Where is the dividing line between Mt. Oliver & Southside Slopes? (Pittsburgh: section 8, neighborhood)

[Tiger Beer]

Or more specifically, what is the dividing line between 'that's an acceptable place to live' and 'that's not an acceptable place to live'?

Viewing old posts, it seems that Mt. Oliver is to avoided? And Southside Slopes comes recommended (to those who'd like those condensed pedestrian areas). Is that about right?

[Hopes]

Look at google maps with the terrain view. You'll see that natural terrain features divide most of the two areas.

[Tiger Beer]

That is cool! First time for me to see the 'terrain' map...

[Impala26]

Originally Posted by Tiger Beer

That is cool! First time for me to see the 'terrain' map...

It is very useful, especially for looking at unfamiliar areas of Pittsburgh. Really there's no other metro area in the lower 48 with as truly undulating terrain as here. San Fran and others might have big or steep hillsides, but at least they're pretty consistent sloping. Pittsburgh has these too, but also flat "river valleys", well-defined hill crests, ravines, cliffs, brooks, streams, and so on.

[BrianTH]

Just an aside, but a terrain map is very useful in understanding the boundaries and layout of my neighborhood, Regent Square (it is defined by a particular interfluvial promontory in the Nine Mile Run watershed, and was laid out to make use of the flatter top region):

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&sour...38495&t=p&z=15

[Tiger Beer]

Amazing terrain map, Regent Square particularly.

I wonder, Allentown sounds bad from what I've read, but between Southside Flats & Mt Washington, which are two decent areas...is Allentown just bad in parts, or through and through?

[Hopes]

Through and through.

[Herodotus]

Allentown was no prize, even before the Section 8 influx. It's was a fairly ugly neighborhood to begin with. Very dense, but lacking in charm. As for Mt Oliver, Arlington Ave. is it's northern border.