Where not to go in Pittsburgh (McKeesport, Wilkinsburg: where to stay, violent crime, neighborhood)

[slykryk]

Hello,

I just moved to Pittsburgh for the summer. I am living in allegheny center on the northside which is just a few blocks above the baseball stadium. Anyway, I just want to know where I should not go when I am exploring the city. Ive read a lot of things so far, but I wanted to consolidate all this information with a general consensus of where to stay away from.

Main areas I've heard are really bad are the hills, manchester, and federal st.

thanks!

[JoeLeaphorn]

Try:

Pittsburgh Crime Map - Showing Crime in Pittsburgh, PA - Crime Statistics - Crime Alerts - Crime Stops Here

Interactive map: Allegheny County homicides in 2008

15211.org Murder Map: Pittsburgh | 15211.org

This is older but more complete with respect to non-violent crime.

Part One: Pittsburgh neighborhood crime statistics

[highway29south]

Originally Posted by JoeLeaphorn

Try:

Pittsburgh Crime Map - Showing Crime in Pittsburgh, PA - Crime Statistics - Crime Alerts - Crime Stops Here

Interactive map: Allegheny County homicides in 2008

15211.org Murder Map: Pittsburgh | 15211.org

This is older but more complete with respect to non-violent crime.

Part One: Pittsburgh neighborhood crime statistics

I've lived here a long time and never realized there were maps like this available. Nice to know.

Federal Street on the North Side, Climax street and nearby areas in Mt. Oliver, and East Liberty and Wilkinsburg are the big areas I tend to avoid. Parts of the areas are ok just certain pockets seem dangerous. When I used to work as a case manager, those are the areas we knew to be extra careful in.

[Mt Oliver Life]

Im moving to 300 block of Arabella in Mt Oliver (not the borough). Can you tell me if this is an okay pocket or a more dangerous one? Thanks, Polly

[neurodistortion]

Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Manchester and Federal Street on the North Side are no brainers. Other places you might want to avoid include certain parts of the Hill District, McKeesport, New Kensington and McKees Rocks. You will also hear plenty of other places, mostly along the Mon River that might be shady, but if you're just happening to drive through those areas, then you shouldn't have a problem. It's when you hang out in those areas and associate with other junkies when you're likely to encounter problems, mostly just kids selling drugs but there will be a shooting from time to time. Not saying it will definitely happen, but there's that possibility.

[MissShona]

Originally Posted by neurodistortion

Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Manchester and Federal Street on the North Side are no brainers. Other places you might want to avoid include certain parts of the Hill District, McKeesport, New Kensington and McKees Rocks. You will also hear plenty of other places, mostly along the Mon River that might be shady, but if you're just happening to drive through those areas, then you shouldn't have a problem. It's when you hang out in those areas and associate with other junkies when you're likely to encounter problems, mostly just kids selling drugs but there will be a shooting from time to time. Not saying it will definitely happen, but there's that possibility.

Well my car was broken into (quite badly too....really damaged my passenger side) in Shadyshide (close to Chatham). However if I said stay away from Shadyside, no one would endorse me on that.

[BrianTH]

As always, I feel compelled to note that Wilkinsburg has some very nice parts, and also some other parts that are at least OK.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Originally Posted by Mt Oliver Life

Im moving to 300 block of Arabella in Mt Oliver (not the borough). Can you tell me if this is an okay pocket or a more dangerous one? Thanks, Polly

Pretty much all of Mount Oliver is bad. I live in the next community over (Carrick which is also bad) and avoid driving through there at all costs. A few years ago some dude pulled out a gun in the middle of traffic and was going to shoot him and this was in broad daylight. My brother's friend was jumped there recently and had his ribs broken, it's pretty rough.

In before the "IT AIN'T SO BAD!!!!!!!!11" crowd arrives.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by MissShona

Well my car was broken into (quite badly too....really damaged my passenger side) in Shadyshide (close to Chatham). However if I said stay away from Shadyside, no one would endorse me on that.

Oh of course not.

I work at a University and you should see the amount of CRIME ALERTS, we get through e-mail, in regards to crime happening in SHADYSIDE. Mainly break-in's and muggings and words of caution for people to "be careful and to not walk alone at night"....

[caroline2]

I see this argument made often here, and I'm flabbergasted every time. Do people really believe that because some crime happens everywhere, all areas are equally dangerous?

Really?

I understand there are more subtle arguments to be made -- like, for the average, law-abiding citizen, what matters isn't the raw crime rate, but the "stranger" crime, i.e. people who are minding their own business yet end up mugged, shot, etc. by someone they don't know. But "well, my neighbor got her car window smashed in Point Breeze, so how can you say it's any less dangerous that Homewood?!" type arguments... really surprise me.