The walkability factor of Pittsburgh (Oakland: apartment, to rent, appliances)

[ajl777]

Don't be fooled most people downtown are there for court or class.

[Blackbeauty212]

^^^^^ NOT EVEN CLOSE TO BEING TRUE. And I'm tired of arguing with people who refuse to use any perspective in their wild claims.

[BrianTH]

If things go as planned, we should see a positive feedback loop as increasing numbers of Downtown residents provide a market for more local amenities, which in turn will help attract more Downtown residents, and so on.

[yhf1979]

There are a fair amount of downtown places being added. I think the Century Building, Market Place Apartments and a couple others. Don't know when everything will be done and people will be down there, but probably soon. I think this will make a difference.

[soniqV]

Downtown has definitely picked up compared to even 5 years ago. Comparing it to Manhattan though is more than a bit of a stretch... If Pittsburgh were New York no way I'd want to live here lol.

[BrianTH]

I think it was around 2002 that they really started putting a lot of new Downtown residential space into the pipeline, and what I have read recently suggests there is still a lot more in the pipeline despite the recession.

Incidentally, of course Manhattan is unique in many ways. But I think most people get what that comparison is supposed to suggest (and what it does not).

[robrobrob]

Downtown Pittsburgh today has more people working there than ever before, but probably fewer daily shoppers. What are there, 10 big malls and countless strip centers where everybody goes now? But downtown is still a hopping place. Go down on a Friday or Saturday night when all the theaters are staging performances - it's packed.

Outside of the cultural district is a different story. Where do you find the stats about people working downtown? I find this hard to believe when there are so many office vacancies. For example Union Trust Building is empty.

[Blackbeauty212]

It is fact, downtown only has like a 3% vancancy rate, the lowest its been in Eon's.....

[kettlepot]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

If things go as planned, we should see a positive feedback loop as increasing numbers of Downtown residents provide a market for more local amenities, which in turn will help attract more Downtown residents, and so on.

And then add in the last part of the positive feedback loop. As more residents attract more amenities which attract more residents, more people from elsewhere in the city will come to downtown because:

A) that's where the new amenities are (obviously), but less obviously
B) to see and be seen, and be a part of the hustle and bustle, and the "happening" vibe.

When people are in a social frame of mind they don't want to go someplace that looks like a scarily quiet Twilight Zone set where any moment the zombies are going to flood out onto the streets and eat your brains out.

[Tiger Beer]

Originally Posted by fleetiebelle

The OP was referring to neighborhoods like Squirrel Hill, where if you lived there you could walk to the library, grocery store, movie theater, etc.

That's exactly what I was thinking of. I love the idea of stepping outside of the apartment, and walking down to the library, movie theater, grocery store, etc. The convenience of that is priceless.

Particularly if the area is affordable, but not sketchy. Particularly for raising kids as well.

It seems like Pittsburgh offers this more than other cities. It seems like the most ideal cities for this - i.e. NYC, Boston, SF, Seattle come with a VERY hefty pricetag, whereas Pittsburgh doesn't, yet appears to offer the same convenience of that, to people who might be interested in that.

Or am I wrong on that?