Job Opp near Ross Mall -- and no clue about area! (Pittsburgh: new house, neighborhood)

[pattersoncross]

My husband has a great opportunity for a job outside of Pittsburgh. I know nothing about the area, but looking on the map it's not too far from the Ross Park Mall. So that's the landmark I'm starting out with! Obviously I am entirely green to the area. We need to make a decision on this opportunity fairly quickly, and we have a short time period in which to check out the area in terms of housing, schools, etc. I'd love to hear feedback about the area to help me figure out which areas I should absolutely check into, and maybe which areas I can automatically cross off the list.

I'm at the point right now where I'm just looking at the map and noting the names of places close to his potential work -- but I'm not actually sure what a township even is. For example, I see Ross Township, & Cranberry Township & Hampton Township. Then I also see Wexford and Franklin Park which aren't classified as townships. Is that simply a size issue? I'm assuming a township means a larger area?

Where are good areas to look at in terms of housing? We would ideally like to build a new house. We can spend 700-800K on building a house. We don't need a great deal of land or privacy -- we want a neighborhood/development. I want to be fairly close to grocery stores, etc. I don't want to live on top of a shopping center, but I wouldn't want to drive more than 20 minutes to get my groceries, for example. I've heard that I need to check out a new Giant Eagle marketplace store as it will be the closest I'll get to a Wegmans.

We do have an elementary-aged child, so schools are very important. I've heard positive things about North Allegheny, but I've also heard that "all the school districts are good" which is encouraging, but also slightly frustrating as I'd like to narrow it down a bit more.

We currently live in Bethesda, MD and love it. We love Montgomery County Public Schools. But the cost of living in this area borders on impossible, which is why we are considering this move. But, the bar is set a bit high -- any areas that 'feel' like Bethesda (or any of the nicer suburbs immediately outside of Washington DC -- Arlington, Alexandria etc) in the area within an easy commute to the Ross Park Mall area? That's the bar I'm comparing all of this to.

I appreciate any help in narrowing this down.

[TheYO]

Wexford

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by pattersoncross

.. But, the bar is set a bit high -- any areas that 'feel' like Bethesda (or any of the nicer suburbs immediately outside of Washington DC -- Arlington, Alexandria etc) in the area within an easy commute to the Ross Park Mall area? That's the bar I'm comparing all of this to.

I think that is a high standard. This area overall is just different, because it hasn't had the DMV's decades long growth, sprawl, and huge scale improvement of the close-in suburbs (like Ballston).

Wexford, as stated - excellent start. But I think you would be pleasantly surprised at Ross Township and the Town of McCandless. From those areas, your husband's commute to work will be minimized.

Ross has streets that are old and somewhat decayed, but numerous pockets of nice communities. McCandless as well. Good luck with your transition, and welcome!

[lifepgh2op]

While these areas aren't quite like Bethesda, you'll find everything else you mentioned (quality schools, new housing in $700k+ developments, proximity to Ross Park Mall, etc.) in the North Allegheny School District or Pine-Richland School District. I would look around the Rt 19 area near North Allegheny Senior High School in McCandless, Wexford, Franklin Park. Rt. 19 has a Whole Foods and is a quick (maybe) 10 minute drive to Ross Park Mall and the amenities of McKnight Road such as McCandless Crossing and The Block Northway. I think you'll find everything you need in this area.

[Copanut]

Wexford is an unincorporated community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The area known as Wexford is split among multiple municipalities, including Franklin Park, McCandless Township, Pine Township, and Marshall Township.
It's basically a mailing address. You can't can go wrong with any of those 4 townships, good schools and middle to high end housing.


There is no Mayor of Wexford.

[WhoIsStanwix?]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Wexford is an unincorporated community in Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, United States. The area known as Wexford is split among multiple municipalities, including Franklin Park, McCandless Township, Pine Township, and Marshall Township.
It's basically a mailing address. You can't can go wrong with any of those 4 townships, good schools and middle to high end housing.


There is no Mayor of Wexford.

I thought you were the mayor of Wexford!

[jay5835]

Originally Posted by WhoIsStanwix?

I thought you were the mayor of Wexford!

Mayor of McCandless, no?

[gladhands]

There's zero diversity in the North Allegheny school district and all of the feeder towns voted for Trump. In terms of built form, it's like Loudon County, VA, but much closer to the city.

[Geeo]

You would probably like McCandless, Franklin Park, Marshall or Pine townships. It's not as dense as Bethesda and not walkable at all, so you will have to drive everywhere. You will be able to build a house in your price range somewhere in those areas, and there are a lot of new housing projects going up. Schools are good, and in addition to the Market District, there is Whole Foods and Trader Joe's in the area. Ross Park Mall has everything from Nordstrom and Macy's to Sears and Penneys, with Crate & Barrel, Tiffany, Louis Vitton, Burberry, Armani, etc.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by gladhands

There's zero diversity in the North Allegheny school district and all of the feeder towns voted for Trump. In terms of built form, it's like Loudon County, VA, but much closer to the city.

Your statements are as outlandish as some of the real trolls on here. The diversity statement is false as there is just as much diversity if not more than any other suburban district. I'm not even going to comment on your political agenda. What makes you feel as though you can put down every area except your own?