.

Peter's Twp. is pretty white-bread.

[PghREA]

And definitely not Sewickley!

[AKsMama]

Originally Posted by PghREA

And definitely not Sewickley!

That surprises me. I looked at the census demographic information and there are more blacks listed there than in other suburbs. Check it out: http://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/pasdc/censu...Allegheny.html

[krlang223]

I have not read the other replies to your message, but I think Sewickley would be ideal. I grew up there and have many friends black and white. The Sewickley Academy is an excellent school with a very mixed student body. Quaker Valley is one of the best school districts. I have two children who went there and they both have friends of every nationality. Growing up, I did not see much of a problem with the civil rights movement. As a matter of fact, when we went south for a vacation, I was shocked to see the segregated public restrooms, water fountains, and motels. We were never taught to discriminate. Naturally, there are those who will always feel they are superior to someone else, whether it be due to race, or income! But I feel Sewickley is a diverse area with many good cultural and educational qualities (check out the Sweetwater Center For The Arts on Broad Street). It is close to the city so that colleges are easily commuted to. Robert Morris University is right across the bridge and is an excellent college. Shopping centers are only 10 to 15 minutes away. I do hope you will consider Sewickley. Smaller areas to consider are Sewickley Hills, Glenfield, Ben Avon, Avalon and Emsworth. Housing is cheaper but you can still find nice houses. These areas are very safe. You can get decent schooling in all of those communities. If you go closer to the city, you are going to get into crime areas.

Perhaps your best bet would be to visit some of the churches in the area. There are at least three black churches in Sewickley and I know that they have mixed congregations. I have friends who attend the Triumph Baptist Church and Saint Matthews AME Zion Church. More white, but definitely open to people of all races are churches such as St. Stephens Episcopal and Christ Church at Grove Farm (non-denominational). I have not been to any of the Presbyterian churches so I am not familiar with them. I think if you were to meet people there, you would get a much better picture of Sewickley. I really think you would like it there and your children would feel comfortable. Perhaps renting a house for six months in different locations would help make such an important decision. Please feel free to contact me. Good luck.

[zachrowe]

I am a mid 30s mom of two young boys and we live on the North Shore of the city in a historic home district. The neighborhood is diverse not just racially but economically and religiously as well. You can find a beautifully restored home or a fixer-upper (which is what we did) if you're so inclined. The city schools are not the greatest but Pittsburgh has a ton of excellent private schools in all price ranges (and many of which are more diverse than the public schools). We love that we can walk to multiple museums, sports events, restaurants and neighborhood shops or to the riverfront trails where you can bike, kayak etc. Plus it is a 10 minute drive to any of the suburbs in any direction. I can't say enough about it and am happy to be raising my children in such a wonderful place. You can see more about my neighborhood on www.alleghenywest.org