9% of Black population displaced in 4 years (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: crime, houses, neighborhood)

[Independentthinking83]

Originally Posted by Lvehard

This is a really interesting thread (especially as my multiracial family and I are moving to Pittsburgh this summer). I have done a fair amount of research in the past on Black suburbanization trends in cities like Wash DC (but not for Pittsburgh), and one factor fueling the move out of some cities has been families in search of lower home prices in the burbs.

From at least two of the comments on this thread, it seems as though some of the displacement in Pittsburgh can also be attributed to a move to the suburbs? If so, has it been mostly places like Monroeville and Penn Hills- or do folks think the Black/Brown trend (if it exists in Pittsburgh) has extended to "blue ribbon" school areas like Fox Chapel and North Allegheny?

It’s the dawn of a new census and they are trying to get head of the ugly census numbers. It’s gonna be a national news story.

It’s no big secret tho. Just look at the articles from two years ago. But again I question the motivation of why now? It’s gonna be a front and center and likely national news story. Not good press for sure. In the 1950s they destroyed the hill district neighborhood. It’s been happening here for decades. The only reason it is getting attention now is that the future of this country and youth coming up is minority and Pittsburgh minority population continues to shrink.

https://www.publicsource.org/pittsbu...-report-finds/


https://www.wesa.fm/development-tran...estimates-show

[fat lou]

Originally Posted by Independentthinking83

It’s the dawn of a new census and they are trying to get head of the ugly census numbers. It’s gonna be a national news story.

It’s no big secret tho. Just look at the articles from two years ago. But again I question the motivation of why now? It’s gonna be a front and center and likely national news story. Not good press for sure. In the 1950s they destroyed the hill district neighborhood. It’s been happening here for decades. The only reason it is getting attention now is that the future of this country and youth coming up is minority and Pittsburgh minority population continues to shrink.

https://www.publicsource.org/pittsbu...-report-finds/


https://www.wesa.fm/development-tran...estimates-show

Hey, better to have it now than fifteen years ago, right? Holding hearings like this fifteen years ago may have hindered gentrification. The city council doesn't want to hinder gentrification. They want all the gentrification they can get, then complain about it after-the-fact to show what good people they are.

[Paul2421]

Originally Posted by Lvehard

This is a really interesting thread (especially as my multiracial family and I are moving to Pittsburgh this summer). I have done a fair amount of research in the past on Black suburbanization trends in cities like Wash DC (but not for Pittsburgh), and one factor fueling the move out of some cities has been families in search of lower home prices in the burbs.

From at least two of the comments on this thread, it seems as though some of the displacement in Pittsburgh can also be attributed to a move to the suburbs? If so, has it been mostly places like Monroeville and Penn Hills- or do folks think the Black/Brown trend (if it exists in Pittsburgh) has extended to "blue ribbon" school areas like Fox Chapel and North Allegheny?

North Allegheny definitely has an inflow of east asians. franklin elementary is almost 50% minority at this point. minorities are definitely seeking out the higher performing districts.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by eschaton

There's basically two different black "suburban" flows out of Pittsburgh right now. The middle-class one goes east through Penn Hills, some of the municipalities in Woodland Hills SD (Churchill, Wilkins township) and then out to Monroeville. Although it is still very small, there also is a growing black population in the next suburb out (Plum) as well).

The second migration is more of poor black folks, and it's concentrated along the Monongahela (Mon) and Turtle Creek valleys. These places are dirt cheap, have plentiful rentals, and access to transit (including transit into downtown).

There is not much black suburbanization to speak of into the North Hills. There's a little bit into some of the first-ring suburbs just north of Pittsburgh, like Bellvue, Avalon, and Sharpsburg, but most people would not call those suburbs.

Most of my friends and family purchased homes in the eastern suburbs. Very few purchase homes in the city and this is mainly because of the cost. Penn Hills offers everything that a black middle class family would need and is centrally located.

I have a few friends that purchased in non traditional areas like Carrick and Bellevue. Carrick has some solid neighborhoods with a Stanton Heights type of vibe which was surprising. Penn Hills is the hot spot for middle class black families and has been for generations.

San Francisco "successfully" suburbanized its black community.

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by wpipkins2

Most of my friends and family purchased homes in the eastern suburbs. Very few purchase homes in the city and this is mainly because of the cost. Penn Hills offers everything that a black middle class family would need and is centrally located.

I have a few friends that purchased in non traditional areas like Carrick and Bellevue. Carrick has some solid neighborhoods with a Stanton Heights type of vibe which was surprising. Penn Hills is the hot spot for middle class black families and has been for generations.

San Francisco "successfully" suburbanized its black community.

Penn Hills also has a high crime rate, which explains the lower cost.

[Marv95]

At the end of the day there is a legit reason why this place is talked about being one of the worst cities in America for blacks and why the black working-to-middle class are leaving this area. But don't take my word for it. Take a look at this and read the comments:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Me9G...1h19LkyL99_sux

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by fat lou

Hey, better to have it now than fifteen years ago, right? Holding hearings like this fifteen years ago may have hindered gentrification. The city council doesn't want to hinder gentrification. They want all the gentrification they can get, then complain about it after-the-fact to show what good people they are.

What’s interesting is that so many folks want areas to “get better”, and then when they do “get better”, they’re surprised that they and other folks get priced out of the area/s....and then they complain about it. It’s as though they have no idea that “better” areas attract money and that money follows money.

[szug-bot]

Originally Posted by erieguy

Penn Hills also has a high crime rate, which explains the lower cost.

ive noticed the BARGAINS! it might be due to the high school tax.

there are parts of Penn Hills that are beautiful neighborhoods - on online mapping they appear that way, at least. very leafy, orderly, suburban but not tacky...

[erieguy]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

ive noticed the BARGAINS! it might be due to the high school tax.

there are parts of Penn Hills that are beautiful neighborhoods - on online mapping they appear that way, at least. very leafy, orderly, suburban but not tacky...

High school tax is certainly an issue, and there’s certainly nice parts of Penn Hills, but overall it has a high crime rate.

[wpipkins2]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

ive noticed the BARGAINS! it might be due to the high school tax.

there are parts of Penn Hills that are beautiful neighborhoods - on online mapping they appear that way, at least. very leafy, orderly, suburban but not tacky...

That is correct. Most of my friends purchased the larger homes in the Saltzburg/Stottler areas. Very green and surrounded by an active golf course.