Why should I move to Pittsburgh? (California, Wyoming: how much, pros and cons, statistics)

[ScranBarre]

For what it's worth I have only but glowing things to say about Pittsburgh. While the "yinzers" might be dumb enough to think their city is "run-down," those of us who live in tract-housing and strip mall hellholes like Northern Virginia really appreciate seeing homes with a small front porch to encourage neighborliness, homes that were built over a hundred years ago by a recently immigrated papa and his eldest sons and have a story to tell over the generations, buildings with ornate details that are too "expensive" to replicate nowadays, etc. If you want to see depressing then come to Northern Virginia where homes that you would expect to see in Cranberry Township are the norm. From the architectural standpoint alone few cities of Pittsburgh's size can compare.

Also, I don't believe Pittsburgh is "anti-gay" at all. Pittsburgh reminds me of a larger version of my native Scranton, and back there people had an indifferent "if you don't hit on me then I'll leave you alone" sort of mindset toward me and my LGBT peers. I think you'll find this in MOST areas of the country as people realize that gays aren't all child molesters or tempters to turn half the straight male population "to the other side" by spreading gay cooties through a handshake (despite what they say on Fox News). Pittsburgh is a city with a lot going for it, and it's a royal shame that so many just think it's a run-down smoggy city that hit its heyday many years ago. It's an even bigger shame that a lot of the whining comes from natives themselves who lack an education and have never experienced other cities to realize that Pittsburgh, in comparison, truly isn't so bad after all. You have all of the cultural/sports/recreational amenities of much larger cities with a fraction of the population crowding them up.

I'm pretty firm in my decision to NOT make NoVA my permanent homestead, and Pittsburgh remains one of my top three contenders. I'd love to give back somehow to the city that I've loved from afar for so many years.

[NANDOAL]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Aargh! Computer ate my post!

Short version: I am a liberal, but pretty moderate.

Need to convince the wife that Pittsburgh is worth a look. She is pretty against it based on old stereotypes. Then again, she grew up in Rhode Island, and I am a naive Californian, who has never lived east of the Mississippi.

My suspicion is that we would both be happy with being in a friendly, welcoming community with good work to do and good opportunities for our son. So long as she could jog in the woods twice a week with the dogs.

Me: Born in Pittsburgh, Raised in Rhode Island ( Narragnsett), Back in Pittsburgh for the past 10 years. I decided this is where I want to raise my family and watch/help this great city grow.

RI is very different than Pittsburgh. It's MUCH slower in RI, and she'll surely miss the beaches.

But Pittsburgh is worth a look at the least. Very underrated.

[Nebat]

I'm an outsider and admittedly had the same outdated stereotypical thoughts of Pittsburgh that your wife apparently does before visiting for the first time. My opinion of not just the city, but the whole area did a complete 180. I found the people down to earth and friendly. As someone else said there doesn't seem to be a keeping up with the Jones' attitude prevalent here on a wide scale. I'm not anti wealth, just those who flaunt it in front of those less fortunate. I thought that maybe I just hit the city on a good weekend and that the next time I visit would encounter the real Pittsburgh. Wrong. The several times since my initial visit that I have visited I have been continously impressed by this city and hope to one day if possible relocate here. It is an incredibly underreated place. My friends had the same attitude toward the city and once I brought them along they fell in love with the place and now want to come back too. And considering the history of the city, economically wise, the downtown is quite alive and well. In good shape compared to many other cities. And as noted, geographically wise, it is a beautiful city. So yes, give Pittsburgh a shot!

[Katiana]

I would repeat what groar said, namely, come out for a visit. I realize visiting isn't the same as living there, but you'll get an idea of the general lay of the land. Since your wife is from RI and you're from Cali, and you have never lived in the east and she has, you should have a good heart to heart with her about her concerns.

[Fiddlehead]

Wow, great comments!

I guess the major concern she has is that Pittsburgh is part of the sea of humanity that is the East. We live in an area, Ashland, Oregon, surrounded by public lands, with the Pacific Crest Trail running nearby, giant trees, and the open expanse of the Great Basin Desert to our east. She is afraid that there is nowhere around there to find open space and natural area.

I should add it also has 14% unemployment and median home prices about six times those in P'burgh. The challenge here is that legions of bubble-rich Californians have semi-retired into our community and driven home prices far beyond the reach of local workers, even professors. It is a great place, but hard to get established without overspend on housing.

We spend several months in Ireland last year for my research, and I was impressed by the beauty of that place, even though it had been inhabited for over 7,000 years. So, I am not afraid of a few people, if I can find my places to go to enjoy nature.

[Hopes]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

I guess the major concern she has is that Pittsburgh is part of the sea of humanity that is the East. We live in an area, Ashland, Oregon, surrounded by public lands, with the Pacific Crest Trail running nearby, giant trees, and the open expanse of the Great Basin Desert to our east. She is afraid that there is nowhere around there to find open space and natural area.

If that's her main concern, you need to bring her here for a visit. You don't have to live in the City of Pittsburgh.

I think it sounds like she'd like Ligonier or anywhere in the Laurel Mountains.

laurel highlands - Google Images

http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/hiking/laurel.aspx

http://www.trails.com/tcatalog_trail...lid=HGN130-050

http://www.laurelhighlands.org/

http://www.laurelhighlands.com/

http://www.laurelhighlandschamber.com/

I have no idea where you plan to work so maybe that's not convenient.

[Katiana]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Wow, great comments!

I guess the major concern she has is that Pittsburgh is part of the sea of humanity that is the East. We live in an area, Ashland, Oregon, surrounded by public lands, with the Pacific Crest Trail running nearby, giant trees, and the open expanse of the Great Basin Desert to our east. She is afraid that there is nowhere around there to find open space and natural area.

You can certainly find open spaces and natural areas around Pittsburgh. Pennsylvania in general is more rural than many of the other northeastern states. However, I know what your wife is saying. I grew up in the Pittsburgh area and now live in Colorado. The west is different than the east. It's hard to put a finger on just how, but it's different, no doubt about that. Go out there and take a look around.

[groar]

if you come for a visit, i'd suggest taking a day trip out to the ohiopyle area. you can go see fallingwater, which is always worth a visit, plus there's another frank lloyd wright house to tour, kentuck knob. and on the way you can see how lovely and wild it is not far from pittsburgh. there are closer state parks too - raccoon creek is a nice one that is only about 45 minutes from the city. there is also a bike trail that exists in sections from downtown pittsburgh to mckeesport, and then goes uninterrupted to cumberland md. it goes through ohiopyle, actually. eventually it will be connected all the way to washington dc.

[Mugatu]

Originally Posted by Fiddlehead

Wow, great comments!

I guess the major concern she has is that Pittsburgh is part of the sea of humanity that is the East. We live in an area, Ashland, Oregon, surrounded by public lands, with the Pacific Crest Trail running nearby, giant trees, and the open expanse of the Great Basin Desert to our east. She is afraid that there is nowhere around there to find open space and natural area.

She has no reason to worry. Pittsburgh is not like your typical east coast city. I moved up here from Florida and find the Pittsburgh area to by very country-like, with lots of rural areas. To me, it has more of the feel of a smaller mountain town, than a big urban city, especially in the suburbs. I've spent more time exploring the outdoors in the 3 years I've been here than I did in the last decade in FL. The milder climate, the hilly terrain, and the abundance of wildlife really encourages me to be outside as much as possible.

Check out these local trails, they are both only 10-15 miles outside the city limits, and run through some rural areas with nice scenery.

The Montour Trail

Collier Friends of the Panhandle Trail - Home

[neurodistortion]

I think Hopes has you covered with information on the Laurel Highlands, it might be what you and your wife are looking for. Greensburg, the county seat of Westmoreland County and the hometown that I'm from is situated at the foothills of the Laurel Highlands, not to mention it is about 45 minutes east of Pittsburgh. There's an extensive trail system running right through town as well as county and state parks within a 10-mile radius. Despite being a relatively small town, there's a number of venues and museums, including the Palace Theatre and the Westmoreland Museum of American Art. A science center is also under construction in the downtown area. In addition, there's an abundance of shopping and dining in the middle of town as well as plenty of national retailers and a major regional mall with nearly 200 shops surrounding the city. You can learn more about Greensburg by visiting this website. Ligonier is a quiant small town with upscale shops in the middle of the mountains, about 20 minutes east of Greensburg and an hour and a half east of Pittsburgh. Further out east past Ligonier, it is generally remote with heavily wooded terrain, some areas which rise up to 3,200 feet. It is an area popular for hiking, quad riding, camping, etc.