Five Pittsburgh neighborhoods with most potential. (Allentown, Wilkinsburg: middle-class, 2009, renting)

[nuwaver88]

The key word here is potential. This means that the neighborhoods are not quite yet like the South Side or Squirrel Hill, but have elements and things in their favor to someday thrive.

1. Lawrenceville... Lawrenceville is probably the most upstart neighborhood in Pittsburgh right now that has not quite "made it" in my opinion, at least not yet. Artists are moving in, the clientele at bars and restaurants is changing. It has a lot in it's favor.
2. East Liberty...East Liberty has a lot of very nice buildings that hopefully will someday find new uses. The new Eastside development on the neighborhood's southern border is a boon to the area. New hotels plus Bakery Square are adding more to this formerly great Pittsburgh neighborhood.
3. North Shore...The North Shore is a bit of a mess right now with the subway construction and new hotel construction. In a few years, when North Shore development comes to fruition, this area will be a very attractive entertainment district with stadiums, music venues, casino, hotels, restaurants and clubs. I will add that I wish that there was a residential element to the area. Still, it is better than what was developed around Three Rivers Stadium, which was nothing over a thirty year period.
4. Uptown...The new arena will open this area up. There are several factors in favor for this area. Location location location are three of them.
5. The Strip...So much open space to develop, such a great location with great markets and great old buildings from the industrial era.

I would like to hear if anybody has any more within the city.

[BrianTH]

Those neighborhoods are all already embarked on the redevelopment process, in some cases quite a ways into it, so I'm going to nominate some neighborhoods I think really have a lot of untapped and currently unheralded potential:

(1) The Hill: fantastic location, dignified history

(2) Polish Hill: again, excellent location and interesting history; could be the next Lawrenceville

(3) Homewood: admittedly a longer term project, Homewood nonetheless also enjoys a very good location (particularly in the long run: see below), good housing stock, and a nice combination of flat land and an escarpment with great views.

From prior experience, people think I'm crazy when I mention Homewood, but up until the 1950s it was a diverse (German, Italian, and Africa-American) middle-class neighborhood. And I honestly see the whole post-WWII decline of this part of Pittsburgh gradually unwinding. East Liberty is well on its way to becoming a thriving commercial center again. I think Wilkinsburg (not on my list because it is outside the City) is going to come along too eventually as both a commercial and residential area. Meanwhile, there is going to be a general trend of people moving back into cities. I think the result is that Homewood's potential as a major residential area with good housing stock located between East Liberty and Wilkinsburg and along the East Busway will eventually be recognized, and the neighborhood will be reclaimed.

Edit: In the spirit of the top 5 concept, I will also keep Uptown from the original list, and add Garfield to my list (basically for the same reasons as Homewood, but specifically noting the Penn Avenue Arts Initiative).

[onwardandupward]

Garfield - lots of positive changes happening; boutiques, coffee shops, galleries. Still definitely rough around the edges, but if you're willing to live in a transitional area, you can get houses cheap, cheap, cheap. The fact that it's surrounded by the upcoming areas of Friendship, Bloomfield and East Liberty are definite pluses as well.

[bradjl2009]

Originally Posted by onwardandupward

Garfield - lots of positive changes happening; boutiques, coffee shops, galleries. Still definitely rough around the edges, but if you're willing to live in a transitional area, you can get houses cheap, cheap, cheap. The fact that it's surrounded by the upcoming areas of Friendship, Bloomfield and East Liberty are definite pluses as well.

So I have a friend who lives in Garfield, while Penn Ave is def better than it was 10-15 years ago, chnage has been somewhat slower to the residential area as many of the problems are still living there. I am however pleased when I see they are building the new houses when I drive to her house. And I can attest to Homewood's past; I know a few Italians who lived there when it was still a nice place. Also, Homewood was the playground of the rich in the 1900's. I wouldn't call Homewood up and coming though, because every city has a ghetto neighborhood and I don't see any potential coming from there (my place Lawrenceville always had a strong group of long term residents who were trying to work hard in it).

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by bradjl2009

I wouldn't call Homewood up and coming though, because every city has a ghetto neighborhood and I don't see any potential coming from there . . . .

The thing is that centrally-located "ghettos" are really an artifact of post-WWII American urban dynamics. In other countries where highways weren't as heavily favored over public transit, gasoline prices weren't as cheap, there was no "white flight", and so on, the ghettos are typically on the outskirts of cities, not in central locations.

And I personally think America's era of being an exception to this pattern is coming to an end, meaning that over the next few decades we will converge on the pattern seen elsewhere. If I am right about that, I don't think there is any reason to assume that any of Pittsburgh's central neighborhoods (which includes most of the City proper, since it hasn't been very aggressive about annexation for the last 100 years or so) will remain "ghettos". On the other hand, I would be concerned about some of our less ritzy suburbs as well as the former mill towns (many of which are already in bad shape).

[nuwaver88]

My list included neighborhoods that we are seeing a movement, but have not come close to their potential. I guess every neighborhood has potential when you think about it. I only listed neighborhoods where there is a certain vibe. Brian was listing neighborhoods that may benefit long term due to the success of adjacent neighborhoods. Some of these adjacent neighborhoods are ones that I listed. I hope every neighborhood is vibrant and there will be no more ghettos in the city. If Obama can work his magic, it may come true. I agree with some of the less ritzy suburbs and river towns possiby going downhill while the city thrives. Sharpsburg is one example. It is right across the river from Lawrenceville. Drugs arrests and thefts have increased. There are more people renting in the borough than there are home owners. It is not what it used to be. As the artists move into Lawrenceville, the riff raff is being pushed across the river to Sharpsburg.

[Drover]

I'm baffled that so many neighborhoods along the T are in the kind of shape that they are (Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Allentown, etc.). You'd think having the best transit option to downtown would make them prime candidates for urban renewal. Some parts over there have nice views of downtown too. It looks so far that nobody has been willing to take the risk. There's a lot of inertia to overcome up there.

I think an obvious candidate for renewal is Greenfield. The fundamentals are already there, and it looks like housing prices there are starting to reflect its potential.

[nuwaver88]

Originally Posted by Drover

I'm baffled that so many neighborhoods along the T are in the kind of shape that they are (Beltzhoover, Knoxville, Allentown, etc.). You'd think having the best transit option to downtown would make them prime candidates for urban renewal. Some parts over there have nice views of downtown too. It looks so far that nobody has been willing to take the risk. There's a lot of inertia to overcome up there.

I think an obvious candidate for renewal is Greenfield. The fundamentals are already there, and it looks like housing prices there are starting to reflect its potential.

Greenfield is a a good example of another neighborhood poised for a rebirth. Adjacent to Squirrel Hill, Oakland, and Waterfront in Homestead. It also has easy access to the Parkway East to Downtown and Monroeville.

[Drover]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

Greenfield is a a good example of another neighborhood poised for a rebirth. Adjacent to Squirrel Hill, Oakland, and Waterfront in Homestead. It also has easy access to the Parkway East to Downtown and Monroeville.

And on top of all that, isn't Greenfield in the Allderdice attendance boundary?

[fleetiebelle]

I'm baffled that so many neighborhoods along the T are in the kind of shape that they are

Part of the reason I felt comfortable buying a house in Beechview was that I feel like it's got the potential to be a better neighborhood. The business district needs a lot of help, but there are active community groups trying to make that happen.