Oakland...(in Pittsburgh)... (Philadelphia, Liberty, Highland Park: apartments, renters, houses)

[Tiger Beer]

I've been getting a bit curious about OAKLAND in Pittsburgh...particularly what I believe to be Central Oakland? Where is that Atwood Street is suppose to be? Is that Central Oakland?

This is kind of interesting: Oakland's Atwood Street is the home of Pittsburgh's exotic cuisines.

I also viewed some google maps on Atwood Street...looks very interesting, I like the feel to it - a lot.

I'm a bit curious what others perceptions are of it, and if there is something I'm missing here. The only big downside I see is that this area might be predominately college kids or frat houses? Not a bad thing, but if you aren't one, then might not be ideal. But interesting proximity to things nontheless, etc.

Also interesting that it is Andy Warhol's childhood home...South Oakland...I viewed it on google maps as well, not quite as cool looking as Atwood Street seems to be however.

How does Oakland compare with say Regent Square or Squirrel Hill or Southside, etc.?

[Blackbeauty212]

I have always viewed Oakland as Pittsburgh's 2nd Downtown a "midtown" of sorts, with E. Liberty being somewhat the 3rd downtown just because they are the Transit Centers of the East End.

Atwood Street - run North South, from Central Oakland to South Oakland and is a Busy street.

Oakland is a Central Business district, the center of Education, and Medical/Bio Tech in Pittsburgh....You now have companies also wanting to be in Oakland to tap the education pool, I believe this is why Rand Corp, chose Oakland as Eastern HQ's.

Oakland is the 3rd largest business district in PA behind Center City Philadelphia, and Downtown Pittsburgh.

Oakland is without a doubt the most diverse Nabe in Pittsburgh, other nabes diversity feeds from Oakland (Shadyside, Sq Hill, and South Side).

Oakland (back when I was living in Pgh) was Pittsburgh's 24hour Nabe; Drugstores, Giant Eagle, The O, and others were 24/7..3am in the morning get whatever you need in Oakland.

Oakland Property was not the best, alot of Frat house and College student housing, really turned some property into the gutter and this is in South Oakland, West Oakland, and Parts of North.

The best parts of Oakland IMO to live in (if you want to be in Oakland) is in North Oakland with its borders to Shadyside around the 5 Av/Craig/Neville/Bayard Streets area. In my eyes, Oakland is ONLY a Renters Market...I would not look at Oakland for Buying.

Last thing about Oakland it is a Major Transit Hub, Like downtown you can get almost anywhere from Oakland and with Frequent Service...Service to and from Downtown is Very Very Frequent were talking 6-7 buses in a 5 minute period....You can truly live without a Car in Oakland.

[BrianTH]

As a residential neighborhood, most of Oakland is what I would call a classic "student ghetto", which tends to mean mostly rentals, usually not particularly well-kept. There is definitely a lot going on in Oakland, however, and there are a few nicer rentals available.

By the way, the one very obvious exception to the "student ghetto" characterization is the residential part of the Schenley Farms Historic District, which is actually one of the ritziest neighborhoods in the City and on the National Register of Historic Places. Schenley Farms was an early-20th Century planned community, part of the "City Beautiful" movement, and it has a very nice mix of well-constructed, and often quite large, homes in various period styles. See here for a nice description:

Schenley Farms Historic District, Pittsburgh City, Allegheny County, Pittsburgh PA 15213

[trotter_rej]

Another exception, IMO, to the "student ghetto" in Oakland is the area in far South Oakland, on the other side of Blvd. of the Allies from the universities. In particular, the area east of Bates St. has a more permanent resident feel to it. There are some student apartments in these areas too, of course, but also many single family homes. I lived on both Dawson St. (east of Bates) and Lawn St. (west of Bates) while I was a student at Pitt, and both neighborhoods were generally quiet.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

I've been getting a bit curious about OAKLAND in Pittsburgh...particularly what I believe to be Central Oakland?

I'm a bit curious what others perceptions are of it

I'd never move there, tell you that. Working in Oakland, I get to see Central Oakland, live and direct, in person, all the time. A lot of those apartment buildings are eye sores and have slum lords maintaining them. There is a nice section, though, over there by Schenley Park, before you approach the Schenley Park swimming pool, with nice homes with well kept lawns. I drive over in that section, frequently, because there's a short cut, back in there, that'll take you to the South Side Works in 5 minutes flat, from Oakland. I never knew about those homes back in there, until I was taught the short cut.

[BrianTH]

I very much agree that South Oakland proper (on the other side of Boulevard of the Allies) also is much less a student ghetto than the rest of Oakland--in fact, that may be part of why I tend not to think of that area when I think of Oakland.

[Sideblinded]

We looked around Oakland including Schenley Farms. There are some great areas, but it didn't seem as kid friendly as Squirrel Hill or Regent Square. That was just my gut feel.

[Blackbeauty212]

Your gut was right.....

[gaelgirl]

North Oakland is fine. Much better than South Oakland. There is basically trash on the streets down there. It's gross.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

We looked around Oakland including Schenley Farms. There are some great areas, but it didn't seem as kid friendly as Squirrel Hill or Regent Square. That was just my gut feel.

Personally, I think that is correct. To supplement your gut, here are some statistics on percentage of residents under 18 as of the 2000 Census:

North Oakland 1.6%
Central Oakland 4.8%
West Oakland 15%
South Oakland 12.5%

For comparison:

City of Pittsburgh 17.5%
Shadyside 8.0%
Squirrel Hill North 9.8%
Regent Square 16.6%
Squirrel Hill South 16.9%
Greenfield 17.0%
Swisshelm Park 18.8%
Highland Park 21.6%
Point Breeze 22.2%

Obviously the student population pushes these percentages down a bit in every relevant neighborhood (i.e., if you looked only at non-students, the precentages would be higher in neighborhoods like Shadyside and Squirrel Hill), but I think it is fair to say that North Oakland and Central Oakland in particular are to the point that there are so few kids around they are likely to be less kid friendly neighborhoods.