Pittsburgh's Top Ten City Main Streets (Washington, Butler: neighborhoods, restaurants, marketplace)

[nuwaver88]

Here are mine in order

1. East Carson Street-South Side
2. Forbes Avenue-Oakland
3. Murray Avenue-Squirrel Hill
4. Liberty Avenue-Bloomfield
5. Walnut Street-Shadyside
6. Forbes Avenue-Squirrel Hill
7. Ellsworth Avenue-Shadyside
8. Penn Avenue-Strip District-(not late night, but too good not to list)
9. Butler Street-Lawrenceville
10. Penn Circle South/S. Highland Area-East Liberty

Honorable mention. S. Craig Street-Oakland...Grandview Avenue-Mt. Washington...S. Braddock Avenue-Regent Square...several Downtown Streets(lack 24 hour vibe, otherwise higher)...Penn Avenue-Garfield...

Walkability, combined with restaurants, pubs, arts, and retail were my main criteria. Safety is also an issue.

[BrianTH]

Good list. If I was going to quibble, I'd say The Strip really belongs in a category of its own (I'd call it something like a market district, as opposed to a main street). I'd also suggest the whole "Eastside" area (or whatever you want to call that area along Highland straddling the Busway) has similarly evolved beyond just a street into some sort of district. Finally, I'd call Forbes and Murray in Squirrel Hill one big main street (yes, it is an L, but it is continuous), and put it in a tie with Carson Street for #1.

That leaves room for three more in the top 10. Grandview to me is something different than a main street, so in no particular order I would add S. Craig, S. Braddock, and Penn Avenue in Friendship-Garfield.

[nuwaver88]

I thought about using Forbes and Murray together, but thought that many neighborhoods have more than one street that may run off of the main drag that have businesses. That is why I decided to list Forbes and Murray seperately. For example, South Side, Shadyside, and Squirrel Hill have many side streets off of these thorofares. It just so happens that Squirrel Hill has two major ones. That is why I listed them seperately. This way, I did not have to list streets like "Walnut and Aiken Avenue, and Filbert, and Ivy and etc. I did list the Eastside area with the #10 listing. I guess the Strip is more of a Marketplace than a Main Street. If East Ohio Street eon the North Side ever gets it together, and there is a little momentum right now, it also will make the list.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by nuwaver88

I thought about using Forbes and Murray together, but thought that many neighborhoods have more than one street that may run off of the main drag that have businesses.

I know what you mean, but the thing is that Forbes isn't really a side street for Murray or vice-versa as far as the commercial parts are concerned. Instead it is really like one long continuous main drag that happens to go through a 90-degree turn and name change at one point. But to me, at least, that little quirk isn't enough to turn it into two different distinct areas (unlike Walnut and Ellsworth in Shadyside, which legitimately feel distinct to me).

By the way, I think this is a notable point not just in the abstract, but also because I really think that when you put them together, they deserve equal ranking with Carson Street.

[deathegg88]

Allegheny River Blvd in Oakmont.

[raynist]

Originally Posted by deathegg88

Allegheny River Blvd in Oakmont.

If we are going to list things outside of the actually city limits then I add Washington Road from Dormont through Mt Lebo and whatever the main street in in Beaver, PA. Also the street in Sewickley (can't think of the name right now).

For in the city one that is not on the list is Brookline Blvd in Brookline.

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

South Braddock Avenue - Regent Square

[BrianTH]

By the way, S. Braddock in downtown Regent Square actually isn't in the City either (it is Edgewood on one side, Swissvale on the other).

[Little Mizz Pittsburgh]

^^ You're right.

Centre Avenue

Frankstown Avenue

^^may not be the safest, for some people, but I consider them main thoroughfares.

[fleetiebelle]

Shiloh St is more of the business main drag in Mt. Washington, at least for neighborhood residents.

Outside the city, I'd throw in Lincoln Ave in Bellevue, too.