Looking for House In Pittsburgh Area (Penn Hills, Ross Township: middle-class, apartments, neighborhood)

[lifepgh2op]

Yeah this one is a no-brainer...look in Ross Township.

[Clint.]

Well, I'm not that adventerous.

Someone needs to be among the first wave to turn things around, though.

The City has been dropping the ball with Hill District for decades. From what I understand there was a mass migration from there to Garfield and East Liberty. And the burgeoining turnarounds didn't start until the public housing projects in both Garfield and East Liberty were demolished....which, now that I think about it, means that the Hill probably won't turnaround necessarily, at least that soon, because there are some existing projects there that probably will be around for a while.

There's indication that they are trying, but mixed income is a sort of watered down approach that may have mixed results. Pittsburgh Housing Authority begins replacing Addison Terrace - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

the crime and violence coming out of Homewood only lurks further east each year

True...my visceral reaction is that all of the eastern inner suburbs are going to have to deal with this as Pittsburgh tries to spruce up its depressed areas and inthe process displaces the people who make those areas depressed.

[eschaton]

There are people I'd suggest the Hill District to. People who seek a 30 minute commute, and raising a family. I see the comeback, if it happens, being more a function of young black professionals and/or the typical artist/gay community who are typically the first urban pioneers.

That said, I have to admit I wonder if the OP (or at least his wife) is Black. I can't think of any reason why an employer would suggest Penn Hills, unless they were saying in a coded fashion that's where they thought someone would be "comfortable."

[pit2atl]

Originally Posted by Brookline_sylvia

West View is nice, and very close to Ross and pretty reasonable to Downtown. Penn Hills gets a worse reputation than it deserves, so maybe it will be self-fulfilling prophesy one day. The Penn Hills government would probably like Pittsburgh to annex some areas adjacent to Homewood, but it's a larger and more respectable place than one might think just listening to news reports. High sewer bills though.

If you were adventerous I'd suggest buying in the Hill District. It should be a premier place to live, with it's uber closeness to Downtown and easy access to 279 (commuting opposite the morning and evening rush no less), but it is alas not the safest or most desirable place to live for most people. They City is hoping to have an opportunity to change some of that with the ongoing Civic Arena redevelopment, but it won't be enough to push out the unwanted elements and turn the tide by the time your kids are ready for school. 10 years from now it's not going to be as much of a ghettos; maybe in 20 it won't be one at all.

& if the op chooses to live in the LOWER hill district he can actually walk downtown to his job, probably a 10-12min walk. & your wife could hop on 279 toward Ross in 10mis by car.

[pit2atl]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

Yeah this one is a no-brainer...look in Ross Township.

Not necessarily, depends on what type of area the op prefers. Not everyone will be happy in Ross Township.

Originally Posted by eschaton

That said, I have to admit I wonder if the OP (or at least his wife) is Black. I can't think of any reason why an employer would suggest Penn Hills, unless they were saying in a coded fashion that's where they thought someone would be "comfortable."

^ exactly,

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by pit2atl

& if the op chooses to live in the LOWER hill district he can actually walk downtown to his job, probably a 10-12min walk. & your wife could hop on 279 toward Ross in 10mis by car.

If one was going to suggest a city nieghborhood, Perry North/Observatory Hill would be the safest and most equidistant for them. Hell, I'd suggest they look at something in West Deutschtown before the Lower Hill, as you could still walk to downtown and have good access to 279, but be sure the value of your rowhouse would continue to climb over time. Personally, I don't think the school issue is as big of a deal as people make it out to be (as I've said numerous times before), but I know I'm fighting against a torrent here.

Urban neighborhoods are an acquired taste. I'm as much of a city booster as everyone, but when I hear "generic person, wants to have kids, wife works in suburbs" I don't think the sort of person who's primed to be an urbanist. Personally, I think it's more important to work to make sure the people who move to Pittsburgh before they have kids of school age *don't* move out once their kids hit 5.

[pit2atl]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Personally, I think it's more important to work to make sure the people who move to Pittsburgh before they have kids of school age *don't* move out once their kids hit 5.

Very true!

[robrobrob]

I would think that the origanal posters budget is rather modest in light of the two neighborhoods that her company recommended. West View is a nice option but it would probably be more than Penn Hills. Not sure how it compares to Bellvue in price.

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I would think that the origanal posters budget is rather modest in light of the two neighborhoods that her company recommended. West View is a nice option but it would probably be more than Penn Hills. Not sure how it compares to Bellvue in price.

A $100-$150k budget is perfectly reasonable within Ross/West View. The possibility the OPs could be African American is a good catch though, given one of the few substantive qualities that links Penn Hills and Bellevue is a substantial black population.

The fact the OPs did not mention race makes me assume it's not an important factor to them. If they are, indeed, black, and happen to be seeking a black community, that's another issue entirely. Until then, given their stated wants, needs, and circumstances, an affordable suburb convenient to work which feeds into good quality public schools seems to make the most sense.

[lifepgh2op]

[quote=pit2atl;24091262]Not necessarily, depends on what type of area the op prefers. Not everyone will be happy in Ross Township.

Let's see...
1. She is now being transfered to Ross Township just north of Pittsburgh.

2. For my work I need to be able to get down town in about 30min+/-. For her work she would like commute under 30 min. My major concern is crime rate...

3. We are looking to settle down with kids in the next 2-3 years also.

4. Our house budget is 100k-150k if that helps any.[LEFT]

Yep...I think I'll stand by my suggestion of Ross Township regardless of the race of the OP.
[/LEFT]