Can anyone recommend Stowe Twp. / West Park? (McKees Rocks: buying a house, neighborhoods)

[alleghenyangel]

I might be buying a house in this area. I realize it's near McKees Rocks, which seems seedy, but the main business district of Stowe (where the house is located) seems a lot nicer. I see a lot of little stores and cafes, and it seems pretty quiet. Are my impressions correct? I'm not concerned about schools, as I don't have kids, but am concerned about safety. Any thoughts about this area?

[Fiddlehead]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

I might be buying a house in this area...... I'm not concerned about schools, as I don't have kids, but am concerned about safety. Any thoughts about this area?

Hi AlleghenyGirl,

Sorry no one has replied to your query yet.

I would only add some general thoughts on the statement above. Although you may not have kids, a kid-friendly neighborhood is a pretty important dimension of the value of a home and neighborhood. I don't go for the obsessing on school district stats that some people do, but it is certainly important to many. Also, you might love the neighborhood and decide to have kids one day! Just hypothetically...I mean... possibly to ..uh .. help rebuild mankind after the asteroid impact...

Not sure where you are in life, but if you just plan to live there for many years until retirement it may matter less than if this is your first or one of your first homes. Folks in the earlier years really need to be thinking about resale value and appreciation. Sorry if this comes across condescendingly, I don't mean it to...Also, if there are neighborhoods where folks intentionally want to avoid young kids around (hipster, retirement enclaves), please take all my advice and reverse it..Best of luck!

[Hopes]

I haven't responded to the thread because I don't know the area well enough to know about the safety.

It's reputation isn't the best.

However, that might not have anything to do with safety in a neighborhood, but instead the state of the school district due to being shared with McKees Rocks.

[alleghenyangel]

Well, the house is only $11,000, and it's actually move in condition believe it or not. It's a nice, tiny brick row house. And I'm a young gay guy so I don't plan on having any kids. LOL. I have been looking for a cheap antique house that I could live in and fix up, in an area that is not unsafe. Thus safety is my only real concern, as I am not worrying about the house appreciating or depreciating in value (it's already rock bottom), it's moreso an investment in a cheap place to live that I can also enjoy because I love old houses.

[Fiddlehead]

$11,000 for a livable house?! Sweet Cheezuz!!

Well, with this info. all I can say is: If you are not dead in five years, you will likely make a profit. Man,even if that is a complete hellhole, I would sleep like a christian each night knowing that I was only in as deep as a nice used Camri. I AM that cheap. LOL! But being a father now, I now have to wear the ring in the nose..

Way to go Angel!

[Hopes]

I recommend calling the police station and talking to the store owners.

[Fiddlehead]

Uh, and very sorry about the AlleghenyGirl handle above. I figured with ***Angel. When you ASS U ME, well you probably know that one by now.

[alleghenyangel]

Oh, that's fine! That's what I get for picking such a feminine screenname.