What are your top 10 Pittsburgh city neighborhoods? (Swissvale: fence, yard)

[Sideblinded]

I like the south side too, but I get confused. Which area/areas are nice? South side, south hills, south side flats. There are great restaurants and shopping over there, but I am never quite sure what south side I am in!

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

I like the south side too, but I get confused. Which area/areas are nice? South side, south hills, south side flats. There are great restaurants and shopping over there, but I am never quite sure what south side I am in!

The names are supposed to be indicative. The Flats are just the parts along the river that are, well, flat. The Slopes are the part that slope up from the Flats. The Hills is the stuff back off the crest of the initial ridge line.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Scientist Mom

Has your wife every been to Swisshelm park? It is pretty much like Regent Square or Squirrel Hill minus the businesses.

She has. I agree that it isn't as gritty or urban as Bloomfield. I think she feels that it is too close to Swissvale.

[BrianTH]

I don't mean to be having an argument with your wife's perceptions, but if proximity to somewhat sketchier neighborhoods is an issue, I don't see how Shadyside, Point Breeze, or Regent Square distinguish themselves favorably from Swisshelm Park (and in the case of Regent Square, it is actually partially in Swissvale!).

Again, I'm not trying to be argumentative--I just think Swisshelm Park in particular is an odd one to rule out on the stated grounds.

[robrobrob]

We lived in Shadyside and Point Breeze and she liked them both. We also looked at houses in Regent Square. I don't know why she just doesn't like Swisshelm Park because it is too close to Swissvale. Maybe it is because "we' now includes two kids?

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

Maybe it is because "we' now includes two kids?

I know people raising kids in Swisshelm Park. Honestly, aside from the lack of a walkable commercial area, it seems just like Regent Square, Point Breeze, and Squirrel Hill to me in terms of family-friendliness, and much more so than Shadyside.

Although in fairness, Squirrel Hill is one of the few Pittsburgh neighborhoods that has a healthy buffer zone between it and any sketchier neighorhoods, so I could see that argument applying specifically to Squirrel Hill.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by Aqua Teen Carl

The architecture there is awesome I have to admit.

Yeah, it was about the architecture in Manchester. It has some of the best mid 19th century architecture in the city. Some of the streets in Manchester are among the most gorgeous in the city, and then there are the others that look like a war-zone. haha.

[szug-bot]

will try again, since tonight's storm and then lengthy power outage put an end to both my attempts to chime in...in no particular order, based on various criteria, or combinations of criteria:

downtown
brighton heights
westwood
greenfield
bloomfield
perry north
duquesne heights
squirrel hill (north/south)
(north) oakland
brookline


whatever happened to the days when it was JUST "oakland", or "squirrel hill"? not to mention that the "North Shore" used to be the "North Side".
also, was "Observatory Hill" (perrys north/south, i guess) ever a distinct neighborhood? the street signs do identify it. where is glenwood, too! its madness, i tell you!

http://blog.jimdolanch.com/files/2010/05/jimdolanch-neighborhood-map.png (broken link)

[Sideblinded]

I understand the gritty comment regarding Swisshelm Park. I drive through it and I don't know the entire area, but I have the same perspective.

Steep hills, houses seem to close to each other, a lot of run down houses and yards. (I have a front yard chain link fence phobia) When I drove around, I could not imagine my children out riding their bikes and feeling safe. I hope I am not dissing the area or the people that live there, It is just my impression. I am sure there are areas I have not seen.

[jimmyev]

Originally Posted by Sideblinded

I understand the gritty comment regarding Swisshelm Park. I drive through it and I don't know the entire area, but I have the same perspective.

Steep hills, houses seem to close to each other, a lot of run down houses and yards. (I have a front yard chain link fence phobia) When I drove around, I could not imagine my children out riding their bikes and feeling safe. I hope I am not dissing the area or the people that live there, It is just my impression. I am sure there are areas I have not seen.

I can see this if you're talking about Swissvale (except there are always kids in the streets; last night I had to listen to them outside my window arguing about who was saying the Pledge of Allegiance correctly). But Swisshelm Park looks a lot like Regent Square with slightly smaller and newer houses. And it's relatively flat over there.