Carnegie or Millvale (Pittsburgh, Mexico: how much, landscaping, tax return)

[skeezix2009]

We've seen a handfull (small handfull) in the Heidelberg/Bridgeville area.That seems like a nice area but I'm worried about the commute to anywhere.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by COPANUT

Etna is similar to Millvale.

I disagree. We're talking low level neighborhoods here, and some are better than others.

Etna is definitely better than Millvale. Millvale is definitely better than Carnegie.

Etna also has the advantage (over Dormont) of being in the Shaler Area School District (like Millvale), and a super easy commute into the city and other places.

Etna is like a small town near the city. Dormont is congested.

Etna has a private swimming pool and a street hockey rink within walking distance for Etna residents.

Etna residents also have of the larger Shaler Township swimming pool, movies in the park and other Shaler events.

Residents of Shaler School District are permitted to use the high school gym facilities, which saves money from joining a fitness club.

Etna hosts free live concerts, antique car shows, annual carnival, and a bunch of other free events every year.

I don't know about Dormont, but Etna is very well policed with it's own police station and services from Shaler.

Etna works hard at keeping Etna from deteriorating.

It's not a ghetto. Most properties are single family.

It's a solid working class town where many families have lived for generations.

And many people aren't aware that there are some really pretty neighborhoods in Etna. The plan surrounding Mt Hope has some amazing brick and stone houses.

I could go on and on.

Etna might not be filled with beautiful half million dollar houses, but I wouldn't hesitate to live there if my budget was 80k and I had children to consider.

[Hopes]

There are random houses within your price range that are spread out in the better areas.

I'd search for the lone stone or brick fixer-upper house in the suburban townships.

They have better bones than the framed houses with siding that are located in the working class towns you're considering.

Like this one in Hampton:

Hampton Real Estate - 2473 Ankeny, Hampton, PA, 15044

Or this one in Shaler:

Shaler Real Estate - 2811 Phillips Ave, Shaler, PA, 15116

which I found a picture of here: 2811*PHILLIPS AVE - Allegheny County Assessment Web Site

It's already priced below market value. This property is a steal even if it needs work.

If you check the deed history, it looks like a daughter bought it from her parents for a dollar in 2001.

The house is owned by her and two siblings. There is no mortgate on the property.

This is an estate. These owners are wanting to sell.

I'd jump on this one.

I know this neighborhood well. It's within walking distance to the elementary school and intermediate school.

It's a relatively flat neighborhood too, which is rare in Allegheny County.

You couldn't buy in a safer area.

It's convenient too. The commute downtown is 20 minutes. The shopping on McKnight at Ross Park Mall is 10 minutes. Two grocery stores are 5 minutes away.

[Hopes]

I just want to point out that the real estate webiste has the wrong school district for that last house.

It's definitely in Shaler School District, not North Allegheny.

[chessimprov]

I felt safe at night around Millvale, where there's the awesome Mr. Smalls as a rock concert venue as a church with some of its remnants! If Hill Carnegie is part of Carnegie, I felt very uncomfortable personally. It seemed like one section has extremely dilapidated looking houses next to some nicer houses that I suspect are lower income housing. Maybe things changed in 4 years? Maybe not.

[Hopes]

I suspect there are serious undertones of racial issues in Carnegie. Last year, I was driving through Carnegie trying to find an address on top of that hill. It was broad daylight---no reason for anyone to be afraid of my middle-aged blonde self. I stopped my car and asked some adults on the sidewalk for directions. They just ignored me. Absolutely and completely ignored me. I have never been treated so rudely in my life. They could have said they didn't know. They could have said anything. They could have told me to go away for goodness sake. They just looked at me and looked away, and didn't respond when I persisted. It was utterly unbelievable. They were full grown adults who appeared to be responsible people.

[creepsinc]

Millvale is hardly a ghetto. It's got the original P&G Diner (aka Pamela's). It also has the best music venue I've seen in Pittsburgh (Mr. Smalls). It has a small-town feel, it's right next to the river and the only downside I can think of is that it floods often. I don't know much about Carnegie. I bought my car there, that's about it. It also seems to have the small town vibe, if a little more suburban. You could do worse than either, but I'd go with Millvale. You're also a short walk across the 40th St. bridge to Lawrenceville.

[Hopes]

Millvale does have one thing the others don't---a river park with a bike/jogging path along side the Allegheney River shore to the North Side and downtown.

As for the flooding, Carnegie floods too and was hit hard during Ivan. The zones are fairly obvious in these towns. Simply buy uphill from creeks and streams.

[drtrenga]

Originally Posted by steelerbuc

Interesting,did you have any suggestions for them or did you just want to insult 2 entire neighborhoods?

My suggestion would be Plum Borough, Murrysville,Export, Verona or Oakmont however they said that they cannot afford very much so if the travel would not bother them then I would suggest Butler as Butler is a very nice area with affordable housing. No, my intentions were not simply to insult I have been to both neighborhoods and have a relative that was a police officer in the Millvale area.

[otters21]

Originally Posted by otters21

Millvale is rather old and gritty but it is safe with that old school feel to it. Carnagie is not too bad but it is somewhat depressed. My vote also goes to Millvale.

Millvale reminds me of that gritty sounding Don Henley song in the 80s "Down at the Sunset Grill " where the locals enjoy cold beer at a mom and pop bar after putting in day's hard work. I picture the place having a small grill in the back and they make greasy but delicious burgers with cheese and fried onions. Blue collar Joe haven. Mr. Henley must have been thinking of places like Millvale when he made that song. We need to keep our blue collar Joe areas alive and well.