Yet another "moving back to Pittsburgh" thread (Philadelphia: houses, neighborhoods)

[ebyrnes]

[fingers crossed] I'll be moving back to Pittsburgh in six months or so. I grew in the North Hills, then moved to Bloomfied (and loved it!), then under the sway of love, moved to Raleigh. Hated it there, quite passionately, although I can certainly understand why others are thrilled to live there. So we moved to Philadelphia for eight years, and while I'm happy here, I'm anxious to be close to my family again.

My honey and I are coming in this weekend to see where we may want to live. I've been gone so long and when I did live in Pittsburgh, I didn't drive - so I don't actually know the region that well. I prefer city living and am happiest when I can walk, and really hope to be able to take transit to work (I'm a geriatric nurse, and actually like working in nursing homes). He's an HVAC tech, and is more suburban. We have chickens and hope to have a large garden. He's a car nut, so we either need a few garages or enough space to park six of 'em.

We're not "nightlife" sort of people, but do like to live near friendly people. We don't want to sink all of our money into a mortgage, and have set a limit of $125k. No kids, so schools are not that big of an issue for us.

My plan is to drive us around the towns along the river, and walk thru Dormont/Beechview. Any other places that we should look at? I'm really nervous because I want him to like the area - and am deliberatly taking him during the bleek season so that he gets the real picture.

TIA, e

[robrobrob]

The city just passed an oridinance about chickens. Search the Post-Gazette for an article. I think this is becoming a "hot" issue. I have heard about some zoning cases involving chickens in other areas. I would just be careful about where you buy because you may be barred from owning chickens if your lot isn't big enough. Six cars and chickens you would need a pretty big lot.

FYI, isn't street parking is awful in Dormont?

[Burghgirl17]

Large garden and parking for 6 cars in Dormont/Beechview? I realize you've been gone from the city for awhile, but that's not likely to happen!

A limit of $125K, combined with the parking for 6 cars and large garden, is going to push you out into the suburbs somewhere. The chicken thing may be an issue depending on where you are, as has been said above.

In my opinion, the space for 6 cars is one of the biggest holdups for you. Getting a garage that big anywhere would be difficult. Even space to park them is an issue, and who knows what kind of local ordinances there may be (not sure what state these various cars are in).

I think you need to spend some of that time visiting reintroducing yourself to the area and trying to figure out what is most important to you. Sometimes everything on our "wish list" just isn't possible, and something will have to give.

[ebyrnes]

that I've found two houses that meet my criteria! I guess my question is more about what neighborhoods to look at...but we'll be driving in this weekend (assuming that we ever dig out of our second blizzard, LOL) and will look all over. I'm really excited about moving back home!

Thanks for the help,

e

[Hopes]

Tell your husband that his suburban wish is granted. If you want to keep your chickens and have a large garden, you're not going to be living in the city.

[epitathpunk]

Yeah good luck getting around here this weekend. Everything's buried under more than two feet of snow.

[stiehler]

My wife and I are considering moving from Lexington, KY to Pittsburgh in the next year or two...could anybody tell us pros/cons of this area. We make around 60k a year and just did not like the 'snobbery' of the Lex area...

[Hopes]

Pittsburghers aren't generally snobby people. You'll like the area for that reason alone.

The cost of living is low enough that you should be able to manage just fine here on 60k. Pittsburghers tend to be very frugal people.

It's a little difficult to answer a blanket pros/cons question.

Pittsburgh has many little neighborhoods and suburbs that it's almost possible to find exactly the type of area you want.

Tell us a little more about what you want from a neighborhood and we'll be able to give you better guidance.

[szug-bot]

ebyrnes - i suggest you wait (but you may already be here). this isnt the best time to carouse the area, looking at neighborhoods.

but, try up in the north hills. you might find the space you need.

otherwise, i would suggest you check out these streets:

Susanna Court,
McCaslin Street (south of Bigelow Street)
Parade Street
Parnell Street

all of these are in the Greenfield neighborhood of Pittsburgh. you just might find it to your liking (im basing this on assumptions from your posts)

[ditchdigger]

Originally Posted by szug-bot

ebyrnes - i suggest you wait (but you may already be here). this isnt the best time to carouse the area, looking at neighborhoods.

"Carouse" the area? No time like the present! Carouse | Definition of Carouse at Dictionary.com:

Or did you mean "peruse" the area? Peruse | Definition of Peruse at Dictionary.com: