Brentwood Area (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills, Washington: section 8, apartments, rentals)

[gary739]

Been looking for a few months to move closer to the city (currently in Washington, PA) so that the commute to work isn't so tiresome. Also was recently married and need an upgrade in space. Found a nice home on Vernon Ave. in Brentwood, but I'm unfamiliar with the area. I've searched on here and seen mixed things and that there is a distinct "line in the sand" as far as bad side of town and a good side of town. From what I've seen of pictures of the house and its interior, it looks very nice. I'm going there today. However, I was wondering if you all had any more input on the area and what to look out for (both good and bad). Thanks!

[MeinGlanzendMotorrad]

Brentwood is nice.

[999cm999]

This is a nice area. You'll have easy access to the Waterfront and Southside via Glass Run Road. The only parts of Brentwood I would avoid would be those closer to 51 and the ones closer to Carrick.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

Brentwood is a nice little suburb that retains a small town feel to it. However, be advised that the area that borders Carrick is quite bad. In the words of a police officer I spoke to last year, "The block bordering Carrick and Brentwood is one of the most crime-ridden areas in the city". Those were his words and not mine, but I've seen some crazy stuff go down there.

Stay away from the Carrick end and you'll enjoy a nice little community.

[Uptown kid]

As the others said Brentwood is overall pretty nice, but the section bordering Carrick (Pittsburgh) has quite a bit of action these days. I wouldn't call it dangerous since there isn't high crime & there isn't any street gang that claims turf... But there seems to be a notable drug presence, and so I categorize the rougher section of Brentwood as "sketchy," similar to: Spring Garden, Glassport PA, Sharpsburg PA, or the section 8 areas of Verona, PA.

[Scott2187]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

As the others said Brentwood is overall pretty nice, but the section bordering Carrick (Pittsburgh) has quite a bit of action these days. I wouldn't call it dangerous since there isn't high crime & there isn't any street gang that claims turf... But there seems to be a notable drug presence, and so I categorize the rougher section of Brentwood as "sketchy," similar to: Spring Garden, Glassport PA, Sharpsburg PA, or the section 8 areas of Verona, PA.

Where are the section 8 areas of Verona?

[Benzman66]

Originally Posted by Scott2187

Where are the section 8 areas of Verona?

I think he probably means the Arbor Lane area;

Showing Colors - An Allegheny Valley town grapples with a rising black population - Main Feature - Pittsburgh City Paper

"And Verona's racial mix isn't all that is changing. Anecdotal evidence suggests that many homes are being converted into rental properties -- and an increasing number of rental properties are being occupied by low-income families. In recent years, there has been a sharp rise in the number of Verona apartments that qualify for Section 8 vouchers -- financial assistance given to low-income families as an alternative to "warehousing" them in housing projects.
Section 8 has been an increasingly controversial program. A July article in The Atlantic magazine, for example, reported that in some cities, crime has followed Section 8 recipients as they followed vouchers out of city neighborhoods and into inner-ring suburbs -- in part because those communities didn't have police forces or social-service agencies equipped to deal with the new arrivals.
According to the Allegheny County Housing Authority, since 2006 the number of Section 8 vouchers issued within Verona has grown from 48 to 60, a 25 percent increase."

[Uptown kid]

There's a complex off West Railroad Avenue and the surrounding streets get the overflow... Others on this forum who are more familiar with the Penn Hills/Oakmont/Verona area basically alerted me that there was a section of Verona was becoming more sketchy... Now don't get it twisted those section8 buildings off W Railroad Ave just have rowdy tendents, druggies, drug dealers, (products of not well maintained section 8 places).
Also off the 600block of Church St there are some rowhouses that seem fitting for section 8 although Idk fore sure.
And as Benzman66 posted it seems to be that a good bit of the traditional purchased houses are being turned into section 8 rentals...
*As I've stated above I'm not that familiar with the area.

[melanie_pa]

I have lived in Brentwood for over six years with my husband and two children. We live in the area near Brentwood Town Center, which is usually considered to be the nicer area. I am not familiar with Vernon. I agree with staying away from the Carrick border. However, closer to Giant Eagle (where we are), on just our block alone, we have a college professor, a PhD level researcher, two physical therapists, a masters level recreational therapist, an accountant, and a social worker. A nice mix of people. It is a very kid friendly and dog friendly place. Pretty affordable too. I am excited that new businesses have opened up within walking distance, such as a yoga place.