Suburb of the week: Findlay Township (Pittsburgh, Imperial-Enlow: hotels, townhouse, buy)

[eschaton]

Findlay Township is located at the extreme western point of Allegheny County, on the back side of Pittsburgh International Airport. It's 2010 population was a bit over 5,000. For the most part, the township is still undeveloped rural land - it even contains one of the regions "recreational/destination" farms - Janoski's Farm & Greenhouse.

There are a few concentrations of population however. Near the center of the township there is a poor-looking rural community called Clinton. As with everything on the western fringe of the county, development is happening here - a new townhouse community is being built out less than half a mile from a trailer park. Another community is called Imperial-Enlow, and shared with North Fayette Township. This area is a bit wealthier seeming, and has a lot of newer development as well. The westernmost portions of the Robinson Town Center retail monstrosity are within Findlay Township - mostly an industrial park, save for a few airport related hotels (Marriott, Windham Garden, Comfort Suites, etc).

Given there are many new subdivisions which are still in the process of being built out, Findlay Township's exurban boom is just beginning. In another 10-20 years it may be the new South Fayette, though for the moment it's still one of the more rural corners of Allegheny County.

[lifepgh2op]

A few new (and large) developments out off of Rt 30 (Moody) I remember Park Edge Drive is one of the streets-I think the development is Marion Estates and there is Maronda Farms around Stallion Road. These are pretty close to Janoski's. Also, there are lots of developments up off of Aten Rd near the Marriott off of Montour Run Road exit.

Findlay does a nice (for a community of its size) Christmas Light-Up drive thru, as well at the park off of 30: Christmas Light-Up | Findlay Township, PA - Official Website

Findlay just approved a medical marijuana facility for the Chapman-Westport development off of Toll 576 near the Airport: Findlay Township approves medical marijuana growing, processing facility conditional use application | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

[ferraris]

Originally Posted by eschaton

Given there are many new subdivisions which are still in the process of being built out, Findlay Township's exurban boom is just beginning. In another 10-20 years it may be the new South Fayette, though for the moment it's still one of the more rural corners of Allegheny County.

I wonder...do people buy into those subdivisions expecting the area to grow? Or do they get annoyed when the rural land that sold them on the area starts to be developed?

[xdv8]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I wonder...do people buy into those subdivisions expecting the area to grow? Or do they get annoyed when the rural land that sold them on the area starts to be developed?

They buy into sprawl and then get angry when others join them? Funny position to put yourself in.

[lifepgh2op]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I wonder...do people buy into those subdivisions expecting the area to grow? Or do they get annoyed when the rural land that sold them on the area starts to be developed?

People that truly want a rural lifestyle will find it. They most likely won't choose to build a home in a suburban development like Marion Estates or Maronda Farms.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by lifepgh2op

People that truly want a rural lifestyle will find it. They most likely won't choose to build a home in a suburban development like Marion Estates or Maronda Farms.

Yeah. Some of the new subdivisions are semi-attached or townhomes, and even those that are relatively dense compared to suburbs a few decades ago. Big suburban-style front setbacks from the street are still nearly universal, but side setbacks have shrunk to almost urban levels (10ish feet wide). If you want a semi-rural lifestyle, you don't look for a house in one of these developments, you look for an older house with a large lot in an area which is not "trendy."

My guess is that Findlay isn't so much a Pittsburgh exurb, as it is a "suburb" for the nexus of jobs in and around Robinson/Moon.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by ferraris

I wonder...do people buy into those subdivisions expecting the area to grow? Or do they get annoyed when the rural land that sold them on the area starts to be developed?

They know they're going to grow. They just don't want it to be as congested, noisey, gritty, etc..., as city living.

For those that want even more rural, they buy a house on some acreage or buy some acreage and build a house on it so they know how far from their neighbors they'll be.

[HenryFrickWasAPrick]

Airport authority moving quickly on trade center development | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

Will this be in Findlay Township?

Let's not forget the Southern Beltway which is currently under construction and will provide a direct link between Findlay Township and Southpointe/areas south and west.

This area is also served by the Montour Trail. Of all the towns along the trail, it does not pass as close to a central business district as it does in Imperial. They could really use that as leverage to become a trail town but as far as I know there has been very little to no trail related developmentZ