Exploring Pittsburgh Through Google's "Street View" (Scranton, Washington: middle-class, for sale)

[SteelCityRising]

I've been spending the better part of a half-hour now becoming intimately acquainted with every nook and cranny that Mt. Washington has to offer, and I have to say that it's my type of neighborhood! I especially liked stumbling upon Vinecliffe Street, which veers down a steep hill from Wyoming Street and comes to a dead-end within spitting distance of some great views of the city skyline. Unfortunately all but one or two of the eight homes on this street appeared to be abandoned (with one of those two homes actually looking like it was recently renovated with vinyl siding), but I think it would be so awesome to live on a street like that, so close to the Mt. Washington overlook along Grandview Avenue in one direction and so close to Station Square and Carson Street in the other direction!

If I ever move to Pittsburgh I think Mt. Washington may be the neighborhood for me. Yes, there are a lot of vacant buildings here, but we have the allure of suburbia to thank for that (way to go, Cranberry Township!) I also liked the looks of Greenbush Street. There is one absolutely beautiful Victorian home on this street (perhaps house number sixteen?) right next-door to a newer construction brick home. I've learned that someone named Jack McVay is running for some sort of local office (city council, I presume?) from seeing the yard signs in this neighborhood, and I also think being able to walk to that small church on Greenbush Street would be nice on Sunday mornings.

There looks to be some sort of abandoned gas station near the intersection of Wyoming Street and Virginia Avenue that I'd love to turn into my own jazz restaurant someday. Judging by the vehicles parked along the roadways Mt. Washington looks to be a stable middle-class neighborhood. There also appears to be many homes for sale here.

I can't wait to continue exploring your fabulous city! It truly does remind me of a larger version of Scranton, only with better usage of the topography (Scranton's hilly neighborhoods are a rigid grid shape).

[SteelCityRising]

Perhaps I'll continue "bumping" this thread with tips on cool things for others to check out with this application as I cruise throughout the city? There's a cute Cape-Cod style home at around 328 Belonda Street in Mt. Washington with a beautiful sunflower on the front lawn! It must be about eight feet tall! LOL! Kudos to the homeowner if you're reading this. It's people like you that make Pittsburgh as beautiful as it is!

[SteelCityRising]

Wow! Everyone ought to check out the 400-block of Sampsonia Way in what I think is the Mexican War Streets area as well! It looks like some sort of small parade is going on with confetti, a marching band, and spectators! Neat! Have to love the lady in the blue blouse wearing the sunglasses on the cloudy (rainy judging by the wet pavement?) day! It reminds me of all of the customers here at Lowe's who go shopping with their sunglasses on! LOL! Also awesome is right around 408 Sampsonia Way, where we find two distinctive rowhomes---one is bedecked with an urban mural on the facade and the one right next-door has some sort of Asian writing. It looks like a pretty artsy (gay?) neighborhood.

[ExPit]

Welcome to the Mount. I lived on the Mount for a couple years. First, I was right on Grandview the last highrise going East, 5 Grandview I think it was. Then, years later I had a place on Bigham Street, just about a block off of Grandview, I wasn't raised in Mt. Washington but always loved it, mostly for the access to downtown and everywhere center city. I would caution though that it's a more provincial neighborhood than what you would find on the East End, Squirrel Hill, Oakland, Shadyside, East Liberty, etc, Pittsburgh's closest answer, other than downtown, to cosmopolitan. But, I'll tell ya, a jazz club in Mt. Washington, hmm, I don't know it just might go. Forewarning though that the winters are a few degrees colder, a little icier and such on the Mount, so getting off of the Mount on those days can be tricky. Coincidence, that just before I logged on and saw your thread I got off the phone with my mother's sister who lives on Mt. Washington. All is well, says my dear aunt in the Burgh.

[SteelCityRising]

Any idea what's going on near the open garage directly across the street? There's all sorts of oddly-attired people there running amok. Then there's also a pretty attractive Hispanic guy just staring on with an amused look upon his face next-door.

[SteelCityRising]

I'm totally digging that green turret on the second-story of the historic home on the corner of Eloise & Resaca in the Mexican War Streets as well. That would be a great place for me to put my Christmas tree!

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

I'm totally digging that green turret on the second-story of the historic home on the corner of Eloise & Resaca in the Mexican War Streets as well. That would be a great place for me to put my Christmas tree!

Wow! Anyone who trash-talks the North Side on this forum ought to visit Resaca Place sometime. Now THAT is my kind of neighborhood!

[dugdogmaster]

Google let a lot of the residents know when they were going to be coming through to capture images, so a lot of residents, and even the city itself, took it upon themselves to stage scenes.

[Mugatu]

Google street view is the greatest invention for traveling ever. When I need to go to an area in the 'burgh I've never been before, I view the directions in street view first, then "recognize" the area when I get there. It's almost as if I'd been there before.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by dugdogmaster

Google let a lot of the residents know when they were going to be coming through to capture images, so a lot of residents, and even the city itself, took it upon themselves to stage scenes.

That would explain the hilarious chaos along Sampsonia Way in the Mexican War Streets! Seriously, you all need to check out around the 400-block! I got a few good belly-laughs!