My realtor advised me to always stay west in a city when buying a home - is Pittsburgh the exception? (Sewickley: neighborhoods, university)

[easybay]

When buying our first home (20 years ago) our realtor said to always buy west in a city, since prevailing winds normally blow west to east, and city planners generally built factories in the east end of cities.

We have always used this theory as to where to start looking, and it worked for us when we moved to DC (purchased in Vienna) and Houston (purchased in Katy). Now when researching Pittsburgh, the advice on these boards seems to be to look east of downtown - Squirrel Hill and Shadyside keep being listed as nice areas.

So, help me out here - is Pittsburgh the exception to this generalization?

[CrestViewdrive]

First, there isn't much industry left in Pittsburgh. Second, the industry was on the rivers. It wasn't built like midwest farm towns where they put the cows on the east side of town to blow the smell of methane they produce away. That theory doesn't work for Pittsburgh at all.

[ainulinale]

In fact you may even want to buy east considering that most of Pittsburgh's pollution is caused by Midwestern factories pollutants getting caught by the jet stream and placed in the hills surrounding the city.

[chicknpotpie]

Originally Posted by ainulinale

In fact you may even want to buy east considering that most of Pittsburgh's pollution is caused by Midwestern factories pollutants getting caught by the jet stream and placed in the hills surrounding the city.

I've heard a few things about the pollution. If I live around the university area, am I going to get lung cancer?

[Copanut]

The old adage I heard was live in the East of the city. When driving to work and going home the sun is always behind you.

As to industry, not so much in the 'burg anymore.

[Mugatu]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

The old adage I heard was live in the East of the city. When driving to work and going home the sun is always behind you.

Why should that matter since the sun NEVER comes out in Pittsburgh? Or so I'm told.

[ainulinale]

Originally Posted by chicknpotpie

I've heard a few things about the pollution. If I live around the university area, am I going to get lung cancer?

If you smoke cigarettes.

[easybay]

As to industry, not so much in the 'burg anymore

Sorry should have clarified - and will add to my original question....his point was when cities were first planned the nicer areas were generally NW/W/SW. Industrial areas were generally in the NE/E/SE - so neighborhoods in the East were usually not as nice, cheaper, more dangerous.

Some cities, it's obvious - East LA - Anacostia in SE DC. In Houston, East of downtown is really dangerous, whereas west is the Galleria area, very upscale.

So, my question is, is Pittsburgh an exception to this? From what I've read on these boards, the areas due east of the downtown sound to be the upscale neighborhoods.............anyone?

[easybay]

Actually I should also add - I'm not concerned about pollution.

[Copanut]

Going due east of downtown Pittsburgh is pretty much an industrial wasteland. No more Westinghouse or US Steel providing jobs for thousands of people. You might see a little money when you hit Murrysville.

Most of the people with money are in Mt. Lebo, USC, and the greater Sewickley area.