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I've spent a few days combing these archives for recommendations and decided to make my own post to see what you guys think.
My husband got a job in Shadyside, so we are moving from western Massachusetts this summer. (Closer to our families in Ohio). We're excited. We visited in October during his interview and really liked the city.
Some info:
We do have a school aged kid, but schools are not a dealbreaker. We currently homeschool our son (oldest of 3 kids, only one school age) for logistical reasons (we like to be able to travel when we want), so I'm fine continuing to do that. We aren't opposed to cheap Catholic schools either. I don't need the most amazing schools ever, just ones they won't be physically harmed.
Our budget is about $275K since the higher property tax will make up a big chunk of our monthly payment. We need 2-4 bedrooms and somewhat of a yard (can be tiny, just a place for the kids to get out).
Sidewalks are essential and having stuff to walk to is ideal (library, coffee, etc). I hate having to do all my errands by car and like to be active.
Relatively safe - I just want to feel safe running alone as a woman.
Diverse - I want to raise my kids around people who are different than them. ie: not like 80% white (Not starting any debates, just important to us!)
We are trying to figure out how to narrow down our neighborhood search and wanted to see if we're missing anything on our list.
Regent Square seems to fit in well with our ideals, but there isn't much on the market in our price range.
Dormont/Mt. Leb seem great but friends in Pittsburgh have advised us we don't want that commute to Shadyside every day.
How would the Bellvue commute be? It seems to hit a lot on our list, but not diverse.
Is Greenfield safe? Walkable?
Where else should we be looking? Squirrel Hill and Shadyside seem great, but are definitely over our budget. :-/
You're unfortunately finding that Pittsburgh isn't quite as "dirt cheap" as some coastal transplants on here proclaim it is, especially if you want to live in a safe, walkable, diverse, "crunchy" neighborhoods of sorts.
Some places that came to mind for you to consider?
Aspinwall (not very diverse, though, and your budget will be tight here) Bellevue (admittedly not the best of commutes to Shadyside but it ticks all the other boxes) Bloomfield (very urban---small lot sizes/yards, highly walkable and tons of transit/bike lanes, medium diversity by Pittsburgh's standards, very close to Shadyside---certainly biking distance) Brookline (walkable main drag, safe, nice homes in your price range, mostly white, not a bad commute by car through the Liberty Tunnel and then up to Bigelow Boulevard and down Baum Boulevard into Shadyside) Crafton (like Bellevue it's not a great commute to Shadyside; however, it does tick all the other boxes) East Allegheny (Shadyside would be about 20 minutes away via car; neighborhood is in various stages of gentrifying; reasonably diverse; reasonably safe; reasonably walkable) Friendship (your budget will be tight here, too, as it would be in Aspinwall; walking distance to the Penn Avenue or Liberty Avenue business districts; super close to Shadyside and the East End shopping areas) Garfield (probably most diverse offering on this list; close to Shadyside; budget-friendly; decently walkable; still a bit rough around the edges the further uphill you get away from Penn Avenue) Greenfield (not as well-polished as the rest of the East End, but it's still home to many liberal younger professional families, is safe, and is within your budget) Morningside (southern 1/3 or so of the neighborhood, where Eschaton lives, is semi-walkable to East Liberty or Highland Park business districts, is safe, is reasonably diverse, and is family-friendly)
I also think you need to accept that the entire region is still largely a "zebra" (Caucasian or African-American) area. Many South Asians and Latin Americans self-congregate in a select few areas. Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are very diverse, but, alas, are uber-expensive, as you already saw. Race relations are better in Pittsburgh than in some other cities but they still aren't perfect here. To find a truly "diverse", safe, walkable, left-leaning sort of neighborhood <$275,000 is going to be tough here.
Regent Square seems to fit in well with our ideals, but there isn't much on the market in our price range.
A lot of people I know (university-affiliated professionals, mostly) who are being priced out of Regent Square are buying in Swissvale and Braddock Hills.
A lot of people I know (university-affiliated professionals, mostly) who are being priced out of Regent Square are buying in Swissvale and Braddock Hills.
Oh! I like the suggestion of Swissvale. Relatively walkable (depending upon what part of the borough). Affordably-priced. Reasonably-safe (again, depending upon what part of the borough---the parts closer to the city proper and Edgewood are generally safer/more desirable). Diverse. Edgewood Towne Centre has a lot of shopping/dining. There's a library. Pharmacies. Banks. Etc.
Braddock Hills is not a place I'd suggest because it's not at all "walkable".
You can buy the best nicest home in Dormont for under your budget and it has everything you want except for the short commute. And it's not as diverse as it should be. Yet hopefully. Otherwise maybe Garfield but homes in the East End area are pricey even in the less desirable areas. I love Brookline too. Anyway welcome!
You can buy the best nicest home in Dormont for under your budget and it has everything you want except for the short commute. And it's not as diverse as it should be. Yet hopefully. Otherwise maybe Garfield but homes in the East End area are pricey even in the less desirable areas. I love Brookline too. Anyway welcome!
I absolutely adore Dormont, but I just feel like the drive to Shadyside daily would drive me insane. Likewise Brookline is an almost identical commute to Shadyside. Crafton and Bellevue would be sort of rough, too. I just think the OP should still consider Dormont, Brookline, Crafton, and Bellevue, though, because they're all great neighborhoods/suburbs that tick all the other boxes besides smooth commute.
Does your husband work normal 8-5 type hours? Honestly getting many places is not bad outside of commute times but it also depends on what you are used to in terms of traffic.
$275k should give you good options but some of the areas I would consider more walkable maybe not unless you are open on the condition.
I agree on the about maybe meeting what you want. Brookline was my first thought, Crafton but yeah the commute is a little more and walkable would depend on what area. Bellevue is pretty walkable overall and $275k would likely get you a nice renovated home but at rush hour might be more of a commute than you want though its comparable to most other city commutes.
Really its the walkable part that limits, there are other places that are semi walkable to some things but maybe not a grocery store.
I absolutely adore Dormont, but I just feel like the drive to Shadyside daily would drive me insane. Likewise Brookline is an almost identical commute to Shadyside. Crafton and Bellevue would be sort of rough, too. I just think the OP should still consider Dormont, Brookline, Crafton, and Bellevue, though, because they're all great neighborhoods/suburbs that tick all the other boxes besides smooth commute.
I love Dormont as well but there is just too much traffic in general for me there. Just a personal preference, its not like its bumper to bumper but I've never felt like it was quiet.
I've spent a few days combing these archives for recommendations and decided to make my own post to see what you guys think.
My husband got a job in Shadyside, so we are moving from western Massachusetts this summer. (Closer to our families in Ohio). We're excited. We visited in October during his interview and really liked the city.
I went to school at UMass and spent six years of my life in total various places in Western Mass. Whereabouts are you coming from exactly?
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
Some info:
We do have a school aged kid, but schools are not a dealbreaker. We currently homeschool our son (oldest of 3 kids, only one school age) for logistical reasons (we like to be able to travel when we want), so I'm fine continuing to do that. We aren't opposed to cheap Catholic schools either. I don't need the most amazing schools ever, just ones they won't be physically harmed.
Our budget is about $275K since the higher property tax will make up a big chunk of our monthly payment. We need 2-4 bedrooms and somewhat of a yard (can be tiny, just a place for the kids to get out).
Sidewalks are essential and having stuff to walk to is ideal (library, coffee, etc). I hate having to do all my errands by car and like to be active.
Relatively safe - I just want to feel safe running alone as a woman.
Diverse - I want to raise my kids around people who are different than them. ie: not like 80% white (Not starting any debates, just important to us!)
These are all fairly easy to accomplish in that price range. People sometimes complain about Pittsburgh Public Schools, but there are robust magnet options here, and a range of different neighborhood schools, from actually good to mediocre to bad. That budget does not price you out of more than a handful of neighborhoods. Safety would not be an issue anywhere with housing at that price in Pittsburgh (the actually unsafe areas are way cheaper than that). Diversity would be a bit harder, as outside of Squirrel Hill/Shadyside Pittsburgh is basically just a black and white city.
What are your feelings on living in a rowhouse? It opens up a lot more options at that price range in walkable neighborhoods. Also, do you guys feel comfortable with a fixer upper? I'm guessing no with three small children.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
[*]Regent Square seems to fit in well with our ideals, but there isn't much on the market in our price range.
Yeah, there isn't much on the market right now in Regent Square, though we're still about a month from the busy time for listings. Note that it's actually split between four different municipalities. The city section is actually the most desirable, because it has the best public schools and the lowest taxes. The Swissvale/Edgewood sections have high property taxes and not great schools. The Wilkinsburg section has even higher taxes and atrocious schools, even though it's safe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
[*]Dormont/Mt. Leb seem great but friends in Pittsburgh have advised us we don't want that commute to Shadyside every day.
Yes. Do not live outside the South hills if you work in the East End. That's a hell commute, whether by car or transit.
Also, that area would fail your desire for diversity.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
[*]How would the Bellvue commute be? It seems to hit a lot on our list, but not diverse.
Bellevue is getting more diverse, as lower-income black people are gentrified out of the city. I think the big selling point there is there's some amazing historic housing stock if you look around. That said, the commute isn't great to the East End - though better than the South Hills.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
[*]Is Greenfield safe? Walkable?
Very safe, and with some of the better public schools in the city. Walkable depends. There are two different business districts in the neighborhood, but topography is rugged, meaning it can range from walkable to very suburban.
Quote:
Originally Posted by amwangel
Where else should we be looking? Squirrel Hill and Shadyside seem great, but are definitely over our budget. :-/
My own neighborhood of Morningside is another potential option. It's very safe and crawling with kids. Unfortunately we haven't had a coffee shop since the last one closed about two years ago, but we do have a small business district with a pub, Rite Aid, and some other essentials. There's a bus which goes right through Shadyside (75) meaning your husband wouldn't have to drive to work). There's only a few houses on the market right now at your price range though, such as this.
I'd also look at Bloomfield, Friendship, Garfield, East Liberty, and Highland Park, but there's really not much on the market now in your price range I'd personally be interested in.
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