How is Observatory Hill? (Pittsburgh, Etna: apartment, to rent, houses)

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I understand what you're saying. With that being said I think I'm turning a new leaf. Instead of wallowing in self-pity for being an educated white guy with a working-class salary (a demographic that nobody in this city cares about) I'm going to keep working overtime and picking up extra jobs as necessary to build a better life for myself. Despite, as you say, the city powers-that-be actively working against me I'm going to hunker down and make the best of it instead of complaining.

I'm a part of the same demographic my friend - you and I have rather similar backgrounds, and rather similar benefit packages - though with slightly different employers and with vastly different personal outlooks. I wasn't trying to knock you or demean you - I wish you well. I just simply don't understand your dedication to a legal entity that doesn't care about you - I truly wish we had someone like you with your passion, knowledge, and intelligence in a place like Etna. You could truly be such an asset to small communities in this region.

Unfortunately I could never imagine living in the City, and you could seemingly never imagine living in a Shaler or Millvale. So I suppose we'll have to respectfully disagree about things

I'll raise my dram to you and wish you well

[norcider]

For what's it's worth nobody I know supports Harris. She's a dinosaur with no fresh ideas and her supporters are rapidly diminishing. I think it's silly to cross off one of the biggest areas of the city with so many neighborhoods because of Darlene Harris.

[tyovan4]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

weiner-measuring contest between the East End and North Side

And however did you get past this in this thread sir? :P

[norcider]

Originally Posted by Lock-Os

This once place I am seeing tonight is just south of where 19 crosses the Parkway North. It has a back alley were I can build a garage latter on if I want too.

I know the house, friends lived there previously. Beautiful wood trim, nice views of the sunset.

[RogersParkTransplant]

Originally Posted by norcider

For what's it's worth nobody I know supports Harris. She's a dinosaur with no fresh ideas and her supporters are rapidly diminishing. I think it's silly to cross off one of the biggest areas of the city with so many neighborhoods because of Darlene Harris.

I agree with this. The changes on the Northside are mostly driven by people who want to live in the city and want a certain location at a certain price. Harris isn't my favorite politician but I think her impact on whether or not the Northside is a nice place to live (or a good investment, for that matter) is minimal.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by tyovan4

I truly wish we had someone like you with your passion, knowledge, and intelligence in a place like Etna. You could truly be such an asset to small communities in this region.

But what would the poster's reception be like in Etna?

That little town is notorious for racism and provincialism. If you are a white, working-class, straight dude, then you are welcome in Etna... otherwise I'm not so sure.

I'm also not so sure that steelcityrising would appreciate all the Trump-love in Etna.
Might be a deal-breaker.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by RogersParkTransplant

I agree with this. The changes on the Northside are mostly driven by people who want to live in the city and want a certain location at a certain price. Harris isn't my favorite politician but I think her impact on whether or not the Northside is a nice place to live (or a good investment, for that matter) is minimal.

It's worth mentioning that the entirety of the Northside besides the majority-black areas which are part of Lavelle's district are in Darlene Harris's district. Yes, that even includes the Mexican War Streets and Allegheny West.

Also, Darlene Harris only managed to win her third term due to divided opposition. The totals from the 2015 primary:

Randy Zotter 844 Votes 20.08%
Bobby Wilson 1,381 Votes 32.86%
Darlene M. Harris 1,972 Votes 46.92%

Of course, one could say it's an indictment of the local voters that they re-elected her, but the same year Cory O'Connor and Deb Gross crushed. Ricky Burgess also squeaked by, but a lot of people in his district have not been happy with his performance on Council either.

[Lock-Os]

After checking the area out I don't feel it would be a good fit. I was only looking really because the older houses seemed in decent condition and it is the only area that regularly had new houses near Ross and in the North Hills area in general save for West View. Hard to get around, only on street parking on narrow roads, the area looks like it's falling apart, and cliff faces for yards. Nope, This here country boy is going to stick to Suburbia.

I just wished Millvale had more houses for sale, grew up fairly close to it and loved the area even though we never went into Millvale proper.

[RogersParkTransplant]

OP, sorry to hear that Observatory Hill didn't work out. For what it's worth, I think what you're talking about is why that patch doesn't do so well...it's too suburban for all the people who really want to be in the city, and has all the city drawbacks for people who truly want the suburbs.

I have also noticed that Millvale is tricky; I'm always surprised that there isn't much for sale out that way. I think some of it is a high percentage of rentals, some is probably people hanging on to stuff figuring it will appreciate in the next few years, and some is just luck. But I would take a close look at the areas behind Troy Hill -- along Spring Garden Ave or Pittview, for example, or Mt Troy road. I don't know if there's anything good there at the moment, but I've seen some really nice smaller houses come up for sale in the past year. They get snatched up fast, of course, but it's worth keeping an eye on it. Summer Hill is also a good idea.

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I wouldn't dare buy a home in the North Side until I could be assured that a progressive was representing the area, and that enough of the "old guard" had died off or moved to the suburbs in order for real change and progress to occur. In the same amount of time that the Garden Theater block has been sitting and rotting due to red tape on the North Side the median rents in my East End neighborhood have nearly doubled due to rapid redevelopment.

Sorry to keep at this SCR, but for the record it's unfair to pick on the Garden Theater block without mentioning that City of Asylum has performed a small miracle with the renovation of the old Masonic Temple right next door. There are certain structures around here that are white elephants, and will sit around until exactly the right developer comes along, but *most* of the area is improving at a rapid pace. I'm as disappointed as anyone that the recent attempt with the Garden Theater block in particular fell through, but it wasn't red tape or Darlene Harris that stopped this; it was one stakeholder in the neighborhood who effectively blocked the proposal...but meanwhile there are other developments along North Ave that are doing fine. A big part of the issue with the buildings in between Federal and the Garden Theater is that they are just so fragile at this point that it's going to take a really big investment to save them -- whereas most of the renovations happening in the area are dealing with smaller structures that have solid brick shells and can be gutted and fixed up without much drama, as we are seeing with the little restaurant space down by the YCMA. At the end of the day redevelopment is happening at a pace that is appropriate to the Northside, and I don't think it has much to do with Darlene Harris one way or another.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by RogersParkTransplant

Sorry to keep at this SCR, but for the record it's unfair to pick on the Garden Theater block without mentioning that City of Asylum has performed a small miracle with the renovation of the old Masonic Temple right next door. There are certain structures around here that are white elephants, and will sit around until exactly the right developer comes along, but *most* of the area is improving at a rapid pace. I'm as disappointed as anyone that the recent attempt with the Garden Theater block in particular fell through, but it wasn't red tape or Darlene Harris that stopped this; it was one stakeholder in the neighborhood who effectively blocked the proposal...but meanwhile there are other developments along North Ave that are doing fine. A big part of the issue with the buildings in between Federal and the Garden Theater is that they are just so fragile at this point that it's going to take a really big investment to save them -- whereas most of the renovations happening in the area are dealing with smaller structures that have solid brick shells and can be gutted and fixed up without much drama, as we are seeing with the little restaurant space down by the YMCA. At the end of the day redevelopment is happening at a pace that is appropriate to the Northside, and I don't think it has much to do with Darlene Harris one way or another.

Sorry, but what are you referring to here?