Oakmont Crime (home invasion)

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Verona is a boro with it's own zip code, I do believe.

There's a small area called "Verona hilltop" which is part of the Verona grid (and the same age), but in Penn Hills. IIRC, it's everything east of 4th street.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by eschaton

The "decline" of Verona is overrated, and is in large part because it used to be 99% white, but some black families fleeing Penn Hills (for obvious reasons) have now started locating there. Not many. It was only 7% black in 2010. But people notice it now, and like many of the formerly all-white working-class boroughs, there's a fair amount of open racism as well.

The business disctrict is by no means stable. A lot of the buildings have been for sale off and on for years. Some are vacant.

In Verona over half of homes are occupied by renters. To me this isn't a good sign. Perhaps, there are a lot of apartment buildings but I don't know for sure. Secondly, in spite of the fact that the Pittsburgh Area if very educated Verona really isn't. According to the most recent census, only about 13 of the residents over 25 have college degrees.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by Copanut

Verona is a boro with it's own zip code, I do believe.


http://www.zipmap.net/Pennsylvania/Allegheny_County/Verona.htm

I know but if you go on Howard Hanna, for example, a surprising number of homes for sale in Verona aren't in Verona.

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

I know but if you go on Howard Hanna, for example, a surprising number of homes for sale in Verona aren't in Verona.

I'm shocked!

[sparrowmint]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I'm now seriously considering a home in Verona and was wondering if you could elaborate more, tclifton, as to why Verona "isn't quite so nice". The town certainly looks poorer than Oakmont, but is crime really an issue?

Do you realize how bad the traffic on Allegheny River Blvd can get? I don't think you'd like living out this way.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

The business disctrict is by no means stable. A lot of the buildings have been for sale off and on for years. Some are vacant.

In Verona over half of homes are occupied by renters. To me this isn't a good sign. Perhaps, there are a lot of apartment buildings but I don't know for sure. Secondly, in spite of the fact that the Pittsburgh Area if very educated Verona really isn't. According to the most recent census, only about 13 of the residents over 25 have college degrees.

I put "decline" in quotes because I think the recent turn for the worse is a bit spurious. It's obviously been going through the same long-term decline that many outlying river boroughs have. That doesn't mean it's going to become another Rankin though.

It does raise a question though - if Verona became a majority-black, fairly dangerous borough, could Oakmont hold onto its desirability? The two do share a school district after all.

[robrobrob]

Originally Posted by eschaton

I put "decline" in quotes because I think the recent turn for the worse is a bit spurious. It's obviously been going through the same long-term decline that many outlying river boroughs have. That doesn't mean it's going to become another Rankin though.

It does raise a question though - if Verona became a majority-black, fairly dangerous borough, could Oakmont hold onto its desirability? The two do share a school district after all.

I think Oakmont is going to be okay even if Verona becomes a majority black, fairly dangerous borough. For starters they are really separated. Secondly, the wealthy residents of Oakmont probably aren't using the schools. I think there is a local Catholic school and the local Lutheran church has a private school which ironically enough is now in Penn Hills. Lastly, with the new development along the river, Oakmont and the Riverview School District are going to be fine financially. Ultimately, since Verona is so small its impact on Oakmont will be minimized.

You first sentence makes no sense. So, Verona is not really declining but it is declining.

[eschaton]

Originally Posted by robrobrob

You first sentence makes no sense. So, Verona is not really declining but it is declining.

Sorry. I meant the "decline" is overrated because it doesn't seem to be happening any more rapidly than the slow, steady decline it's had for decades due to deindustrialization and not being a desired area. Having a small black population added to the mix hasn't started off some new, more rapid descent. Arguably with a place like Verona it might actually help stabilize the community, as at least some new people are moving into a area few desired until then.

[tclifton]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I'm now seriously considering a home in Verona and was wondering if you could elaborate more, tclifton, as to why Verona "isn't quite so nice". The town certainly looks poorer than Oakmont, but is crime really an issue?

It's not really bad, just not so nice as Oakmont.
There's a section 8 housing complex down near the river, and it's just a bit more run down. It's not on the scale of East Hills or anything like that, and as some others have said Verona is big and there are quite a few places in the borough. Where approx. were you looking?

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by sparrowmint

Do you realize how bad the traffic on Allegheny River Blvd can get? I don't think you'd like living out this way.

This is naturally a concern of mine, but with that being said my partner and I both work erratic hours. He consistently works 7 AM - 4 PM Monday through Friday and would be leaving Verona probably around 6:15 AM to make sure he was at his parking spot on the North Shore by 6:45 AM to walk a few minutes to his office. Coming home would be tough for him, but I'd imagine the commute would be less strenuous once the Route 28 widening project is completed next year, along with the replacement of the Hulton Bridge the following year. He parks right near Chestnut Street in the North Side, so he could easily hop Route 28 there by the Heinz Plant, take it up to Harmar, and then backtrack over the Hulton Bridge and through Oakmont to avoid the Allegheny River Boulevard traffic. In my case I usually don't leave for work until AFTER the morning rush, and I'm usually not home until 9 PM or later. My commute now from Polish Hill to Squirrel Hill usually takes me about 20 minutes each way and would probably be about the same sans traffic to Verona (taking Beechwood Boulevard to Fifth Avenue to Washington Boulevard to Allegheny River Boulevard).

The home we are looking at borders the Rivertowne Shopping Center for some day-to-day conveniences (not sure if there's an easier way to walk there rather than having to walk all the way around it), and I'd foresee us in Downtown Oakmont quite a bit. Does anyone have any hope of Downtown Verona improving anytime soon? The last time I drove through it was half-vacant, save for a tattoo parlor, Dunkin' Donuts, NAPA Auto Parts Store, and a few other businesses. Could the massive new Edgewater at Oakmont development spur additional commercial demand in Verona? I'd imagine most Oakmonters do their grocery shopping at the Giant Eagle in Verona anyways and would be driving through the business district to access it. Also, how active is the railroad behind the shopping center? The home I'm interested in is right along West Railroad Avenue, facing the tracks. If it's only a couple of trains per day I think we'd easily adjust. Who knows? If the commuter train ever gets off the ground it may prove advantageous to own a home right along the rail line. I'm in love with this home right now because it appears to be fully move-in-ready and is very small, which I like. It also has a yard just big enough for the dog. Has flooding ever been a concern in this part of Verona?