Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
One poster, I can't remember if it was on this thread, or a city vs city one, said "nobody does rust belt chic like Pittsburgh". Which to me, really means "nobody does blue collar chic like Pittsburgh does".
I'm not saying this cause I'm a homer, but nobody does. Buffalo, Cleveland, and Cinnci just can't compare with Pittsburgh. When you factor the cost, and everything the city has to offer, Pittsburgh is unbeatable for what it is.
One thing I have to add though, living in the cheaper, less desirable areas of the city or surrounding area, will get depressing after awhile.
It might take a newcomer transplant awhile to get this feeling, but I'm almost positive they'll get the feeling after awhile.
Walking out of a cheap crummy rowhouse in Lawerenceville will lose it's "chic" urban appeal pretty fast (especially on a dreary day). Not to mention the neighbors that you'll deal with.
Pittsburgh is cheap, no doubt. But not as cheap as some make it out to be. The reality of a lot of Pittsburgh neighborhoods is anything but great. Sometimes what seems "cool" at first, might seem a lot different when living in that neighborhood.
I am sure you know what you are saying about this. Many of us from afar see things we like about a place, then build our air castles, but the reality is undoubtedly much harsher. Still, I'd love to come out and see her myself some time. For now, I'll just have to stick to on-line dating...
Speaking of corporations...that's another thing I don't get about what is happening in the U.S. Everything is corporate and chain stores and such. All of those corporations just hire wage earners, like teenagers or whoever is willing to work that.
People who want to own businesses, go into franchising now. Plus everything is zoned everywhere for the car, so having a big franchised corporate sign is what motivates a person to park in your establishment.
I long for those cities where 'Joe Blow' can open up his own little business, give the business whatever name he wants, and open up shop. The kind in and among neighborhoods where people live and can walk to (as opposed to zoning business districts across town in a 'business area'.) Actually being outside of the U.S., I see these everywhere - the ma-and-pa type shops...also saw tons on the East Coast, and they try to keep those in the Pacific Northwest as well. Viewing Pittsburgh google maps, I also see TONS of creative regular businesses all over the neighborhoods. LIke cool looking bars and pubs that don't look like an applebee chain, etc. Places people can walk around in their neighborhoods without having to drive and park in a large parking lot, etc.
The funny thing is that for massive amounts of people across the U.S., they have no idea what COULD be...and Pittsburgh has right up there with the best of the cities. I think 'Bench Warmer' sees it as he is from Boston and Boston has that. Fiddlehead has a strong sense of it because Oregon has a strong awarness of that. Unfortunately people with money have gone to the Boston and Portland cities and prices certainly reflect that people will pay big money just to have what is considered normal throughout the rest of the world. Pittsburgh is lucky to still have that 'old world' charm, and people are fairly ambivalent or overlook it.
I'm saying all this as a person who still has never lived in Pittsburgh though, but everything I've read and view and look into seems to confirm that.
Pittsburgh is one of the few cities where people can say 'but is it walkable?' and people say 'of course'. Every other city, Miami, Tampa, Dallas, Houston, San Diego, etc... people will say...'ahmm...no, you'll need a car here'
Pittsburgh is 250 years old is why. You just named all sunbelt cities. Their populations grew leaps and bounds after the car was readily available. So those cities where zoned out and built up accordingly. Unlike Pittsburgh and other northern cities, that where built up before cars where even invented, let alone popular.
One poster, I can't remember if it was on this thread, or a city vs city one, said "nobody does rust belt chic like Pittsburgh". Which to me, really means "nobody does blue collar chic like Pittsburgh does".
I'm not saying this cause I'm a homer, but nobody does. Buffalo, Cleveland, and Cinnci just can't compare with Pittsburgh. When you factor the cost, and everything the city has to offer, Pittsburgh is unbeatable for what it is.
One thing I have to add though, living in the cheaper, less desirable areas of the city or surrounding area, will get depressing after awhile.
It might take a newcomer transplant awhile to get this feeling, but I'm almost positive they'll get the feeling after awhile.
Walking out of a cheap crummy rowhouse in Lawerenceville will lose it's "chic" urban appeal pretty fast (especially on a dreary day). Not to mention the neighbors that you'll deal with.
Pittsburgh is cheap, no doubt. But not as cheap as some make it out to be. The reality of a lot of Pittsburgh neighborhoods is anything but great. Sometimes what seems "cool" at first, might seem a lot different when living in that neighborhood.
Yeah, I could see that being a strong possibility.
Actually, I have a feeling that Lawrenceville might be as you say, and easier for the youth - which would have been interesting to me a decade ago.
The southern part of Pittsburgh looks amazing to me...Mount Washington, Southside Slopes, Southside Flats, etc. I could easily see myself up there with views of the city, and walking across that bridge into downtown, etc.
I've also noticed that if looking for something around $150,000, a person could find something pretty amazing in Pittsburgh, that would be completely unaffordable elsewhere. I also see things for significantly less, but yeah, I think you run the risk of hidden costs or unforeseen issues of the neighborhood, neighbors, etc. who knows.
I am sure you know what you are saying about this. Many of us from afar see things we like about a place, then build our air castles, but the reality is undoubtedly much harsher. Still, I'd love to come out and see her myself some time. For now, I'll just have to stick to on-line dating...
I'm just trying to give you a dose of reality is all. Stats never really give you the whole truth. I believe you said you where educated (highly), right? I can almost bet with all certainly that you'll have trouble adjusting to a lot of Pittsburgh's city neighborhoods or the boros.
I'm not saying you're a snob or anything. But your interest are going to differ from your avg Pittsburgh'ers. I know I'm painting you with a broad brush here. But come on, birds of a feather flock together mostly.
Don't look at the so-called cheap realestate in Pittsburgh, and think and compare the same house to an area somewhere else, where a completely different class of person might live.
After you visit Pittsburgh, you'll understand how Pittsburgh and Denver are really night-an-day. The people are a lot grittier in Pittsburgh than they are out west for the most part. Not in insult to Pittsburgh, just an honest observation from all my travels.
Yeah, I could see that being a strong possibility.
Actually, I have a feeling that Lawrenceville might be as you say, and easier for the youth - which would have been interesting to me a decade ago.
The southern part of Pittsburgh looks amazing to me...Mount Washington, Southside Slopes, Southside Flats, etc. I could easily see myself up there with views of the city, and walking across that bridge into downtown, etc.
I've also noticed that if looking for something around $150,000, a person could find something pretty amazing in Pittsburgh, that would be completely unaffordable elsewhere. I also see things for significantly less, but yeah, I think you run the risk of hidden costs or unforeseen issues of the neighborhood, neighbors, etc. who knows.
I agree with your statement. 150k is pretty reasonable of what you have to spend in Pittsburgh, for a decent house in a decent neighborhood, and not be surrounded by the less desirables. Just know, that any house with a view from MT. Washington will cost you a lot more than that!...
Yeah, I could see that being a strong possibility.
Actually, I have a feeling that Lawrenceville might be as you say, and easier for the youth - which would have been interesting to me a decade ago.
The southern part of Pittsburgh looks amazing to me...Mount Washington, Southside Slopes, Southside Flats, etc. I could easily see myself up there with views of the city, and walking across that bridge into downtown, etc.
I've also noticed that if looking for something around $150,000, a person could find something pretty amazing in Pittsburgh, that would be completely unaffordable elsewhere. I also see things for significantly less, but yeah, I think you run the risk of hidden costs or unforeseen issues of the neighborhood, neighbors, etc. who knows.
One other thing, I don't know how anybody with a decent education or job, could stand to live in Lawerenceville. I'm not saying that their ain't no decent people there, but the white trash there is overwhelming. To me, that neighborhoods is the "pitts" (pun intended ).
I haven't really studied Providence that much. I kind of assumed it was to expensive.. With all this Pittsburgh talk, I found myself wondering about Providence..
I have to admit, I've been to Providence a few times, but I remember thinking the city sucked.. I can't remember why.. But Providence might be a spot worth checking out.
Providence Expenses: From what I've gathered, it isn't too bad. Not nearly as afforable as Pittsburgh though. But nowhere near the realm of Boston.
When I've google mapped Providence it looks kinda interesting to me (moreso than your average u.s. city , which isn't saying much). When I've viewed Boston though, Boston blows it away. But then again, cities like Boston blow the majority of cities away.
So, I'm thinking maybe since Providence was being directly compared with Boston for you, it couldn't match it.
That being said, I've got onto the Rhode Island board to get information, and very little activity over there.
On a direct Pittsburgh vs Providence comparison though...Pittsburgh wins quite strongly. They have all the major city things to make a city seemingly a real city that Providence lacks. Plus the downtown of Pittsburgh looks much better, and the views and skyline of Pittsburgh look much cooler as well. Particularly views of the houses lighting up the hills at night.
What appeals to me about Providence though is viewing the housing, they look really cool, close to the street, and have amazing hardwood floors, etc...plus everything there is relatively close to beaches in the summer.
Anyways, just another city to at least examine. From my understanding about Providence though is that even if its lower cost than Boston, the wages also reflect that, and people complain that they aren't quite in line enough to what they should be - which isn't a complaint I've heard in or about Pittsburgh before.
Probably both Pittsburgh and Denver wins over Providence. But it is a city that also seems very underrated and seldomly looked at, much like Pittsburgh, and upon viewing it, it doesn't seem too bad. I also use to completely write off both of these cities (the 'burg and Providence). Whereas Denver has always had a mystique about it, for whatever reason.
That being said, nothing beats first hand impressions from actually driving around, looking around, and observing the people and such of a place...I gotta do that myself - this upcoming February/March, it's one of my plans when I get back to the U.S. for a couple months.
No matter what city you choose.. Make sure you don't set the expectations to high. Phoenix never stood a chance because my expectations were astronomical.
I read about Phoenix for years before I made the move. I visited it twice. Don't ever stay at a luxury resort when your visiting a city your thinking about moving to. My 2 trips out to Phoenix were 2 of the best weeks of my life. I thought Phoenix was the best thing since sliced bread. Now I can't wait to leave this hell hole!
One other thing, I don't know how anybody with a decent education or job, could stand to live in Lawerenceville. I'm not saying that their ain't no decent people there, but the white trash there is overwhelming. To me, that neighborhoods is the "pitts" (pun intended ).
I've viewed and looked into Lawrenceville before, and there is a strong element that appeals to me, but I'd have to be single and in a slight 'wanting to hit the bars a lot' time of life, I think.
Actually from reading on here, I got the sense a lot of it is more than a bit sketchy, with some interesting things dotted about that make it worth it to some people.
I think I also read some stories on here about people who grew up there and later left. They talked about people reserving lawnchairs for parking spots as a regular occurence there that made me laugh.
One of the things that turned me off is that I heard a lot of drugs float around the neighborhood...and one former Lawrenceville resident said he at times goes back down to his old neighborhoods, and still sees some of his classmates years and years later floating around the streets looking to get high and such.
Of course, all of those elements might be interesting for a person who wants some 'city' for himself as an adult after growing up in suburbs or something. But I think it wouldn't quite appeal to me.
Actually, if I did want that, and I was young and single, I'd search that out in say Hollywood CA or somewhere else much cooler than Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh seems better for a person like myself who has a wife and kid now but still has some 'city' in him, and wants to have all his cake and eat it too But, I do think that might be in other places of Pittsburgh, and not Lawrenceville.
That neighborhood does look fairly extensive though, and some hillsides in there...and I did read that some childrens hospital is making one part of it look pretty cool though, right?
I agree with your statement. 150k is pretty reasonable of what you have to spend in Pittsburgh, for a decent house in a decent neighborhood, and not be surrounded by the less desirables. Just know, that any house with a view from MT. Washington will cost you a lot more than that!...
Well, I was thinking more a 'within walking distance to the view' area...and the entire area up there looks like you could easily walk to just about anywhere.
So, I wouldn't need the view itself, just the neighborhood...
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.
Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
But, I do think that might be in other places of Pittsburgh, and not Lawrenceville.
