Rankin and Braddock...... (Pittsburgh, McKeesport, West Mifflin: crime, houses, school districts)

[ckhthankgod]

I was wondering about these communities. I noticed that both have high poverty rates(45% of people in Rankin and 35% of people in Braddock according to 2000 census), but seem to look relatively nice and well kept. Are these communities seen as being "rough" or "bad" in terms of crime? They obviously existed due to the Steel industry, but are there any potential developments for either of these communities? What school district(s) are these communities in?

[Pitman]

relatively nice and well kept? lol

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Originally Posted by ckhthankgod

I was wondering about these communities. I noticed that both have high poverty rates(45% of people in Rankin and 35% of people in Braddock according to 2000 census), but seem to look relatively nice and well kept. Are these communities seen as being "rough" or "bad" in terms of crime? They obviously existed due to the Steel industry, but are there any potential developments for either of these communities? What school district(s) are these communities in?

I don't know about 'rough' or bad'...I think the words 'desolate', 'dreary', and 'deprived' fit these communities the best...I mean, they both have their share of crime (mainly drug-dealing), just like any other abandoned community, but you don't usually see these communities plastered all over the local news, consistently, for crime.

I don't know about Rankin, but I do know that Braddock's mayor, John Fetterman, is trying to be instrumental in bringing life back to that community.

http://www.15104.cc/mayor

Both Rankin and Braddock belong to the Woodland Hills School District.

Woodland Hills School District

P.S. A friend of mine owns a BEAUTIFUL home in Braddock. Right up the street from UPMC Braddock hospital. I was invited to a cook-out, over there over Labor Day week-end, and was in awe, actually. I rarely ever go to Braddock, and whenever I do, I'm usually riding through the main business district, which isn't very impressive.

[BrianTH]

I think their long term potential is good because they are fundamentally well-located (close to the river, at the terminus of the East Busway, not far in general from the East End and Downtown, and so on). But Pittsburgh has a lot of well-located areas that are currently economically depressed, so I am not sure when this particular area will take its turn in the redevelopment cycle--to be blunt, it could be a matter of decades.

[Nebat]

I got lost in Braddock trying to find a place that obviously doesn't exist and kept having to go back and forth over that bridge, I think it's called the Rankin bridge? Any way, the bridge was so beat up I thought it was going to collapse at any moment! The metal handrails were completely rusted and the cement curbs were crumbling and there were tons of potholes in the road. My friend and I nicknamed it the "ghetto bridge" and it sort of became a joke. Last time I was there I noticed that they were starting to repair the bridge. Seemed 30 years overdue! Braddock didn't look any better. Too bad because the town has tons of character being on the river and with the old buildings and brick streets in sections if I remember correctly.

[Herodotus]

Braddock is actually in far worse shape than Rankin. Rankin contains housing projects, while Braddock's have been razed. This probably is the reason for Rankin's higher poverty rate. Broaddock, from Braddock Avenue, south to the Monongahela, is pretty much a done deal. If it were up to me, I'd clear that entire stretch of all residential, and retail buildings, and redevelop it for warehouses and light industry. There are too many areas with more to offer urban pioneer types inside the city, as well as in places like Carnegie, that offer inexpensive property, but are in vastly better shape than Braddock. Pittsburgh would have to undergo a population boom before many people would give Braddock a serious look.

[mattm93]

the town and bridge were named after my great great great(i dont know how many more greats) grandfather. he was a congressman or something from Pittsburgh. its kinda sad to see something your family is named after turn into a bad area.

[ckhthankgod]

What about Swissvale in regards to development and school district? Same with Duquesne, Aliquippa, Midland and McKeesport.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

Swissvale belongs to the Woodland Hills School District, too.

Duquesne's school district closed a few years ago. They split their students up between East Allegheny and West Mifflin school districts.

Aliquippa and McKeesport have their own school districts, as well as Midland Borough.

I don't frequent any of those communities to inform you about development in those areas. I ride through Swissvale's business district, at times, and its nothing to call home about.