Is the fracking industry partially responsible for Pittsburgh's renaissance? (lease, to live in)

[Charley Barker]

Being relatively new to the area, and with the pandemic, we have been exploring a lot of places within a 2 hour radius of Pittsburgh this summer. There are parts of this area that are absolutely idyllic. For example the back roads between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant could pass for the verdant landscapes of Ireland or Gloucestershire in England. However, parts of Washington Co. are not at all pleasant with the truck traffic, noise and the industrial viewshed. It really is a sort of rural blight. I wouldn't call it widespread, but the ares where it is present don't look good.

I understand the idea of energy independence and the resulting reduction in foreign entanglements. I do wish there was a better return on investment (see below) and more careful zoning with much greater setbacks. It needs to be viewed as a transitional energy source, even if that transition takes 50 years.

THE biggest issue with the extraction/natural resource industries is that they are by their nature not sustainable. Once the resource is depleted, people and capital move on to the next area where more resources have been discovered. This is so apparent in all the old coal, lumber, conventional oil and gas towns that dot the landscape mostly north and south of Pittsburgh. You see amazing but dilapidated houses and buildings in these places (from Kane, PA near the NY boarder, south to cities like Brownsville) that were built when the resources were being exploited and land owners invested the royalties in their towns.

And you see this now where you see a gas well surrounded by run-down houses next to beautiful, large estates where the landowner has put up yards and yards of rail fencing that surround acres of manicured lawn with fountains centered on clear water ponds - but no horses! I come from an area where there was a real horse culture and people would love to have fenced meadows for their horses and grazing livestock. It's weird.

I have no problem with landowners benefiting from royalties, but to a large extent the benefits are accruing to a few while the costs are spread to everyone else who lives in these communities. I suspect these places will fall into disrepair as the gas resource is depleted and the royalties decline, leaving behind properties that will become less and less desirable.

[amattaro]

One place you don’t want to live if you have kids, and maybe even if you don’t, is “between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant.” That’s practically the epicenter of Pennsyltucky.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by amattaro

One place you don’t want to live if you have kids, and maybe even if you don’t, is “between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant.” That’s practically the epicenter of Pennsyltucky.

Yet still better than many places in the city

[Joe_P]

One place you don’t want to live if you have kids, and maybe even if you don’t, is “between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant.” That’s practically the epicenter of Pennsyltucky.

But that's an area between two already tiny communities, so it's extremely sparse population wise.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Joe_P

But that's an area between two already tiny communities, so it's extremely sparse population wise.

Is that where you lived before you moved to Atlanta, or do you still live there?

[gg]

Originally Posted by amattaro

One place you don’t want to live if you have kids, and maybe even if you don’t, is “between Connellsville and Mt. Pleasant.” That’s practically the epicenter of Pennsyltucky.

Why? You think people in the country are bad? I have enjoyed my time out that way and stop in places to eat and been treated WAY better than I get treated in Pittsburgh. The area is much more friendly. I stopped by Helltown Brewery before the damn pandemic and it was great with a ton of friendly talkative people. They even offered me free pizza and I didn't know any of them. That isn't going to happen in Pittsburgh. Hate to tell you, but as things are right now with all the unrest, the country is a much better place to be. Just happier.

[amattaro]

Originally Posted by gg

Why? You think people in the country are bad? I have enjoyed my time out that way and stop in places to eat and been treated WAY better than I get treated in Pittsburgh. The area is much more friendly. I stopped by Helltown Brewery before the damn pandemic and it was great with a ton of friendly talkative people. They even offered me free pizza and I didn't know any of them. That isn't going to happen in Pittsburgh. Hate to tell you, but as things are right now with all the unrest, the country is a much better place to be. Just happier.

I grew up in 15610. Went to Mt. Pleasant. Mt. Pleasant is a below average education. Connellsville is worse. Good job opportunities are non existent. Many parts are scenic.

[Merge]

Originally Posted by gg

Why? You think people in the country are bad? I have enjoyed my time out that way and stop in places to eat and been treated WAY better than I get treated in Pittsburgh. The area is much more friendly. I stopped by Helltown Brewery before the damn pandemic and it was great with a ton of friendly talkative people. They even offered me free pizza and I didn't know any of them. That isn't going to happen in Pittsburgh. Hate to tell you, but as things are right now with all the unrest, the country is a much better place to be. Just happier.

Yeah, for sure.

It stays whiter out there a lot later.
You’ll be more comfortable in a place where you have less disdain for others.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by Merge

Yeah, for sure.

It stays whiter out there a lot later.
You’ll be more comfortable in a place where you have less disdain for others.

Still haven’t seen those gas wells you said are in Cranberry Twp.

Obviously why you live in the city, lol.

I hear North Park Lounge is still open in Lawrenceville.

[Joe_P]

You’ll be more comfortable in a place where you have less disdain for other

You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to Merge again.