Relocating to Pittsburgh 3/1 would appreciate advice (Washington, Warren: rentals, loft, neighborhood)

[CrestViewdrive]

Originally Posted by PeterRabbit

If you intend to live in the city there isn't much. Forget about Bloomfield and Lawrenceville. They aren't safe and don't look too good either. Shadyside has always been the place to live in the city and you should be able to find a nice 2 BR there for $1100 or less and the same for Squirrel Hill.

Franklin West || Shadyside

classifieds - craigslist

BLoomfield and Lawrenceville "don't look nice"? I love the rowhome streets that go up through Lawerenceville into Bloomfield. Those neighborhoods are ONLY UNIQUE TO THEIRSELVES. Pittsburgh is one of the few cities in this country that have rowhomes like this. They are awesome looking in their own right. They got history and soul that I am sure your suburb couldn't get if it tried. They are also not perfect when it comes to crime, but they are not dangerous in anyway. YOu seem to know nothing about the city at all. I say stay in your suburb where it is probably typical to every place located outside a major city in this country. I have friends in Lawrenceville and Bloomfield, and hang out there late at night. I never felt a problem. I am with dougdogmaster, I can just shake my head at this statement.

[Kate88]

Do you know where you'll be working?

It's true that the east end of the city (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Regent Square, Bloomfield, etc.) have the highest concentration of younger people due to the proximity of the big universities.

However, another neighborhood I didn't see mentioned in this thread is Mount Washington. The main drags are Grandview Avenue, with all the fancy, expensive restaurants with the view of downtown, and Shiloh Street, with a variety of little restaurants - pizza places, taverns, a nice coffee and ice cream shop, a Chinese place, etc. I have a friend in her mid-twenties who rents a nice little house, two blocks off of Shiloh Street. It's got a washer and dryer, nice-sized living room, dining room, and kitchen, and 3 bedrooms (one is large, two are on the smaller side - her roommate uses one as a bedroom and the other as an office). It's around 750 + utilities. She loves the neighborhood, and it's an easy commute to downtown, via driving or public transit. Plus, can't beat the view!

[Chef Jer]

Originally Posted by Kate88

Do you know where you'll be working?

It's true that the east end of the city (Shadyside, Squirrel Hill, Regent Square, Bloomfield, etc.) have the highest concentration of younger people due to the proximity of the big universities.

However, another neighborhood I didn't see mentioned in this thread is Mount Washington. The main drags are Grandview Avenue, with all the fancy, expensive restaurants with the view of downtown, and Shiloh Street, with a variety of little restaurants - pizza places, taverns, a nice coffee and ice cream shop, a Chinese place, etc. I have a friend in her mid-twenties who rents a nice little house, two blocks off of Shiloh Street. It's got a washer and dryer, nice-sized living room, dining room, and kitchen, and 3 bedrooms (one is large, two are on the smaller side - her roommate uses one as a bedroom and the other as an office). It's around 750 + utilities. She loves the neighborhood, and it's an easy commute to downtown, via driving or public transit. Plus, can't beat the view!

I am going to be working in Warrendale. It is looking about a 40min commute from shadyside. I don't mind the commute if I am going to enjoy the neighborhood.

I want to be able to enjoy the city and the neighborhood I live in. If I live outside the city I would like it to be a reasonable cab ride or train ride (not a fan of buses)

I will check out mount washington. The company that hired me has a service to help find housing but I wanted to know what the locals thought before dealing with an agent.

[Kate88]

Try looking at Sewickley. It's not in the city, more of a traditional, picturesque small town, but walkable and safe. It's got cute shops and cafes. No train service, but if you're driving, it's only about 20 minutes to Warrendale.

[Pitt Chick]

Since you mentioned Bellevue....

this looks nice, but I have not checked it out.

bldgamen

[fleetiebelle]

Bellevue's actually a nice little area. A friend of mine lives there, and it's got a nice walkable business district with restaurants and diners and a grocery store.

Pop City - Bellevue (http://www.popcitymedia.com/neighborhoods/belleview.aspx - broken link)

[By~Tor]

You might also consider Mount Lebanon and Dormont... both areas fit what you mentioned, but are a bit more affordable, and also have easy access to downtown without having to get anywhere near the "Parkway"...

These communities are both listed here on City-Data so you can check the write ups, and also, I had a thread started on here about a year ago, when we almost moved to that area (also from NY). And, after living in Mt. Oliver for 6+ months, I wish we HAD moved to Mt. Lebanon, instead!!!

[dugdogmaster]

Originally Posted by Chef Jer

What are everyone's opinion of Bellevue? I will be working outside the city and Bellevue would allow a shorter commute while still be near the city.

The Bellevue and Westview areas are decent. You may want to try and get in touch with "jinxd_13" on this board. She relocated to that area from New Orleans and seems to be loving it. I haven't seen her around in a while though.

[sportsfreak]

you might check into oakmont a nice safe quiet yet lively suburb on the allegheny river. we have a great business district here with restaraunts many shops and boutiques a movie theater a book store and you could hop on the turnpike from here and be at work in 30 minutes or so. but if you dont want suburban than bloomfield is perfectly safe i spend alot of time there since i work in bloomfield and i wouldnt hesitate to live there if my wife didnt love oakmont so much

[Chef Jer]

Thanks everyone for the replies. We will continue to research the areas everyone has recommended.

One of the nicest things about our time in Denver has been our access to downtown and Lodo via the light rail. One of our concerns with some of the outlying areas is ease of access to the city. We like to go out to dinner and occasionally go to a pub. We are hoping to find an area with train or a reasonable cab fare to where the action is.