Pittsburgh's most unappreciated neighborhoods... (Penn Hills, Baldwin: apartments, crime, buy)

[selltheburgh]

Somebody should move those houses in McKeesport to parts of the city for infill.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

i dont understand what you are saying - the only neighborhood to have population growth in the last decade voted for the republican candidate...so?

the street linked with "Theres a few streets that look like Lincoln Place" is PERFECT. i would live there.

My point is McMansions tend to be correlated with Republican voters, not that population growth is. It's a little chunk of exurbia right inside the city.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by eschaton

My point is McMansions tend to be correlated with Republican voters, not that population growth is. It's a little chunk of exurbia right inside the city.

What school do these McMansions feed into? How do the housing values compare to equivalent exurban McMansions in actual exurban municipalities? (Southern Butler County, Peters, etc.)

[robrobrob]

They feed to Mifflin and Allderdice. I thing they are priced less than McMansions in the better burbs. This based on the sales price of homes listed on the County Web Site.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Evergrey

What school do these McMansions feed into? How do the housing values compare to equivalent exurban McMansions in actual exurban municipalities? (Southern Butler County, Peters, etc.)

They go to Mifflin K-8, which was historically seen as a better-than-average city school, but might not have as much cache since Glen Hazel and the southern half of Hazelwood now go there. Ultimately the area feeds into Allderdice, which of course is still a major draw.

This appears to be the only information about the development online. Most of the houses actually only sold for around $50,000 when first built, but I wonder if the homeowners actually just bought the land and then got a separate mortgage to "custom build" the houses. One did sell recently for $350,000. The houses are assessed between $300K and $400K.

[Evergrey]

Originally Posted by eschaton

They go to Mifflin K-8, which was historically seen as a better-than-average city school, but might not have as much cache since Glen Hazel and the southern half of Hazelwood now go there. Ultimately the area feeds into Allderdice, which of course is still a major draw.

This appears to be the only information about the development online. Most of the houses actually only sold for around $50,000 when first built, but I wonder if the homeowners actually just bought the land and then got a separate mortgage to "custom build" the houses. One did sell recently for $350,000. The houses are assessed between $300K and $400K.

I always found it strange how "secretive" this development seemed to be. No press whatsoever.

Another "McMansion-ish" development that always surprised me was Oak Brook Circle in Westwood... I imagine it was built a few years earlier.



https://maps.google.com/maps?q=westw...68.58,,0,-3.81

[crae09]

Originally Posted by Uptown kid

Here's a quick one… Bon Air
Bon Air is near Knoxville, Beltzhoover and Northern Carrick, but has no signs of spill over or decline. It doesnt really have blight or notable white poverty like Arlington, Mt. Oliver Boro, or Allentown. Moreover, its a fine neighborhood in the midst of a very gritty part of town.

Very true. Great access to the T and you dont get the rundown of Carrick, Mt Oliver or Arlington. I'd move to Bon Air if i could find an apt there.

[selltheburgh]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

They feed to Mifflin and Allderdice. I thing they are priced less than McMansions in the better burbs. This based on the sales price of homes listed on the County Web Site.

they are a good deal smaller than a true McMansion as well.

[SlurmsMcKenzie]

Since the thread is branching outside of the city, I'd be remiss not to mention Crafton. Granted I live here but I feel it is largely unknown in the Pittsburgh region, outside of this forum (we are represented well here). We have quiet, safe, tree-lined streets with a wealth of architectural diversity and beauty in our housing stock. Traffic is minimal and we sit in a prime location with easy access to all points including downtown and the airport (via car or the busway). The school district is decent (and improving) and the town elementary school is excellent. The biggest knock on Crafton is the lack of a real business district. While we do lack a CBD, we do have a number of useful businesses in the town center and abundant shopping on the outskirts. Home values have been steadily and rapidly rising here which may indicate that we are finally being "discovered" as a great place to live and a tremendous value.

If I had to pick a city neighborhood in which to compare Crafton to, I'd probably say we are a decent mix of Highland Park and Morningside.

[szug-bot]

^^ i do like crafton a lot. the crafton/ingram shopping center has EVERYTHING you could want in one trip, pretty much. that chinese restaurant sucks, but the subway next to it is, in my two experiences there, EXCELLENT. i bet the kids working there are in theater or something. they are just so lively and friendly (its fake, but still...)