Neighborhood of the week: Sheraden (Pittsburgh, Middletown: crime, houses, landscaping)

[eschaton]

Sheraden is a neighborhood in the Greater West End of Pittsburgh. It began its history in 1856, with one William Sheraden, a farmer who owned 122 acres of property in the neighborhood. He ultimately sold a section of his property to the Panhandle Railroad, in exchange for their promise that the rail depot be named "Sheraden Station" Although the station name was later changed to Corliss, the name Sheraden (or earlier forms like Sheradenville) stuck. Interestingly, William Sheraden's house is still standing.

Real development of the neighborhood was a slow process, with only 15 homes constructed by 1880, but development picked up relatively quickly after that. By 1894, the community had grown to 180 landowners, and seceded from the now-defunct Chartiers Township and incorporated as a borough. In 1897, the neighborhood got its first streetcar service. A decade later, the residents of the borough of Sheraden voted to join the City of Pittsburgh by roughly a 2-1 margin. By this time period the neighborhood had some 1,300 residents, with some development on most blocks, but in a patchwork fashion, with many empty lots not filled in until the 1920s, or even later in the 1950s. The mixture of homes built was typical for a "highland" Pittsburgh neighborhood of the time period, starting with modest frame houses and switching to brick-clad foursquares and bungelows. During this period in Pittsburgh history, Sheraden was mostly an Irish and German neighborhood, although many of those communities began spreading into the suburbs to the western suburbs like Robinson in the mid 20th century. It does not appear that it ever had a true business district, instead having pockets of commercial development - including one notable set of commercial storefronts still standing near where old Sheraden Station was located.

Sheraden was a basically stable, albeit slowly declining, streetcar suburban neighborhood up until late in the 20th century. But the closure of many of the public housing projects in the region, including Arlington Heights in the 1990s, and Broadhead Manor in the 2000s, had a very negative effect on the neighborhood. It underwent some of the quickest white flight during the late 20th/early 21st century, with the black population rising from 7% to 43% in roughly 25 years, even as the total population of the neighborhood declined by another 7%. Crime is not the highest in the city, but there have still been 13 homicides since 2005, with most of those relating to gang violence.

Sheraden is a geographically large neighborhood, and there are big differences in terms of safety and desirability between different segments of it. East Sheraden - the blocks to the west of Langley - is generally considered to be the worst portion of the neighborhood in terms of safety, and is starting to see a proliferation of genuinely abandoned homes. In contrast much of West Sheraden (often called Corliss) is very safe - particularly the more suburban areas closer to Middletown Road. Even in the nicer parts of Sheraden though, the reputation of the entire neighborhood has caused housing prices to decline, meaning more houses are being snapped up by investors and rented out, continuing the cycle of decline further.

I don't see much hope for a turnaround for Sheraden in the near future. Although the housing stock has yet to deteriorate much, and there are still some lovely early 20th century foursquare-style homes available very affordably, you can find these many other places in Pittsburgh at similar price points. And in those neighborhoods, there often are walkable amenities and you don't have to worry about increasing crime and continually depreciating housing values.

[szug-bot]

nice insight into sheraden, a place i find hard to dislike.

there are some nasty people there, no doubt.

there are also some very beautiful old homes, and a number of more modern, suburban ones where the landscaping is kept up nicely.

geographically, it has some beautiful terrain - gently rolling hills, plenty of green areas. it could be a great neighborhood for urban living, if people slowed their driving, and if the crime were reduced.

the roads there are excellent, though, as far as width and driving comfort go. it is a nice drive to meander up chartiers, then down the hill to Windgap for ice cream at Remember When.

[svband76]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I don't see much hope for a turnaround for Sheraden in the near future. Although the housing stock has yet to deteriorate much, and there are still some lovely early 20th century foursquare-style homes available very affordably, you can find these many other places in Pittsburgh at similar price points. And in those neighborhoods, there often are walkable amenities and you don't have to worry about increasing crime and continually depreciating housing values.

That is one beautiful home. Hope someone here steals it for that price.

[HarryRSpooner]

Sheraden sucks. Tons of dilapidated wood frames houses. Many of which are total tear downs. Lots of back taxes in the area. I don't blame people for not paying. If I lived there too I would yank the city around for sure. Because it isn't like they give a rip about that place. You're better off in quieter Esplen or leaving the city and going to the Rocks instead.

The good part about Sheraden is you can get some city views, you are not far from downtown whatever that is suppose to mean nowadays. If you can get into a decent brick home there then it may be worthwhile. Otherwise, I suggest running away from Sheraden.