If money no object, (Pittsburgh, Fox Chapel: middle-class, homes, neighborhood)

[ElijahAstin]

Any part of Squirrel Hill, Shadyside, or Point Breeze within the Colfax or Minadeo --> Allderdice catchment (preferably a part that's easily accessible to a Main Street area). I'm not ideologically opposed to private school, but I believe such money is better saved for college, whenever possible. Obviously, Shadyside Academy, Winchester-Thurston, or wherever would be excellent backups if the public schools didn't work out.

I really like Mt. Lebanon and Fox Chapel as well.

[Bong477]

I live in Squirrel Hill (North) and think its a very good choice, its got enough of the appeal of the city and suburbs to be a best of both worlds situation. I wouldn't have picked anywhere else if I had more money to spend although I would have bought a different house that was already fully renovated & needed less work than ours. Getting our house the way we want it remains a work in progress and has been far more difficult and expensive than all those HGTV shows would make you think. As for schools, I think we are planning to start with public school and see how it goes, but we've still got a little time to decide. If money truly was no object, we'd probably just do top tier private schools for our 3 kids but we are more of the category of we could pay for it if we really had to but would rather not.

[Gee Whiz]

I would live in one of the upscale condos Downtown, possibly Three PNC Plaza/Fairmont. Downtown is great and getting better. There is a major park, riverfront trails, beauty, shopping, dining, and vibrancy.

[ex-burgher]

Originally Posted by Moby Hick

There are a considerable number of people for whom money is an object but who do just that.

This is true, but if money were no object I would not want to live in a mansion, estate or gated community. I would live just like normal upper middle class people. My only requirements would be to live in a walkable safe community close to parks, cultural attractions and with relatively good schools. Any discretionary money I have would be spent on vacations rather than exorbitant housing.

[rockthecasbah121]

Originally Posted by eschaton

While I'd love to say anywhere, the whole Oakland thing means proximity to the East End would be important. Plus I would still want my kids to go to public school (I'm opposed to private school for ideological reasons). So I'd go with Shadyside so I could ensure my kids would go to Colfax, and then apply to one of the magnet schools for middle and/or high school.

If school were no longer an issue? This house.

Why did they take such terrible pictures for such an expensive listing? I would be happy with just the carriage house though.

[XRiteMA98]

I know that very rich people in Pittsburgh live either in Fox Chapel, Upper St clair, Mt lebanon or Nevilewood - please correct me if I forgot any other affluent, good school district. Consequnetly they send their kids to the public schools of the afore mentioned suburbs.

Now there might be people who live in the city (shadyside, sq hill) who send their kids to Winchester Thurston, or other private schools in the city where the tuition is comparable with college tuition.

Both city and afore mentioned suburbs are convenient for commuting downtown.

My advice for you is to set meetings with the schools in all these suburbs and the city's private schools, decide upon a school and then find a house. At least this is what I'd do.

[doo dah]

Originally Posted by rockthecasbah121

Why did they take such terrible pictures for such an expensive listing? I would be happy with just the carriage house though.

To get a potential buyer to go look at it.

I have a soft spot in my heart for carriage houses, have lived in them twice. They were, uh, a lot smaller than this one.

[UKyank]

$ No object - I'd buy 3 acres worth of land in squirrel hill & demolish everything but my primary residence to have a nicely landscaped yard with perhaps a Versailles-esque garden. Definitely private school over pps.

[gg]

Point Breeze for the city and private schools and Fox Chapel Borough (not outside "The Borough" itself) for the burbs and public schools. IMHO, Point Breeze on the good side of Penn is one of the best areas in Pittsburgh. I just love that area and would consider living there myself and might someday.

[Bong477]

As someone living on the border of the two hoods, there's not a whole lot of difference between Point Breeze (South) and Squirrel Hill (North) (which isn't a bad thing).