What do you know about Ambridge? (Pittsburgh, Butler: real estate, houses, construction)

[MaryBeth2]

Picture about a 25 mile radius around Ambridge. Now where would you suggest living? I know nothing about the area. Thanks for any info you can give me. From what I've seen, I could not find any houses with any land at all. Is that the way it is all around there?

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by MaryBeth2

Picture about a 25 mile radius around Ambridge. Now where would you suggest living? I know nothing about the area. Thanks for any info you can give me. From what I've seen, I could not find any houses with any land at all. Is that the way it is all around there?

You said 25 miles radius -- 14 miles gets you to Cranberry. I'm not suggesting Cranberry. Go to Google maps and look up Ambridge with Drving directions from 16066 -- look around the areas near Rte 989, and Conway Wallrose roads, and Freedom and Lovi. This is a nice area called Bradford Park. You can find homes with a little less than an acre to a few acres. If you head out of there headed towards Freedom, and still be within that 25 mile radius you can find small farms. Stay in Beaver County -- taxes are better.

Now the ride to Ambridge will be back roads and I can't guarantee winter driving, unless you want to go the really long way via 79 to 65 (Ohio River Blvd), and will take a little time.

Also look in Harmony township -- get away from the river. That housing was built by the company to house company workers.... you want up the hill away from the river. You'll find land there.

[MaryBeth2]

Thanks Tallysmom. I didnt know where to start looking, and all I could find was city life. I wondered if there were rural. I 'really' appreciate the tax tip too!

[MaryBeth2]

I can't get the Google Streetmap to work in that area. I wish it would.

[TheReason]

Cranberry is one of the nicer suburbs in the Pitt Metro. You will not be dissapointed.

[JoeLeaphorn]

Originally Posted by TheReason

Cranberry is one of the nicer suburbs in the Pitt Metro. You will not be dissapointed.

But if you are working in Ambridge, then I would not suggest Cranberrry as a good place to live as the roads are less than ideal, especially in the winter. 25 miles as the crow flies sounds close but because of the way that roads are laid out around here, 25 miles can seem like you are living in another country. I live on Ohio River Boulevard only 13 miles from Downtown Pittsburgh and 17 miles from Oakland (the University) and it can take me better than an hour to get into work during rush hour with road construction and repair.

Ambridge is easily accessible from anywhere along Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard), and that includes Sewickely, Osborne, Leetsdale, Baden, Conway, Rochester, etc., and all of these have a good mix of affordable housing. The intersection at the Sewickley Bridge is a bottleneck in rush hour so you may not want to look closer to town if you want to avoid traffic.


You are also right on the Ohio River and some of the views from the surrounding hills are quite nice (because of the industrial heritage of this area there are few places with waterfront housing).

As someone mentioned, if you get above the towns an into the surrounding hills you can find homes with property which are affordable. Economy Borough is a thought in addition to the places already mentioned.

[MaryBeth2]

Originally Posted by TheReason

Cranberry is one of the nicer suburbs in the Pitt Metro. You will not be dissapointed.

I guess I shouldnt have said the 25 mile radius. I didnt take into consideration the twists and turns and ups and downs.

[MaryBeth2]

Originally Posted by JoeLeaphorn

But if you are working in Ambridge, then I would not suggest Cranberrry as a good place to live as the roads are less than ideal, especially in the winter. 25 miles as the crow flies sounds close but because of the way that roads are laid out around here, 25 miles can seem like you are living in another country. I live on Ohio River Boulevard only 13 miles from Downtown Pittsburgh and 17 miles from Oakland (the University) and it can take me better than an hour to get into work during rush hour with road construction and repair.

Ambridge is easily accessible from anywhere along Route 65 (Ohio River Boulevard), and that includes Sewickely, Osborne, Leetsdale, Baden, Conway, Rochester, etc., and all of these have a good mix of affordable housing. The intersection at the Sewickley Bridge is a bottleneck in rush hour so you may not want to look closer to town if you want to avoid traffic.


You are also right on the Ohio River and some of the views from the surrounding hills are quite nice (because of the industrial heritage of this area there are few places with waterfront housing).

As someone mentioned, if you get above the towns an into the surrounding hills you can find homes with property which are affordable. Economy Borough is a thought in addition to the places already mentioned.

I am glad you reminded me of the twists and all in the roads back there. 25 miles might not be a good idea. Thanks for all the info. I will check out the places you mentioned.

[Tallysmom]

Originally Posted by MaryBeth2

I am glad you reminded me of the twists and all in the roads back there. 25 miles might not be a good idea. Thanks for all the info. I will check out the places you mentioned.

MaryBeth, I grew up in Cranberry -- and I wouldn't move back. It's WAY overgrown and a lot of the housing you will find in newer developments, with very little land to it. Also either Butler County or Cranberry TWP are going to be raising taxes up much higher, and Allegheny County taxes are already pretty high.

But Cranberry is a major shopping hub -- they have pretty much every thing, except department stores. Grocery shopping, Target, WalMart, Kohl's, Lowe's, Home Depot... but for nicer clothes shopping Mom still goes to Ross Park Mall.

To me it sounded like you wanted what I call rural suburban -- close enough to get where you're going but with the relative peace and quiet of the country. And you can find that easily in Beaver County. I didn't suggest anything over the river, because a lot of the bridges in Beaver County are smaller, and at commute times add a heck of a lot of time to the commute.

For instance, my mom only knows one way to the Pittsburgh Airport. (She's 82, and when she's driving it's better to just go with it) You have to cross traffic at the Sewickly Bridge. It added 20 minutes to the ride.

As good as the internet is at real estate -- and I do love perusing houses online, too -- you can't beat a good real estate agent.

Please note -- since I don't have kids I never think about school quality... which should be a consideration...

[MaryBeth2]

Originally Posted by Tallysmom

MaryBeth, I grew up in Cranberry -- and I wouldn't move back. It's WAY overgrown and a lot of the housing you will find in newer developments, with very little land to it. Also either Butler County or Cranberry TWP are going to be raising taxes up much higher, and Allegheny County taxes are already pretty high.

But Cranberry is a major shopping hub -- they have pretty much every thing, except department stores. Grocery shopping, Target, WalMart, Kohl's, Lowe's, Home Depot... but for nicer clothes shopping Mom still goes to Ross Park Mall.

To me it sounded like you wanted what I call rural suburban -- close enough to get where you're going but with the relative peace and quiet of the country. And you can find that easily in Beaver County. I didn't suggest anything over the river, because a lot of the bridges in Beaver County are smaller, and at commute times add a heck of a lot of time to the commute.

For instance, my mom only knows one way to the Pittsburgh Airport. (She's 82, and when she's driving it's better to just go with it) You have to cross traffic at the Sewickly Bridge. It added 20 minutes to the ride.

As good as the internet is at real estate -- and I do love perusing houses online, too -- you can't beat a good real estate agent.

Please note -- since I don't have kids I never think about school quality... which should be a consideration...

You had me just right. I do want rural surburban with close enough to get where I need to get!
I have a dad like your mom. It's good they are able to drive still.
How close is Cranberry to Economy?