Moving to Area, Looking at Meyers Ridge TownHomes (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: low income, affordable apartments)

[Mike_L]

Can anyone provide any insight on Moderator cut: link removed, please read our terms of service

I am 22 and fresh out of college and just got a job with a construction company in the area and am looking for a place to live (relocating from NE Ohio).

These town homes seem awesome, and at only $715 for a 3 bedroom, it almost seems too good to be true. Is there something wrong with the McKees Rocks area that I don't know about?

Any insight is greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

Mike

[feanix]

Meyers Ridge is run by the Allegheny County Housing Authority. This site was once project housing that was torn down and reestablished into it's current housing. It is income based and the last I remember you needed to fall within a guideline (not just under, but within a lower/upper range based on the size townhome you were applying for and your family size). It is still considered low-income housing and I remember there being something about you paying part of the utilities (to establish independence from relying on the system). Don't hold me to this last part because I'm basing it on my memory when I considered applying there right after my divorce.

While the area housing was rebuilt it still suffers some of the lingering issues associated with county run housing (drugs, crime) though to a much lesser degree than it's predecessor. If I were new to Pittsburgh and looking for housing I would not choose county run housing communities unless financially I was limited. I base my opinion on having lived in county housing. You can see what properties they own here: http://www.achsng.com/sites/meyers.htm (that's MeyersRidge direct link on the county housing site). From their site:

The ACHA currently owns and manages approximately 3,200 low income public housing units throughout Allegheny County (shown below)

I think you could find alternative and equally appealing options unless, as I mentioned earlier, your financial situation prevents you.

EDIT TO ADD: I don't think McKees Rocks is a terrible community. My post is directed only towards my thoughts about Meyers Ridge and county run housing in general. McKees Rocks is a lower income community, there are drug problems, there may be a slightly elevated crime rate in comparison to other areas. I lived there for several years in my early 20's and didn't have any issues. I think the biggest knock I'd give them is their school system. If I didn't have kids I wouldn't mind the area as it's convenient to town and housing is affordable.

[Mike_L]

Originally Posted by feanix

I think you could find alternative and equally appealing options unless, as I mentioned earlier, your financial situation prevents you.

Any idea where? In my searches on apartments.com, forrent.com, rent.com, etc. Meyers Ridge seems to be the nicest, but you seem to know better than I do.

My budget is between $750 and $800 per month. I really only need a 1 bed/1 bath place, but a 2 bed/1.5 or 1 bath is preferable.

Thanks for the info!

[Uptown kid]

McKees Rocks becomes the hood in the soutern part around Sheraden (the bad parts make it the worst part of the West Side), Esplen (safe), & Cartier's City (iffy, but not too bad). In the southern part it's not too bad, yet it's gang turf (especially in the projects). McKees Rocks gets notably more gritty & slumy in the southern part too. Although, it's not as bad as it people say it is, but still gang violence, and crime occurs.
Over the summer two 17year old gang members tried to shot a 30year old gang member, probably their leader. They ploted too shot him through his car window. Instead, they shot his 3year old daughter in the back seat. No debating now urban pioneers that it's just the average, urban, citylife nieborghood. Yet the rest of the area closer to Stowe Township (safe) is a safe poor to working class/lower middle class (prodominately white) nieborghood.

[shadysider412]

apartments.com and the sites you mentioned are not really the sites to use for affordable apartments. check craigslist or the pittsburgh post gazette classifieds. Your price range should get you a decent 2 bedroom almost anywhere in the city. If you look hard enough a 3 bedroom wouldnt be impossible in that range either. If I were you I'd focus my search on the eastend. Get on craigslist and search in shadyside, squirrel hill, friendship, bloomfield, highland park or morningside or also lawrenceville.

[gameguy56]

Originally Posted by shadysider412

apartments.com and the sites you mentioned are not really the sites to use for affordable apartments. check craigslist or the pittsburgh post gazette classifieds. Your price range should get you a decent 2 bedroom almost anywhere in the city. If you look hard enough a 3 bedroom wouldnt be impossible in that range either. If I were you I'd focus my search on the eastend. Get on craigslist and search in shadyside, squirrel hill, friendship, bloomfield, highland park or morningside or also lawrenceville.

Yeah, this is especially true if you want to be around other young people.

[PeterRabbit]

Where will you be working?

[feanix]

Areas around the city I can think off the top of my head are:

Penn Hills
Monroeville
Verona
Pitcarin
Greentree
Whitehall
McKees Rocks
Munhall
Frick Park
Lawrenceville
Crafton
Carnegie
Sharpsburg
Oakland
Greenfield

Really this isn't anywhere near all-inclusive of chocies you have that would fall into your price range several would include even a 2 bedroom within that price range.

Someone asked earlier where you would be working and I think that's a very valid question. You could pick an area close to where you work and cut out some commute time.

[Mike_L]

Wow, haven't checked the thread since my last post, thanks for all of the replies everyone!

I am working for a construction company and will be on a project refurbishing Emsworth dam. The actual project site is on Neville Island.

I will definitely be getting on craigslist and the classifieds to look for other places. Thanks for the advice.

[PghREA]

Some complexes in the North Hills: Apartments for Rent in North Hills | Apartment in North Hills*Pennsylvania