Mt. Lebanon vs. Sewickley (Pittsburgh, Dormont: homes, neighborhood, movie theater)

[MovingGal]

My husband and I are moving to Pittsburgh. Because we want a walkable town with old homes, we have narrowed down our search to Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley. We are no longer considering Squirrel Hill because the yards there are too small for our price limit. Can some Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley locals give us the inside scoop?

Here are my concerns about Mt. Lebanon:
1. For such a nice walking town, I was very surprised to see no toy store, card store or independent running store, especially given that the cross country team there is so good. Also, I wish the old theater had been turned into a cool movie theater, as happened near our current home. Are any of these things at a walkable locale in the town or are coming to the town soon?
2. Do adults and teens feel safe walking around at night?
3. Which neighborhood is the best for a family with young kids?

Here are my concerns about Sewickley:
1. I love the town's many shops. But will my kids feel poor even though we may own a $370,000 house?
2. Is there any public transportation from there to Pittsburgh?

[toosie]

The 14 Ohio Valley goes through Sewickley to Pittsburgh.

No idea where to start trying to answer a question like "will my kids feel poor"

[Copanut]

I'd pick Lebo, but since I lived there for a while I'm probably biased. The T is the best thing PAT ever did for public transportation, getting Downtown is a snap. Walk a few miles to the movie theater in Dormont. Cards and shoes, jump the T to South Hills Village. Always felt safe when living there, then again, I probably seemed poor compared to everyone else.

[PreservationPioneer]

Why isn't the T extended from downtown to Oakland, Shadyside, Lawrenceville, North Hills, War Streets, West End, etc.?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by alleghenyangel

Why isn't the T extended from downtown to Oakland, Shadyside, Lawrenceville, North Hills, War Streets, West End, etc.?

Cause they tore up all the street car tracks and the politicians haven't been paid off enough.

[Copanut]

Here's a good article on the demise of the trolleys.


When and why did Pittsburgh stop using street cars? - Question submitted by: Joseph Forbes, South Side - Views - You Had to Ask - Pittsburgh City Paper


The trolley lines could have been extended, perhaps. But as Touring Pittsburgh author Harold Smith observes with a minimum of rancor (for a trolley fan), "PAT was bus-minded to a fault. Between 1964 and 1967, it ended trolley service on all North Side and East End lines. By the early 1970s, only the present South [Hills] and the 53-Carrick line remained."

[gg]

Wow, not many good answers. I prefer Sewickley because I feel they have a cooler downtown. I also never felt people there were the pretentious types. Some may be, but over all I have always felt sort of artsy there and most people aren't dressed like the fake Hollywood types. Mt. Lebo is nice as well. Go hang out at both and walk around.

[Heidi60]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Here's a good article on the demise of the trolleys.


When and why did Pittsburgh stop using street cars? - Question submitted by: Joseph Forbes, South Side - Views - You Had to Ask - Pittsburgh City Paper


The trolley lines could have been extended, perhaps. But as Touring Pittsburgh author Harold Smith observes with a minimum of rancor (for a trolley fan), "PAT was bus-minded to a fault. Between 1964 and 1967, it ended trolley service on all North Side and East End lines. By the early 1970s, only the present South [Hills] and the 53-Carrick line remained."

Really sad. I love to take the train from San Jose to the City and spend the day at the Haight. The train just makes life so much better. I hope your street cars come back, especially, with gas prices getting so high. What does the future of the "T" look like? I am curious about Pitts. which is why I am sticking my nose in this thread.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Heidi60

Really sad. I love to take the train from San Jose to the City and spend the day at the Haight. The train just makes life so much better. I hope your street cars come back, especially, with gas prices getting so high. What does the future of the "T" look like? I am curious about Pitts. which is why I am sticking my nose in this thread.

I grew up riding the train from Pgh to Central PA to visit my Grandparents, what a great time that was. And at one time there was a train from the Turtle Creek valley to Downtown Pgh. The trolleys were also great, IMO, but PAT prevailed and went bus crazy.

The T uses the same tracks that the trolleys did, too bad they can't expand it to the East and North.

[gg]

Originally Posted by MovingGal

My husband and I are moving to Pittsburgh. Because we want a walkable town with old homes, we have narrowed down our search to Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley. We are no longer considering Squirrel Hill because the yards there are too small for our price limit. Can some Mt. Lebanon and Sewickley locals give us the inside scoop?

Here are my concerns about Mt. Lebanon:
1. For such a nice walking town, I was very surprised to see no toy store, card store or independent running store, especially given that the cross country team there is so good. Also, I wish the old theater had been turned into a cool movie theater, as happened near our current home. Are any of these things at a walkable locale in the town or are coming to the town soon?
2. Do adults and teens feel safe walking around at night?
3. Which neighborhood is the best for a family with young kids?

Here are my concerns about Sewickley:
1. I love the town's many shops. But will my kids feel poor even though we may own a $370,000 house?
2. Is there any public transportation from there to Pittsburgh?

I also don't think you can go wrong with either place. There is transportation from Sewickley. Check out the PAT bus schedule if PAT is still in business. (kidding) I prefer Sewickley's downtown, but both are cool.

I have a feeling no one is answering because they saw your home price. I am just guessing on that. Seems if you have any money you get treated much differently than if you have pennies. $370K is an okay price range in both places, but you aren't going to be living in a palace.