Bohemians (West View, Millvale, Etna: neighborhoods, subdivisions, live)

[hockyluvr]

Is there a cheap artsy community on the North side of the county? North of the Allegheny/Ohio rivers.

[gg]

I like Highland Park. Lawrenceville is riddled with crime. Friend of mine just had his business broken into twice in one weekend. You can find something cheapish in Highland Park, but it will be small.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by hockyluvr

Is there a cheap artsy community on the North side of the county? North of the Allegheny/Ohio rivers.

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I like Highland Park. Lawrenceville is riddled with crime. Friend of mine just had his business broken into twice in one weekend. You can find something cheapish in Highland Park, but it will be small.

Neither Highland Park nor Lawrenceville are in the northern part of the county or north of the rivers. I would also hardly consider Highland Park to be "cheap" and "artsy".

To the OP, the northern portions of the county are generally speaking suburban and/or outlying suburban and consist of your typical housing subdivisions, chain restaurants, parking lots, etc. There's not really a viable "town center" in the North Hills beyond West View (which I don't think is "artsy"). Sewickley and Aspinwall both sit north of the rivers, but neither are "cheap". Blawnox is cheaper, but it also doesn't really have an "artsy" vibe. The "river towns" (i.e. Sharpsburg, Etna, and Millvale) are also cheap, but once again they're not artsy. Nothing will really satisfy your criteria, unfortunately.

[Hopes]

Highland Park isn't north.

OP, the Mexican War Streets is as close as you'll get.

Harmony, PA is artsy but it's not cheap.

There's Millvale. It's has a reputation for being an artist's haven. You can't really see it, they live there for the low rent, but it's not filled with hip stores or anything like that. But the community supports its artists in various ways. The Artists in Millvale Storefronts Project: http://www.millvalepa.com/AIMS.aspx

[hockyluvr]

Originally Posted by Hopes

It's getting a reputation for being an artists haven but you can't really see it, they just sort of live there.

That is what I am looking for. Once the place gets a rep, then the rich yuppies move in and ruin it. Next thing you know there is a Pottery Barn on the corner.

[ML North]

Originally Posted by hockyluvr

Is there a cheap artsy community on the North side of the county? North of the Allegheny/Ohio rivers.

East Allegheny, Troy Hill, Spring Hill, and to a lesser extent Manchester and the Mexican War Streets, may be some neighborhoods to consider. While I wouldn't necessarily consider East Allegheny, Troy Hill, or Spring Hill "artsy communities" they do attract some artists because they're very cheap.

East Allegheny would be the first place I'd look because of the convenience it offers. A grocery store, a few bars, coffee shops, and restaurants, and some other specialty shops are all within a 5 minute walk.

[ML North]

Originally Posted by Hopes

There's Millvale. It's has a reputation for being an artist's haven. You can't really see it, they live there for the low rent, but it's not filled with hip stores or anything like that.

This would apply to Troy Hill, East Allegheny, and Spring Hill as well.

[Hopes]

Millvale is your place. I don't anticipate rich yuppies will move there in your lifetime.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Hopes

Millvale is your place. I don't anticipate rich yuppies will move there in your lifetime.

Yeah. On second thought Millvale certainly has the most potential to "emerge" into an "artsy" place.

[Aqua Teen Carl]

While we're on the subject of Millvale, they just opened a new micro brewery there. The dudes that run it are quite friendly and the beer is good. I don't know if that counts as "artsy" but it does count as just plain awesome.