Family relocating to Erie from British Columbia, Canada (Upland, Lincoln: for sale, neighborhood)

[trackstar13]

ctwotwo

I don't pretend to be an expert on all things Erie yet, but I have learned a great deal about the area during my time here to so far. I think there are a good number of suburbs and small towns that fit most of your criteria except for the walkability and good bus service. Both North East and Millcreek have good schools and access to bus service, but Millcreek, especially the areas by the Millcrek Mall definitely have better bus options than North East. There are bus routes to and from Edinboro, but the times and days are more limited.

Here is a basic breakdown:

Erie = Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday bus service with lower rates and more available times
Millcreek = Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday bus service with lower rates and more available times
Lawrence Park and Wesleyville = Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday bus service with lower rates and more available times
Harborcreek = Weekday, Saturday, and Sunday bus service with lower rates and decent available times if you live in the right spot
Fairview = Decent weekday service, limited weekend service with lower rates
Edinboro = Limited service, increased rates, and very limited times
North East = Extremely limited routes with very limited times and increased rates (I couldn't even find the route on the "E" website so I am not sure if it exists anymore)

In other words if you want to access the bus on a regular basis live in Erie, Millcreek, Wesleyville, or Lawrence Park. Harborcreek and Fairview might even be possibilities if you move to the right spot, but just realize that overall bus service is pretty limited in Erie county and if you are planning on using the bus you really need to learn the routes/times before you purchase a house.

[trackstar13]

ctwotwo

To address your other question about walkability, some areas of Erie could be considered somewhat walkable, but only the downtown and city neigborhoods have sidewalks and provide a relatively decent level of walkability. The areas like Kearsarge (Millcreek) near Peach St. might seem walkable, but walking anywhere near Peach St. can be seriously hazardous and I have heard of many people getting hid by cars walking on Peach St. near the mall or walking toward Wegmans.

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ctwotwo

I'm wondering if there are any other areas we should consider based upon our requirements (especially: good schools, good bus service, nearby parks/playgrounds, reasonable commute [by car] to Behrend College, some degree of walkability for basic amenities)

The part of Millcreek Township that immediately abuts the city's Frontier neighborhood is worth a look - same neighborhood, really, but in Millcreek instead of Erie.The houses are of 1950s vintage and aren't as fancy as the houses in Frontier. The elementary school nearby is Tracy Elementary.

I wish I knew more about the city's neighborhoods to recommend some that meet your requirements. The area around Mercyhurst University is good, but as far as I recall there's not much to walk to in the area aside from a bank or two, a hardware store, and some fast food joints. Some west side neighborhoods - near Blessed Sacrament Church on West 26th are nice - but again I'm not sure what's around there to walk to or what the local elementary school situation is.

North East is a beautiful little town, and very walkable with everything you need, but I think the bus service there is once or twice a day inbound a best. Without a car, you'd be limited to North East most of the time.

It's a shame that Lawrence Park's Main Street doesn't have the everyday businesses that it did when I was a kid - grocery stores, butcher shop, drug store, etc. - because if it did, it would be exactly what you're looking for. I'll take an inventory of the current shops this weekend when I'm in Erie.

If I think of it, I'll take some routes I usually don't take and scout out a neighborhood or two for you.

[ctwotwo]

Thank you so much, trackstar13 and Ohiogirl81. The insights you have both offered are more helpful than words can say.

trackstar13 thank you for your overview of the frequency of bus service in the various areas. Ohiogirl81, as you've said, it's too bad that Lawrence Park doesn't seem to have an active business area anymore. We're going to expand our search to Millcreek, Lawrence Park, and Wesleyville and also keep an eye on Fairview and Harborcreek. But from everything you both have said it really does sound like Frontier (including the part of Millcreek that borders on Frontier) is where we should focus our search. We're also looking at Glenwood, just in case we find a gem of a house there.

One more quick question if you don't mind: what neighborhood is Penn State Behrend considered to be in? We heard from someone that there are nice little pockets of houses very close to campus but on the map I can't tell exactly which neighborhood(s) that person might have been referring to.

[ctwotwo]

And Ohiogirl81 thank you for your offer of scoping out the current state of Lawrence Park for me. That's incredibly nice of you, and don't worry if you aren't able to - I just appreciate the offer!

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by ctwotwo

Thank you so much, trackstar13 and Ohiogirl81. The insights you have both offered are more helpful than words can say.

trackstar13 thank you for your overview of the frequency of bus service in the various areas. Ohiogirl81, as you've said, it's too bad that Lawrence Park doesn't seem to have an active business area anymore. We're going to expand our search to Millcreek, Lawrence Park, and Wesleyville and also keep an eye on Fairview and Harborcreek. But from everything you both have said it really does sound like Frontier (including the part of Millcreek that borders on Frontier) is where we should focus our search. We're also looking at Glenwood, just in case we find a gem of a house there.

One more quick question if you don't mind: what neighborhood is Penn State Behrend considered to be in? We heard from someone that there are nice little pockets of houses very close to campus but on the map I can't tell exactly which neighborhood(s) that person might have been referring to.

Penn State Behrend is in Harborcreek and very close to Lawrence Park. The area around the campus is relatively nice and there are some very nice homes near Reese Rd. and the golf course that is close to campus. Wintergreen Gorge is a very nice park near the area and is great for hiking. The biggest challenge for your housing search is going to be the walkability and bus service due to the layout of the Erie area and the reliance on cars to get to many places like Upper Peach, the Millcreek Mall, the various grocery stores, etc.

[ctwotwo]

Thank you for this clarification, trackstar13. We'll keep an eye on properties in the area surrounding Penn State Behrend, but as I've mentioned before I really do get the feeling that Frontier is where we'll end up if possible.

[trackstar13]

Originally Posted by ctwotwo

Thank you for this clarification, trackstar13. We'll keep an eye on properties in the area surrounding Penn State Behrend, but as I've mentioned before I really do get the feeling that Frontier is where we'll end up if possible.

No problem and the area around Penn State Behrend is nice, but there is just not much to walk to in that area unless you are headed somewhere on campus. Glenwood Hills and Frontier definitely have the best bus service of the areas you are looking and only Frontier is really somewhat walkable. I actually walked to the new Brew Ha Ha coffee shop today from my house and I was able to do it by walking on South Shore Dr., which is a beautiful area with mansions and views of Presque Isle Bay, and I turned up Indiana Dr. to 6th St. and ended up on Sommerheim Dr. and walked right into the Colony Plaza parking lot with only having to walk a few blocks on a busy street (6th st.). The Colony and West Erie Plazas are readily accessible from the neighborhood on foot and much safer to walk than Upper Peach St. I just hope the Colony Plaza continues to thrive and the redevelopment and revitalization of the West Erie Plaza continues.

[ctwotwo]

trackstar13, the walk you have just described has really helped me to get a better sense of the walkability of the Frontier neighbourhood. Looking at a map is one thing but hearing an actual route from someone with knowledge of the area is much different. Thank you!

[Ohiogirl81]

Originally Posted by ctwotwo

And Ohiogirl81 thank you for your offer of scoping out the current state of Lawrence Park for me. That's incredibly nice of you, and don't worry if you aren't able to - I just appreciate the offer!

I was able to because I walked the length of Main Street Friday night to get to a neighborhood watering hole with my high school chums.

Really isn't much there as far as daily living needs: a dry cleaner, pet grooming shop, the Dinor and another breakfast-lunch restaurant, a beauty shop, a credit union, a convenience store, car mechanic, along with the aforementioned watering hole, which has a limited food menu.

I was pretty depressed, actually. The commercial development on Buffalo Road has sucked the businesses out of both Lawrence Park and Wesleyville.