Office space in Elliot -- is it safe there? (Pittsburgh: rent, how much)

[RoughCollie]

My husband is looking at office space in Elliot, at S. Main St. and Wabash St. Is it safe there, especially for a man who is 60 years old, and who usually works until 7 or 8 p.m. at night? He works alone and this space is very large, and not all that close to other people, so there won't be safety in numbers.

I am concerned about my husband getting mugged or worse, if he rents offices there. He will not be armed with a gun or other weapon for self-protection.

Thanks for your help,
RC

[steindle]

I think that area would be described just as "West End" rather than Elliot. Elliot has a worse reputation, and probably deservedly. The area described (S Main & Wabash) is a little abandoned but not something I would worry about.

There's an upscale gallery there, there used to be a pricey cupcake shop, there's a thrift store, etc...If none of these places have had any trouble, I greatly doubt that some arbitrary office space is going to be targeted.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by steindle

I think that area would be described just as "West End" rather than Elliot.

It's the heart of Elliott.

elliott pittsburgh - Google Maps

I don't know anything about the area. It doesn't really look run down by viewing the street view feature on google maps. Some buildings look empty but they're not falling apart.

If you're concerned, I recommend going and talking to businesses on that block and asking them about the area. There's a NatCity bank on the corner and a bunch of other businesses too.

[ExPit]

Originally Posted by RoughCollie

My husband is looking at office space in Elliot, at S. Main St. and Wabash St. Is it safe there, especially for a man who is 60 years old, and who usually works until 7 or 8 p.m. at night? He works alone and this space is very large, and not all that close to other people, so there won't be safety in numbers.

I am concerned about my husband getting mugged or worse, if he rents offices there. He will not be armed with a gun or other weapon for self-protection.

Thanks for your help,
RC

I know Elliot pretty well, went to grade school at Thaddeus Stevens for one year and hung out there a lot when I was in high school ,and I'd say it's just borderline. If I recall you're coming from Jersey? Or Mass? I could be wrong, correct me if I am, but no doubt in both of those places people have to be street smart. If your husband uses common sense, he limits his exposure time; meaning he keeps his office doors locked, parks as close to his office as possible, uses the 360 degree rule when going to and from his office or car, (knows what's all around him when out on the streets), and has that sixth sense for people with a bad agenda, he should be fine.

[steindle]

Originally Posted by Hopes

It's the heart of Elliott.

elliott pittsburgh - Google Maps

I'm sorry to argue about this, but believe me, I'm obsessively interested in the city. It's West End.

West End Map

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by steindle

I'm sorry to argue about this, but believe me, I'm obsessively interested in the city. It's West End.

West End Map

You win!

[RoughCollie]

Originally Posted by ExPit

If your husband uses common sense, he limits his exposure time; meaning he keeps his office doors locked, parks as close to his office as possible, uses the 360 degree rule when going to and from his office or car, (knows what's all around him when out on the streets), and has that sixth sense for people with a bad agenda, he should be fine.

Street smart with common sense? See, that's the problem. I don't see my husband as having a heaping helping of either of those qualities. He is the absent-minded professor type. He is easy to play practical jokes on, if that gives you an idea. Gullible, I call it.

[RoughCollie]

Originally Posted by steindle

I'm sorry to argue about this, but believe me, I'm obsessively interested in the city. It's West End.

West End Map

Yeah, I couldn't change the title -- I realized from my research that it is pretty much located on the border of West End and Elliot. Not being from there, I couldn't tell in which area it fell.

[Hopes]

We could all put our heads together and think of different parts of town where he could find affordable space in an area that makes you more comfortable. It sounds like he doesn't have walk-in business so he could set up shop anywhere. How much square footage does he need? Does it have to be office space? Have you considered warehouse space?

[RoughCollie]

Originally Posted by Hopes

We could all put our heads together and think of different parts of town where he could find affordable space in an area that makes you more comfortable. It sounds like he doesn't have walk-in business so he could set up shop anywhere. How much square footage does he need? Does it have to be office space? Have you considered warehouse space?

That would be great, thank you!

He needs about 2,000 - 2,500 s.f. of space, which will include space for a large office, a conference room (which has a long table), and 190 bookcases (set up like a library because it's where our online store's books will be shelved).

The space has to be heated and air-conditioned. My husband cannot handle having no air-conditioning here, so he sure won't be able to handle it in Pittsburgh.

He does have clients who come to the office from time to time. Usually the only people who buy books from us in person are those online customers who discover they live nearby.

I thought about setting it up as a regular bookstore, but that is a lot of work. We'd have to put price tags on each book (there are 43,000 of them), for starters. So we aren't going to do that.

The place in Elliot/West End is $825 a month and meets our criteria. It has been renovated and has been on the market since last summer. The heat has been on during the winter, but only to the level at which the pipes won't freeze. We have no way to tell what the utilities will cost, and that is a real problem. It's not a bargain if the utilities cost $800 or more a month, especially if the building is not very well insulated (which I don't know about yet).

We have a 2800 s.f. house, and the utilities this past winter averaged $850 for home heating oil and $450 for electricity. We kept the thermostat set at 64 degrees all winter, and still had huge bills.

Our office rent here includes the utilities, so we haven't had to worry about that before now.

I really appreciate any suggestions.

Thank you,
RC