Why Shadyside Rules All Pittsburgh Neighborhoods (Trafford: live, club, used car)

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

it's quite possible, especially in a town famous for self-driving car research and development, that one day people will not be allowed to own cars

that might sound crazy but then the idea of not being allowed to own a horse and carriage probably sounded crazy at the time when that's how people got around

they're obviously pushing hard to make self-driving cars a reality - here's an interesting question

if you currently live in the suburbs and one day the government said "no more private car ownership", would you move to the city?

A lot of the suburbs are more walkable than the city. There are city neighborhoods in which there is nothing to walk to. I live in downtown Kittanning (a local county seat) and everything is in walking distance, and lots of government jobs, too. Most of the county seats are self contained and walkable. By the time cars are outlawed, most of us may be working from home.

[Independentthinking83]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

A lot of the suburbs are more walkable than the city. There are city neighborhoods in which there is nothing to walk to. I live in downtown Kittanning (a local county seat) and everything is in walking distance, and lots of government jobs, too. Most of the county seats are self contained and walkable. By the time cars are outlawed, most of us may be working from home.

Agreed. But how do you connect people to those areas? How do you bring them back economically? Why are only folks focused on the east end and how do you show them these other places offer much more?

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

A lot of the suburbs are more walkable than the city. There are city neighborhoods in which there is nothing to walk to. I live in downtown Kittanning (a local county seat) and everything is in walking distance, and lots of government jobs, too. Most of the county seats are self contained and walkable. By the time cars are outlawed, most of us may be working from home.

kittaning is not really 'suburban' per se, though. as mckeesport, and other old river towns are not. they matured differently than say, McCandless, which is probably the big hot spot for attracting residents in allegheny county, or second to n. fayette.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

kittaning is not really 'suburban' per se, though. as mckeesport, and other old river towns are not. they matured differently than say, McCandless, which is probably the big hot spot for attracting residents in allegheny county, or second to n. fayette.

Oh, yes, it is definitely not a suburb. But there are many walkable suburbs, such as Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Millvale, Sharpsburg, Bellevue, Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Forest Hills, to name just a few that sprang to mind.

I love urban neighborhoods and the city, but I find it really important to remind people that our small cities, towns, and older suburbs offer an affordable alternative to city living with many of the same amenities.

The main thing I miss living in the country is the culture you find in a big city. Sadly, post-Covid, it may be a long time in rebuilding culture.

[PreservationPioneer]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking83

Agreed. But how do you connect people to those areas? How do you bring them back economically? Why are only folks focused on the east end and how do you show them these other places offer much more?

Most of the county seats are pretty stable. I'd say in general none of them have faced anywhere near the levels of blight or deterioration that some places closer to the city have. Most of the county seat business districts, while not booming necessarily, are much more vital than other small towns. The only business districts I have seen that are more vital are the gentrified neighborhoods in the city, or the wealthy suburbs such as Sewickley. I have explored most of the county seats, and the only one that stands out as needing a little TLC is Washington. Even Uniontown, in depressed Fayette County, is quite lively and beautiful. Butler, Greensburg, Beaver are doing wonderful.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

Oh, yes, it is definitely not a suburb. But there are many walkable suburbs, such as Dormont, Mt. Lebanon, Millvale, Sharpsburg, Bellevue, Wilkinsburg, Swissvale, Forest Hills, to name just a few that sprang to mind.

I love urban neighborhoods and the city, but I find it really important to remind people that our small cities, towns, and older suburbs offer an affordable alternative to city living with many of the same amenities.

The main thing I miss living in the country is the culture you find in a big city. Sadly, post-Covid, it may be a long time in rebuilding culture.

right. well-stated. and i agree that in the mid-atlantic US, these older rust belt cities that ruled the last century with our industrial might are not cookie cutter that you might find in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the like...smaller populated entities outside the larger, anchoring one have sidewalks, parks, Main Streets....even around DC in Maryland, but not so much in VA except Alexandria...

you live in the country? AWESOME. yes, i would miss city culture, too if i moved out, but to be honest with you, you might have an idealized vision that does not exist anymore. people are nasty. they are instantaneously judgemental. they are racist. so quick to anger and with such opinions that you MUST accept.

Those that may NOT be are insular - you can never get to know them, anyway. There are more and more people of eastern descent (india, pakistan, china, et al). I am a child of immigrants - i would LOVE to meet these people and befriend them. I would enjoy knowing them and hearing their accomplishments (CMU people? tech? doctors? etc.)...its impossible, people jsut dont mingle and talk like they use to.

old man syndrome....excuse me, bathroom call and time for geritol.

short version: i love me the city, for what it COULD be. i would love the country, for its quiet and human interactions that, hopefully, are not strained, based on unspoken thoughts or predjudices....

[Charley Barker]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

right. well-stated. and i agree that in the mid-atlantic US, these older rust belt cities that ruled the last century with our industrial might are not cookie cutter that you might find in Phoenix, Los Angeles, and the like...smaller populated entities outside the larger, anchoring one have sidewalks, parks, Main Streets....even around DC in Maryland, but not so much in VA except Alexandria...

you live in the country? AWESOME. yes, i would miss city culture, too if i moved out, but to be honest with you, you might have an idealized vision that does not exist anymore. people are nasty. they are instantaneously judgemental. they are racist. so quick to anger and with such opinions that you MUST accept.

Those that may NOT be are insular - you can never get to know them, anyway. There are more and more people of eastern descent (india, pakistan, china, et al). I am a child of immigrants - i would LOVE to meet these people and befriend them. I would enjoy knowing them and hearing their accomplishments (CMU people? tech? doctors? etc.)...its impossible, people jsut dont mingle and talk like they use to.

old man syndrome....excuse me, bathroom call and time for geritol.

short version: i love me the city, for what it COULD be. i would love the country, for its quiet and human interactions that, hopefully, are not strained, based on unspoken thoughts or predjudices....

There are several groups that do just what you are describing - mentoring recent arrivals to the area. Here is one of them called Hello Neighbor: https://www.helloneighbor.io/

I believe Literacy Pittsburgh has something similar built more around language. I have a friend who volunteered and it did develop into a sort of mentor/mentee thing.

I lived a quiet country life for 15 years and for me it got a little boring. There are definitely tensions in rural areas also, but people just tend not to talk about things like politics and religion, since you never know when you might need your neighbor's help or vice versa. Best to be on good terms.

The thing I found really odd coming from an urban area was that people were really observant about your comings and goings. Not in a nebby way, but in more of a way that you just look out for your neighbor, regardless of their politics or other believes. Maybe it's not that way in every rural community, but it was where we lived.

Back on topic. What I love about Shadyside is the village feel north of 5th ave. and east of Aiken Ave. and good access to transit and other great neighborhoods. It would be nice to see something more like the Beltline in Atlanta promoted in Pgh, connecting urban neighborhoods with parks and other amenities.

[BUILD PENN SQUARE]

Originally Posted by PreservationPioneer

A lot of the suburbs are more walkable than the city. There are city neighborhoods in which there is nothing to walk to. I live in downtown Kittanning (a local county seat) and everything is in walking distance, and lots of government jobs, too. Most of the county seats are self contained and walkable. By the time cars are outlawed, most of us may be working from home.

checked it out on google streetview - looks like a cool little town

[PghPatriot]

Originally Posted by BUILD PENN SQUARE

cars are a complete pain in the ass - even new models can turn into complete nightmares if you get a lemon.

I dunno...I have a 2002 Trailblazer that I bought 5 years ago for a few thousand bucks. Haven't had any problems whatsoever with it, goes great in the snow and starts right up. I don't have any car payments, I do basic maintenance myself, and if anything major comes up, I've saved enough money by not having car payments that putting in a new engine or transmission won't be a big deal if it ever happens, which it likely won't.

Just like everything, do your research and don't buy something that's gonna give you problems and/or is expensive to fix.

And whatever you do, don't ever buy a new car. Complete waste of money, unless you have it to spare.

[Copanut]

[quote=BUILD PENN SQUARE;60111404
people who are social and enjoy running into friends live in walkable neighborhoods like shadyside - people who are anti-social or who want to control their social interactions live in the suburbs[/QUOTE]

Pretty broad brush, any stats to back that up? I think the opposite is true, using the same stats you have.