Wilkinsburg ready for a glass of wine? (Edgewood, Liberty: crime rates, home)

[robrobrob]

I would think that most of the people that have moved into Regent Square part of Wilkinsburg are not frequenting businesses on Penn Avenue and are far more likely to head to East Liberty or Edgewood to shop. Being close to East Liberty is perhaps keeping Penn Ave in Wilkinsburg form turnign the corner.

Since I am not a South Hills guy, I was wondering about Mt. Oliver. To me, the business district always reminded me of Penn Ave. in Wilkinsburg . I was wondering if there has been any improvement to Mount Oliver?

[wpipkins]

Originally Posted by stburr91

Do you mean the Mr. Roboto Project? If so, that place isn't there anymore.

thats it.....Is the bowling alley still there?

[wpipkins]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I would think that most of the people that have moved into Regent Square part of Wilkinsburg are not frequenting businesses on Penn Avenue and are far more likely to head to East Liberty or Edgewood to shop. Being close to East Liberty is perhaps keeping Penn Ave in Wilkinsburg form turnign the corner.

Since I am not a South Hills guy, I was wondering about Mt. Oliver. To me, the business district always reminded me of Penn Ave. in Wilkinsburg . I was wondering if there has been any improvement to Mount Oliver?

Mount oliver is in better shape than Wilkinsburg. I drove through there recently and was really surprised by that. Wilkinsburg's business district is alot larger than Mount Oliver though.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by wpipkins

thats it.....Is the bowling alley still there?

The one next to St. James school is gone, as in torn down, and has become additional parking/playground area for the school.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I would think that most of the people that have moved into Regent Square part of Wilkinsburg are not frequenting businesses on Penn Avenue and are far more likely to head to East Liberty or Edgewood to shop.

I think the fast food/drug store/gas station/bank-type stuff on either side of the Busway is somewhat an exception to this proposition (although I haven't been to the Get Go up there since the Get Go in Regent Square opened).

However, to the extent that is otherwise true, I think that is in part because of the relative lack of useful stores up there. Holding aside the R license issue, if there was a Target or Home Depot in Wilkinsburg, I'm sure we would use it over East Liberty. I'm not necessarily saying that is the right development path for Wilkinsburg, but if you are asking why people from Regent Square shop in East Liberty instead, it is mostly because East Liberty currently has a lot of stuff Wilkinsburg does not.

Being close to East Liberty is perhaps keeping Penn Ave in Wilkinsburg form turnign the corner.

I think the positive synergies will eventually outweigh any competition, meaning eventually the fact that East Liberty is just a short ride down the Busway or Penn Avenue from Wilkinsburg will be a major selling point in Wilkinsburg's favor. But this does require some patience because East Liberty is still maturing into such a role, and I also agree in the short term it may be sucking in a large share of any available investments.

[Uptown kid]

Mt. Oliver's Brownsville Road is in a little better shape than Wilkinsburg's Penn Ave (though the businesses are smaller), though Brownsville has way more sketchy characters loitering around.

IMO if Wilkinsburg has a bar there might be trouble only because there are feuding factions of gangs operating in the neighborhood, and putting the bar on the dividing line could cause some shoot outs. Also my guess is that would turn into a nuisance bar, and a nuisance bar would attract hoodlums- intoxicated hoodlums congregating in one place leads to fighting- with the rough crowd fighting can turn into feuding- which always turns into shootings.
Idk if it's the best idea though I hope it works out for the best...

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by BrianTH

....I do know status quo bias is a powerful force, including in Wilkinsburg, so it certainly possible that the specter of the worst case scenarios will prevent people from understanding that the status quo is not particularly working right now, and may well be worth changing.

I think the fact that of all the problems Wilkinsburg has, nuisance bars isn't one of them, is proof that the status quo is indeed working as it's intended.

One thing is for sure, the people of Regent Square have nothing to lose with this gamble, as there is no chance a nuisance bar will end up in their neighborhood. The odds aren't nearly as good for the low income neighborhoods (that frankly have enough problems already).

[SteelCityRising]

I find it interesting that so many of you are willing to dismiss BrianTH's sentiments as being invalid simply because he lives in the "nice" part of Wilkinsburg. The Wilkinsburg portion of Regent Square isn't militantly anti-Wilkinsburg. Granted BrianTH is probably the only Ivy-Leaguer in the borough, but that in no way invalidates his opinions. If anything I know from personal experiences delivering ethnic food in my secondary position that BrianTH's neighbors are mostly college-educated, urbane, and dare I say "crunchy" types who would likely prefer to patronize a revitalized Wood Street shopping district replete with independent merchants and unique eateries instead of the sea of asphalt enshrouded by generic retailers that is Edgewood Town Center.

As I branch out on my quest to purchase my first home by August 2013 Wilkinsburg has definitely crept up on my radar. The opportunity to order a glass of wine to complement a nice pasta dish at a restaurant on Wood Street on a Friday night just blocks from a home I'd be lovingly restoring definitely sounds appealing.

[stburr91]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I find it interesting that so many of you are willing to dismiss BrianTH's sentiments as being invalid simply because he lives in the "nice" part of Wilkinsburg. The Wilkinsburg portion of Regent Square isn't militantly anti-Wilkinsburg. Granted BrianTH is probably the only Ivy-Leaguer in the borough, but that in no way invalidates his opinions. If anything I know from personal experiences delivering ethnic food in my secondary position that BrianTH's neighbors are mostly college-educated, urbane, and dare I say "crunchy" types who would likely prefer to patronize a revitalized Wood Street shopping district replete with independent merchants and unique eateries instead of the sea of asphalt enshrouded by generic retailers that is Edgewood Town Center.

As I branch out on my quest to purchase my first home by August 2013 Wilkinsburg has definitely crept up on my radar. The opportunity to order a glass of wine to complement a nice pasta dish at a restaurant on Wood Street on a Friday night just blocks from a home I'd be lovingly restoring definitely sounds appealing.

I can speak for myself when I say that I'm not dismissing Brian's opinions on this matter.

I also have no doubt that the people of Regent Square would rather patronize a revitalized Wood St. than Edgewood Town Centre. But as I said in my earlier post, the people of Regent Square have nothing to lose, and everything to gain by taking this gamble. This is likely going to be another one of those "us vs them" issues in Wilkinsburg.

[PennHillsNative80]

As nice as it would be to sit down at a restaurant in Wilkinsburg and order a glass of wine, I really don't see how this is would work efficiently and by the book. If liquor licenses would be allowed, there would be all sorts of "exceptions" that would be made to the rule and over time, nuisance bars/establishements would sprout up and the area would see a major increase of crime. This would counteract all the good that the PHLF and other agencies have done for the community. I think the only reason why Wilkinsburg wasn't totally destroyed by gangs and crime back in the 80's and 90's was because it was a dry town. Look at Homewood now......all that is left are churches and bars. I would hate to see this happen to Wilkinsburg

I agree, Wood Street is beautiful and is quite overshadowed by grimy Penn Avenue.