Elevated Violence on the North Side (Pittsburgh, Mars: middle-class, violent crime, mattress)

[RockLobster]

While development money continues to stream in for areas of the North Side mainly around the Federal and North avenue area, along with a continuation of cultural expansion at the Mattress Factory and City of Asylum in the War Streets. Deadly shootings and active gang violence is once again making life in the upper war streets and north side very uneasy. Just a matter of time before a inocent life is taken by a random bullet through a window or walk by. The neighborhood will always falter until this garbage is removed by what ever means. Ideally a strong increase in home and property values would force the violent population out, but that's not going to happen at any rapid rate. In the mean time it looks as though this large city neighborhood will continue to see deadly violence on it's fringe streets and ocassionaly in it's interior.

[gg]

I hate to say this, but I think this year isn't going to be a good one for city as far as murders and crime goes. Anyone have the stats so far this year. Seems the summer is going to be a long and hot one and that could be bad for the city. UptownKid?

Not sure how anyone can enjoy living amongst all that violence all the time. It is no doubt a comfort when winter hits and the street shootings slow down. Someone innocent is going to get shot soon enough. One of the risks of living in the city and people wonder why so many flee.

[Lobick]

Originally Posted by RockLobster

While development money continues to stream in for areas of the North Side mainly around the Federal and North avenue area, along with a continuation of cultural expansion at the Mattress Factory and City of Asylum in the War Streets. Deadly shootings and active gang violence is once again making life in the upper war streets and north side very uneasy. Just a matter of time before a inocent life is taken by a random bullet through a window or walk by. The neighborhood will always falter until this garbage is removed by what ever means. Ideally a strong increase in home and property values would force the violent population out, but that's not going to happen at any rapid rate. In the mean time it looks as though this large city neighborhood will continue to see deadly violence on it's fringe streets and ocassionaly in it's interior.

Not to draw too fine a distinction, because overall I certainly share your level of concern, but we're really talking about Perry South here and not the War Streets, even the upper War Streets. As you no doubt know, the geography of the area further isolates the shootings further up the hill. I am not seeking to in any way minimize these shootings or suggest that they're not an abomination that needs to be addressed by community stakeholders as well as the police. I am however trying to address what is all too often a co-mingling of all of the Northside neighborhoods, with their individual crime profiles, into one amalgamation. This particular War Streets resident has seen no noticeable recent change in the perception of neighborhood crime either within myself or my neighbors. An innocent life may soon be taken, if it hasn't already, but I see no reason to believe that it's more likely to happen now in the War Streets than it was two months ago.

I think that the map embedded withinn the story is illustrative of this point:
2 more dead in wave of North Side violence - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[steindle]

City: All dangerous. (Particularly the North Side, which is one neighborhood.)
Suburbs: Where former city dwellers must retreat to safety.

[gg]

Originally Posted by steindle

City: All dangerous. (Particularly the North Side, which is one neighborhood.)
Suburbs: All safe.

Some parts of the city are relatively safe, but when compared to suburbs... well not all that safe. It is what it is. It wouldn't deter me from living in the city. I think what discourages me the most is the extra taxes. I mean I live in a convent enough place to ride a bike all over the city and I pay a 1% wage tax compared to a 3%. Sure my school taxes are high, but city schools wouldn't be my choice, so I would have this extra expense of private school. Therefore, it is too expensive to live in the city.

Anyway, much of the city is pretty safe, but not as safe as the suburbs.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Lobick

Not to draw too fine a distinction, because overall I certainly share your level of concern, but we're really talking about Perry South here and not the War Streets, even the upper War Streets. As you no doubt know, the geography of the area further isolates the shootings further up the hill. I am not seeking to in any way minimize these shootings or suggest that they're not an abomination that needs to be addressed by community stakeholders as well as the police. I am however trying to address what is all too often a co-mingling of all of the Northside neighborhoods, with their individual crime profiles, into one amalgamation. This particular War Streets resident has seen no noticeable recent change in the perception of neighborhood crime either within myself or my neighbors. An innocent life may soon be taken, if it hasn't already, but I see no reason to believe that it's more likely to happen now in the War Streets than it was two months ago.

I think that the map embedded withinn the story is illustrative of this point:
2 more dead in wave of North Side violence - Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Broadly agreed. The Northside is realigning, with the lower Northside increasingly middle-class and safe (with the projects in Allegheny Center creating the majority of the issues now), while the formerly safe streetcar suburbs further out continue to go downhill. I do feel pessimistic about Brighton Heights, which has signs it will be where Marshall Shadeland is now in ten years. Perry North is more up in the air, but given the trends of surrounding city areas, I can't imagine it's going to stay stable, let alone gentrify.

[gg]

Wow, look at that map in the article posted. Oh my that is one heck of a lot of shootings. Does it come from those projects in Fineview, or maybe Northview Heights? Wow!!! Glad I sold my place down there many years ago. No one should have to live around all that crime.

[pman]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Some parts of the city are relatively safe, but when compared to suburbs... well not all that safe. It is what it is. It wouldn't deter me from living in the city. I think what discourages me the most is the extra taxes. I mean I live in a convent enough place to ride a bike all over the city and I pay a 1% wage tax compared to a 3%. Sure my school taxes are high, but city schools wouldn't be my choice, so I would have this extra expense of private school. Therefore, it is too expensive to live in the city.

Anyway, much of the city is pretty safe, but not as safe as the suburbs.

in other words, you don't think the city provides the services you want for the money you have to pay, which seems fair enough. the city schools should indeed be better. the city can either lower it's taxes or provide better services (or some combination). still, neighborhoods can be close and still be different, so it's not entirely right to say the war streets in this case.

[ML North]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

Some parts of the city are relatively safe, but when compared to suburbs... well not all that safe.

Relative to violent crime. After factoring in all risks (accidents, violent crime, falling trees, etc.), I'd be willing to bet that the total level of personal risk is roughly the same in the City as it is in the suburbs or in rural areas. Of course to a degree that will be dependent on a lot of different lifestyle factors, but on the average, I bet there is negligible difference.

[norcider]

I'd like to point out that the "North Side" is not a neighborhood; it is a collection of neighborhoods. And that area where the shooting occured has always been bad. I live in Brighton Heights and I haven't noticed a difference in the crime reports after 8 years of home ownership there. It's mostly drug activity, and if there is a shooting it's always black on black and over drugs. And Marshall Shadeland has become what it was over a long period of time. When I was a kid in the late 70's and early 80's I'd ride my bike to Shadeland because there was a little general store and a small hobby shop. Even then our parents did not want us down there. So to assume Brighton Heights is going to be like Shadeland in 10 years is a big assumption.