Dormont Park and area surrounding (Pittsburgh, Lebanon: real estate, apartment, first time home buyer)

[PghNative]

First time poster...

Moving back to area and wondering how nice of an area it is around Dormont Park. Working with a local realtor and saw a house really close. Is it a nice park? Lots of people with babies (we have a 10 month old)? How close to walk from the park to Glenmore where the Dor-Stop and other restaurant/shops are?

Also, looking at a place down on Glenmore, but seems a tad pricey (nice street, though). Any ideas how hard it might be to sell in a couple years in the 200+k pricerange in Dormont?

Thanks in advance for any help!

[raynist]

That is a nice area of Dormont, close to Mt Lebo. $200k+ seems kind of high for Dormont though.

[Copanut]

I'd really think hard about spending that much money in Dormont. The taxes and lousy municipal services will drive you nuts.

[PghNative]

Thanks for the feedback!! I appreciate all the good comments on this site. Still looking for a place...when we're sure about the area (still thinking Mt. Lebo area or Squirrel Hill area), I'll post back again.

[Duane1961]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

I'd really think hard about spending that much money in Dormont. The taxes and lousy municipal services will drive you nuts.

As life long resident, I would agree that even though there are some nice big older houses to be had but they will be on small lots, I'd probably spend it elsewhere.
The taxes are a little above the norm but I have to disagree about the lousy municipal services. The boro repaves a couple blocks of streets every summer and keeps things in pretty good repair.

For first time home buyers and commuters, you really can't do much better than Dormont IMO.

[PghNative]

I ended up buying a little brick tudor in Mt. Lebo. Taxes are higher, but the location can't be beat. Hope to keep visiting the site and getting valuable info. while me and the family make our transition in July. Thanks, again!

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Duane1961

As life long resident, I would agree that even though there are some nice big older houses to be had but they will be on small lots, I'd probably spend it elsewhere.
The taxes are a little above the norm but I have to disagree about the lousy municipal services. The boro repaves a couple blocks of streets every summer and keeps things in pretty good repair.

For first time home buyers and commuters, you really can't do much better than Dormont IMO.

Well, I'll back off a little bit about the services, but I won't about the taxes. A total millage rate of 40 is ridiculous, considering that the boro rate is 14 mills, way out of line. And when you consider how many people live in the apt buildings and duplexes that are so common there, you'd think the boro could make a ton of money from personal income tax. Don't get me started! But I will say I liked living there back in the late 80's to mid 90's. I walked to Cain's to see all the Pens that hung out there. (crawled home). One night I found myself in between Mike Lange and Steve Blass at the old Red Bull. Man, I was a rookie compared to them.

Also, when the South Hills theater was active I saw EmmyLou Harris, Comedian Steven Wright, and the late, great, Maynard Ferguson. It was kind of cool to be able to walk to a concert, especially since I was high for Ferguson.

And going to hockey games was a cinch by jumping on the T.

Originally Posted by PghNative

I ended up buying a little brick tudor in Mt. Lebo. Taxes are higher, but the location can't be beat. Hope to keep visiting the site and getting valuable info. while me and the family make our transition in July. Thanks, again!

Again, if the home you bought in Mt. Lebo is assessed the same amount as in Dormont, you are paying LESS in taxes. It's all about the millage.

Both are great areas. Prior to living in Dormont I lived in an apartment building on the corner of 19 and Bower Hill. That's a great area.

You'll like it in Lebo.

[Duane1961]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

Well, I'll back off a little bit about the services, but I won't about the taxes. A total millage rate of 40 is ridiculous, considering that the boro rate is 14 mills, way out of line. And when you consider how many people live in the apt buildings and duplexes that are so common there, you'd think the boro could make a ton of money from personal income tax. Don't get me started! But I will say I liked living there back in the late 80's to mid 90's. I walked to Cain's to see all the Pens that hung out there. (crawled home). One night I found myself in between Mike Lange and Steve Blass at the old Red Bull. Man, I was a rookie compared to them.

Also, when the South Hills theater was active I saw EmmyLou Harris, Comedian Steven Wright, and the late, great, Maynard Ferguson. It was kind of cool to be able to walk to a concert, especially since I was high for Ferguson.

And going to hockey games was a cinch by jumping on the T.



Again, if the home you bought in Mt. Lebo is assessed the same amount as in Dormont, you are paying LESS in taxes. It's all about the millage.

Both are great areas. Prior to living in Dormont I lived in an apartment building on the corner of 19 and Bower Hill. That's a great area.

You'll like it in Lebo.

I think Dormont has been trying to live up to the standards of it's heyday (up till about 1980). It was getting tax money from 2 theaters, 2 Isaly's, 2 bowling alleys, car dealerships, pharmacies and it's lost 3 or 4 liquor licenses ( believe it or not) since I turned 21 in 1982. I've been here my whole life and it's still a nice , safe community. The only negative change is that the mix of businesses are more food, bars, nails, tattoos etc. It's still hanging in there and is much better than Brookline Blvd. which used to be similar to Dormont back in the day.
Back when the Penguins still practiced in Mt Lebanon, most of the Penguins lived and drank on West Liberty. It wasn't unusal to see Recchi, Cunneyworth, R. Brown, Lange, Steigerwald and gang at the Saloon, Cain's or the Sunken Cork in the 80's and early 90's. I've seen Mike Lange in just about every bar in the South Hills and that's not an exaggeration.
I was a regular at Simpson's in the 90's and really miss that lounge, it had a nice mix of people.
The South Hills theater as a concert hall idea didn't last that long but I remember them having Charlie Daniels and Megadeath. In fact I think the CDB concert was one of the last because he had 2 semi trucks and a box truck and as you know ther is nowhere to unload them let alone park them.
I personally think that as fuel prices keep climbing, Dormont is going to benefit because of it's walkability and what the business district can become again. It's as close as you can get to the city without being in the city (School district).
Both main routes into town from the south pass thru Dormont along with the streetcar and bus routes. I will be able to get on a streetcar 2 blocks from my house and get off right at the gate at Heinz Field (soon I hope)

[Cesco]

I'm an old timer from Pittsburgh, is the Sunken Cork still in business? Cesco

[Copanut]

No, it's long gone. I think it's a real estate office now.