Commuting between Moon and Downtown / Looking for a new neighborhood (Pittsburgh: apartment complex, rent)

[SteelersFan09]

Im going to be moving back to Pittsburgh in the fall from Columbus.

I'm going to be finishing my master's degree at Robert Morris University and working at Consol Energy Center downtown. I'm trying to find a place to live where I could reasonably commute to both. Safety and commute times are my two biggest concerns.

Areas people have recommended to me so far:

Troy Hill
Greentree
Crafton
Robinson

Thoughts?

Thanks.

[BrianTH]

Just a general thought: depending on how often you are going each way and at what times, it may make sense to live closer to Downtown and leave the longer commute for Moon. Commuting into Downtown can be a real problem at certain times, and conversely the reverse-commute to Moon may not be so bad (again depending on timing).

[lifepgh2op]

How often are you going to be at both?

Are you a full-time student at RMU? Night classes? Day classes?

Are you going to be working full time at CEC or just for events (like Pens game, concerts, etc.)

[DaBurgh]

Beechview
Dormont

both have public transporation called the T (trolley)- you could take it back and forth to Consol. Then hop in the car for the trip out to Moon.

or maybe:

Lower Hill
Southside

Walk to work and drive out to Moon.

[SteelersFan09]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

How often are you going to be at both?

Are you a full-time student at RMU? Night classes? Day classes?

Are you going to be working full time at CEC or just for events (like Pens game, concerts, etc.)

Full time day classes at RMU. Only attending Pens games (My job is media-related)

[greg42]

Actually, I'm thinking Bellevue, Ben Avon, Emsworth, Sewickley, anything along the Ohio River there. Why? Think of where Robert Morris is, towards the lower end of University Blvd, closer to the river than to the airport grounds. Sewickley Bridge makes an easy commute to school from that side. Would be pretty easy to choose a spot where you'd have about a 15 minute commute to either place (or you could favor one over the other). In fact, even if you lived Downtown or beyond I think I would suggest getting to RMU on Rt 65 and the Sewickley Bridge rather than the parkway.

If you want something to do near home without driving, most of the Ohio River towns are not that appealing, though. Bellevue is dry (if that matters). Ben Avon and Emsworth have almost no businesses. Sewickley is kind of a stuffy town. Etc. But you could just as easily live Downtown, the Strip, Mt Washington, South Side, whatever.

I would NOT suggest any of those places that would necessitate a trip through the Ft Pitt Tunnel before and after a Pens game, because it backs up a lot. This rules out Green Tree and Robinson. (I don't think those places offer anything more over the ones on the Ohio River anyway; you still gotta drive everywhere.) Beechview and Dormont, less of an issue, but still not ideal IMO. Harder to get to RMU from there. I'm wondering if the T operates late enough sometimes if the game runs over, etc. It's not a bad thought, but it's still not that convenient to RMU, which is probably where you go more often.

Troy Hill is a funny one given the rest of your original list but it's no worse location-wise than the others I guess. Pretty close to the arena, take 65 out to RMU. May trigger your safety meter more than some others, not sure.

Rt 65 outbound in the morning and inbound in the evening would be a reverse commute with not too much traffic in those directions.

I don't know how familiar you are with the neighborhoods. If you have an idea of what sort of place you want, what sort of surrounding area (suburban or urban) and how much rent (I assume rent?) that might help narrow down a bit.

[PreservationPioneer]

Check out Stowe Township. It's a quiet (although a bit run-down in spots) neighborhood right in between both areas. Housing is incredibly cheap there.

[smithsl5]

Are you looking for an apartment or house? Waterford Landing apartment complex in Moon is fantastic and very convenient to RMU. You will hit traffic going into the city, but it's not too bad

[alise007]

I lived in Robinson for 5 years and had multiple ways to avoid Ft Pitt. I worked at AGH and initally worked on the South Side near the Birmingham Bridge and went to evening hospital rotations at various UPMC locations -Shadyside and Presby. I rarely went the Parkway. It would be a parking lot in both directions in the evening.

We could get home from Steelers games in 15-20 mins. You can cut down 60 thru Crafton, back ways thru the Rocks or Stowe Twp over to the Ohio River Blvd. You can drive thru Crafton Heights and go thru the Corliss tunnel over to W Carson/51 and cross over the various bridges. Rarely sat in traffic because at night most of the people were leaving the city- it was great!

[SteelersFan09]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Check out Stowe Township. It's a quiet (although a bit run-down in spots) neighborhood right in between both areas. Housing is incredibly cheap there.

How is it safety-wise? I notice it has a close proximity to McKee's Rocks, which I've been told by many to avoid.