Edgewood (Pittsburgh, Swissvale, Wilkins Township: new house, neighborhoods, school district)

[tmorrisn]

So, after many months of searching and reading this forum - we put a bid on a house in Edgewood. We couldn't afford anything decent in Shadyside, Squirrel Hill or Regent Square, and didn't care for Greenfield. We ruled out Highland Park b/c of bus commute time to CMU, and ruled out Bloomfield b/c it was too far from a park for the dogs.

I haven't seen any info on this neighborhood, so tell me the good, bad, and ugly. Our potential new home is on Elm St. (north of shopping center and just east of Edgewood Ave). It's a 20 minute bus commute to CMU or a little over 4 miles.

It's not close to anything (I don't need to be within walking distance of bars or restaurants - especially as a broke grad student), but the neighborhood seems nice and a little diverse.

Any info is appreciated.

[Hopes]

I don't know the area well enough to comment on the state of the specific neighborhood.

What I do know is that the school district is in severe distress with student fighting right now. Edgewood is part of the Woodland Hills School District. Many parents are wtihdrawing their children because of the dangerous atmosphere in the schools.

I have a friend who just put her daughter into cyber school, and while she was at the cyber school orientation, there were many Woodland Hills parents who were pulling their children out of Woodland Hills in the middle of the school year and putting them in cyber school for safety reasons.

As Smoker previously posted in another thread, the Woodland Hills School District consists of "Braddock, Braddock Hills, Chalfant, Churchill, East Pittsburgh, Edgewood, Forest Hills, North Braddock, Rankin, Swissvale and Turtle Creek Boroughs; and Wilkins Township." I'm not sure which neighborhoods' children are causing all the trouble in the school district.

While you might not have children, you will want to eventually sell your house. The condition and reputation of a school district has much to do with how desirable houses on the market are.

[Hopes]

You might want to contact citydata member named montevista1 because I saw a post where he/she claims to live in Woodland Hills. The post didn't say which part of woodland hills though. But I'm sure he/she will know any of the neighborhoods comprising the Woodland Hills School District much better than most of us. Send montevista1 a PM.

[Snaily]

From my experience Edgewood isn't particularly nice, also did you actually take bus trips from Edgewood to CMU? It seems unlikely that it would work out to 20 minutes on average. For example, I've had to wait 20 minutes just to get on a bus out of CMU during busy times (the buses fill up from all the CMU + PITT students).

Also, as a grad student I think you'll find edgewood depressing, nobody at CMU lives out there.

[tmorrisn]

Thanks for your honesty. Being an "older" grad student and being married, I don't necessarily need to live near other students. I have a friend from college who lives there, and he loves it.
I figured the buses would be crowded during peak hours, so I'm hoping that between having a flexible schedule or biking, it would be okay.

[subdivisions]

Originally Posted by Snaily

From my experience Edgewood isn't particularly nice, also did you actually take bus trips from Edgewood to CMU? It seems unlikely that it would work out to 20 minutes on average. For example, I've had to wait 20 minutes just to get on a bus out of CMU during busy times (the buses fill up from all the CMU + PITT students).

Also, as a grad student I think you'll find edgewood depressing, nobody at CMU lives out there.

I know some grad students who live out there, and parts of Edgewood are very nice. I would live there.

[Snaily]

I know some grad students who live out there, and parts of Edgewood are very nice. I would live there.

I'm sure there are some, but the vast majority live in the city.

so I'm hoping that between having a flexible schedule or biking

Pittsburgh isn't very bike friendly, I'm not even sure if there is a safe way to ride your bike from Edgewood to CMU. Not to mention it rains often.

Anyhow, I suppose its a question of how involved you want to be in graduate student life. If you are going to just get a degree then it probably doesn't matter, on the other hand if you want to be part of academia then I think removing yourself from your peers is not a good idea. I also don't think your age is very important, plenty of graduate students are "older".

[ontheroad]

I know a few people who live in Edgewood about the age of "older" grad students, and they like the community.

But as someone else mentioned it might not be a bike ride to CMU. I do believe there is a regular bus that goes down to CMU nearby, and I've found their schedule to be close to accurate. (Sorry I can't remember the bus #).

Originally Posted by tmorrisn

Thanks for your honesty. Being an "older" grad student and being married, I don't necessarily need to live near other students. I have a friend from college who lives there, and he loves it.
I figured the buses would be crowded during peak hours, so I'm hoping that between having a flexible schedule or biking, it would be okay.

[tmorrisn]

I think it's the 61A. There is a stop about a block from my house. I'm actually exactly a mile to Braddock via W Hutchinson, so I could always get the bus there too. I'm not worried about removing myself from my peers as I will be working with them/taking classes with them every day. I probably should have included that I own a car, so I would be able to drive to hang out with people.

Maybe it's because I'm not from here - but I don't think 4.2 miles is really that far away. I currently live in Baltimore, and 4.2 miles is a great commute. Regardless, we've already made the decision to live there. We love our new house, and I am really now just interested in the neighborhood.

[ontheroad]

Don't know much about the neighbourhood, but I did find a wonderful bone-cracker on Edgewood, and the shopping outlet on Braddock is not bad--a good Giant Eagle with a Citizens Bank, and other shops I am less familiar with and sounds like just a few blocks from your new home. The library is also right nearby at the Hutchinson pass and Pennway.

After awhile you'll learn all the quick ins and outs of Pittsburgh streets and the 4.2 miles will seem like a snap!

Good luck in your new home and new city!