Manchester's future? (Pittsburgh, York, California: apartment, crime rates, home)

[PPG]

Originally Posted by Drover

Pffft. Whoever didn't like it is a weenie.

I almost didn't comeback. I refused to change my name. But then I conformed. This is a maximum security forum.....

[Hopes]

It's a shame PGH wasn't available. That fits Pittsburgh and the P, G & H name you had. Oh! I'll BET PG&H is available! You should have them make your name PG&H instead. Then it won't look like you work for PPG Industries! And we'll all know it's Pimps when we see PG&H.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by PPG

I agree the only thing that can change it is the government through e. domain or hispanics but I hear they don't like Pittsburgh because there are few jobs.

These are not the only things that change a neighborhood. There are some parts of Chicago that were straight-up ghetto even 5 years ago that are yuppie playgrounds today. And in many of those neighborhoods it didn't require eminent domain or Hispanics to accomplish that end. It was primarily economic forces that made it happen, though property taxes sure played their part much to my chagrin as earlier mentioned. Meanwhile, there are south suburbs that are seeing a change for the worse -- the folks that got pushed out had to go somewhere, after all. Some day the yuppie playgrounds may be 'hood again, and some day the struggling souths suburbs may return to healthy bedroom communities again.

Nothing is permanent. Some day, even Pittsburgh will probably undergo the same kind of upheaval most other cities have been dealing with already for 15 years. Manchester may remain much the same as it is now for the next 10 or 20 or 30 years. But that future is certainly not written in stone. I personally wouldn't put my money on Manchester right now; but back in the 90's I thought people were idiots for snatching up all those dilapidated piles of crap in Mexican War Streets. It looks like they got the last laugh.

[Katiana]

I personally wouldn't put my money on Manchester right now; but back in the 90's I thought people were idiots for snatching up all those dilapidated piles of crap in Mexican War Streets. It looks like they got the last laugh.

Sounds like what happened in my old neighborhood in Denver. You have to be incredibly lucky to call it right. You have to be willing to take chances with your money, which usually means you have a lot to take chances with!

[kettlepot]

Would it be off topic to ask for a comparison between Manchester and Brighton Hgts?

To an outsiders' eye BH appears to be the neighborhood north of Manchester along the Ohio river.

In particular would anyone who is knowledgeable like to comment on what are the similarities and differences between these two areas?

Maybe Brighton is a place more likely to be making a renaissance. Does it have the architectural bones that Manchester has?

[Hopes]

Manchester and Brighton Heights are complete opposites.

Manchester is comprised of a mostly a black population; Brighton Heights' population is mostly white.

Manchester is an impoverished area; Brighton Heights is a working class neighborhood.

Mancester has more architectural bones than Brighton Heights.

Most homes in Manchester are completely brick or stone. Many homes in Brighton Heights are brick on the first floor and have siding on the second floor, some are entirely wood (many of which are now sided of course).

Manchester's homes were built in the late 1800s---1870s, 1880s, 1890s; Brighton Heights homes were built in the early 1900s---1920s, 1930s.

Although on the map, it appears as if these neighborhoods are side by side, they are not easily accessible to one another on foot. There is a huge hill and deep ravine separating them. These aren't neighborhoods that overflow onto one another except along on one main road.

I see Manchester having a renaissance before Brighton Heights; however, a renaissance in Brighton Heights would be more successful. Manchester has tried to revitilize itself many times and failed. In my opinion, the only way Manchester is going to be successfully revitalized is to tear a lot of the great architecture down to displace the current residents. That would be a shame.

Even without a renaissance, there's money to be made on property in Brighton Heights. My sister and her husband flipped quite a few houses there. You can get houses relatively cheap----under 40k----and sell them for around 100k if you fix them up right.

Brighton Heights will always be a working class neighborhood. Most of the houses aren't grand enough to attract more wealth into the area. And it's extremely unlikely that Brighton Heights will ever acquire a 'trendy' or 'artsy' or 'hip' identity. Brighton Heights is a neighborhood for raising families.

If you want to get a feel for the houses in both areas, get street names from a google map and put the street names into the allegheny county real estate website. The site provides information about every property in Allegheny County---and there are pictures of almost all of them.

Here's a link to the Allegheny County Real Estate assessement website:
http://www2.county.allegheny.pa.us/R...ate/search.asp

[kettlepot]

Here's a link to a thread in the Los Angeles subforum, asking where have all the Blacks gone? Anyone interested in this topic of the ethnic transition of neighborhoods might enjoy it.

http://www.city-data.com/forum/los-a...ple-going.html

However, if Pittsburgh's population remains as static as it has been, I doubt there will be much change in the 'burgh.

[northside02]

I have lived in Manchester for 5 years now and am disappointed with all of the negative stereotyping that is posted about this wonderful Victorian era neighborhood. Anyone can have a bad experience in any neighborhood , but to generalize those experiences to the neighborhood in general is unfair. It masks the positive changes that are occurring in Manchester and inhibits us from making greater strides to improve the neighborhood by reinforcing negative stereotypes. There have been NO shootings on my street -- it is filled with families, some long-time residents and some new to the neighborhood, white and black, retired to working class to MBAs to a PhD. Yes, there are some challenges ( generally involving drug activity in some parts of the neighborhood), but there are challenges in any city neighborhood. The statement that newcomers are not welcome or "targeted" with shootings or other harassing actions has not been my experience (or the experience of dozens of my neighbors). The fact that I actually know dozens of people in the neighborhood speaks volumes about the "neighborhood" that exists in Manchester. The housing stock here is unique and affordable. The population is diverse in ways beyond merely race. If you desire a "perfect" suburban neighborhood setting, you probably won't be comfortable here. However, if you are interested in living in a remarkable Victorian era city neighborhood, please come visit. I did and have never regretted the decision to move here.

[Drover]

I'm sorry to jump on your case specifically, but I'm getting sick of hearing "there is ________ in any neighborhood" (insert negative attribute here) as if that eliminates any quantitative and qualitative differences between neighborhoods. That's sloppy and lazy reasoning. And why do you get to generalize your positive experiences across the whole neighborhood while others are not permitted to generalize their negative experiences across a whole neighborhood? What makes your experience so much more genuine and accurate than someone else's?

[manchester_momma]

My husband and I moved to Manchester about 5 years ago and live on North Ave. I haven’t noticed any racial problems. I’m happy to say we’ve been welcomed by black and white neighbors alike.

Now I have noticed an occasional problem with young black men shooting each other, but that’s not a white/black problem, eh? All my black neighbors wish that would end as much as I do.

I get tired of people asking me if they should “invest” in Manchester by buying some property and waiting for the neighborhood to “turn”. I’m raising my family there, that’s how I’m investing. I want to live in a diverse neighborhood and I hope it continues to be one.