Where to move in the Pittsburgh area......????

[bleedingheart]

Okay, I live in Westmoreland County, but very close to the Allegheny County border near White Oak.....but ...both Hubby and I work on the West side of the city.

I work in Sewickley and hubby works in Southpointe...so you can imagine our predicament.....the Heinous Commute!!!

I have always dreamed of moving back to the city eventually because it is the center of the wheel...so technically commuting might be a bit easier than living in any of the burbs...however...I have kids and I am not too keen on the city schools given their bad press...although I do know there are good schools among them.

Personally I was hoping that once the kiddies were older we would buy our "fixer upper" in da 'burgh and then eventually move there when the kids were in college....

However hubby wants a home with "property"..(imagine his chest is all puffed out as he says this.....quite amusing)...

I just don't know what to do...but if any of you have suggestions...feel free to offer advice or even PM me with a good realtor that you know.....we had a very misinformed realtor when we bought our current home (she was all confused about stuff..eventually she quit real estate...suprising..ain't it..)

[nutshell2002]

1. Regent Square

We have lived here for 8 years and couldn't imagine living anywhere else in Pgh. Anywhere in the east end (Squirrel Hill, Point Breeze, Edgewood, Regent Square) is awesome for progressive types, close in city amenities and beautiful old brick homes.

[bleedingheart]

3. I love that area...but what are the schools like?

one of my newer neighbors left that area with her kids to move our way...

By the way...I have a kid with Asperger's so I will not compromise on schools...he needs to be in a good school with good teachers...and I want it to be public for many reasons including the fact that public schools must provide an IEP for students like him.

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

2. Regent Square is indeed awesome

but does not really meet the condition of "owning property" if you mean a lot of land...schools can be an issue, Pittsburgh, Wilkinsburg, Woodland Hills is there for the Edgewood/Swissvale addresses...

I spent 10 years there myself...moved to Gateway schools in 1997...

From what I have seen in the way of yard signs, it was definitely Kerry country as well...

[bleedingheart]

6. Personally I could care less about the property....

so long as I can have a garden...I am okay...hubby acts as if he is the next JR Ewing...but funny enough...he doesn't mow the lawn...I do or my nephew does...

[No Mandate Here.]

4. The best place I ever lived was one block

from Forbes and Murray. Reasonable cost, (fifteen years ago, anyway) and convenient to any and everything. OIt is easy to get on the parkway- at least going west. (they punish you for going east) Taylor Allderdice is a pretty good high school

Walking distnce to:

Schenley Park
about four or five different ethnic markets
at least six good restaurants (Gullifty's, Thai balcony, EatnPark, etc...)
a big Giant Eagle
Carnegie Library
Every demonination of church and synagogue you can imagine
four different bus lines

...and...

The Squirrel Hill Cafe -the best art deco neighborhood tavern in the world.

[bleedingheart]

7. Ah the Squirrel Cage....

I went to Pitt...so I am very familiar with that area...it is great but the housing is a bit pricey...although I wouldn't mind a fixer upper...

[4MoreYearsOfHell]

5. How's about the Bridgeville area?

McDonald comes to mind as well...

[happyslug]

12. And he can save money by riding a bike to his work along the Moutour Trail

http://www.atatrail.org/seg-maps/overmap.htm

Anyway the Chartiers School District is one of the better School Districts in Allegheny County, so Bridge ville. Bridgeville is a good choice.

If you picked Bridgeville you can take I-79 to Ohio River Blvd and avoid most of the Rush hour traffic on the parkway.

Here is the Web Cite for Chartiers Valley School District:
http://staff.cvsd.net/highschool/School%20Spirit.htm

[benfranklin1776]

13. Yes but the Montour Trail took a horrid beating with the recent floods.

I was on it yesterday. Scary the extent of damage. However repairs are already underway and it should be passable again in no time. Thanks for posting the great trail ling from ATA. :thumbsup: :thumbsup:

[happyslug]

14. The end closer to the Ohio only,

The upper part near "Southpointe" was NOT affected.

Trail Status
Trail closure info for miles 0 thru 9.4

Note: Users are cautioned that repairs may not be completed on the re-opened
sections below. Exercise care about possible rough places from the flooding.

* Mile 0 to Hassam Road (mile 1.4) - RE-OPENED
Users must detour on the parallel Montour Road for the first 0.2 miles.
(Thank You, Moon Township
for re-building Montour Road a few days after the flood.)

* Hassam Road access area and bridge (mile 1.4) - CLOSED starting November 15th for about one week
http://www.montourtrail.org/index.shtml
* Hassam Road (mile 1.4) to Beaver Grade Road (mile 3.1) - CLOSED

* Beaver Grade Road Access Area and trail section (mile 3.1) - CLOSED the week of 11/22/04

* Beaver Grade Road (mile 3.1) to Park Manor Drive (mile 4.1) - CLOSED

* Mile 4.0 Bridge (mile 4.0) - CLOSED starting November 18th for about one week

* Park Manor Drive (mile 4.1) to Cliff Mine Trailhead (mile 6.0) - CLOSED

* Cliff Mine Trailhead (mile 6.0) to Enlow (mile 7.6) - RE-OPENED
(Trail may be rough in areas.)

* Enlow (mile 7.6) to North Star Road (mile 9.5) - RE-OPENED
(Trail may be rough in areas.)
Note: Bikers are encouraged to use the Enlow Field (Mile 7.6) or Boggs Road Trailheads (Mile 11.4).

* Creek washes out portion of Montour Trail"
Pittsburgh Post Gazette, Sept. 22, 2004.
* MTC Flood Press Release (MS Word doc)
Montour Trail Council, Sept. 21, 2004.


Volunteer Information

* All volunteers wishing to help clean up the flood damage,
send your name, address, availability, and any special skills,
(e.g. heavy equipment operator) to:
[email protected]

[benfranklin1776]

17. Holy God that is exactly where I walked yesterday.

It looked about the same. But it should be ship shape or bike shape as it may be in relatively short order. Good links again!

[happyslug]

18. Help get people to Join the Moutour Trail Council

It has less than 1000 members in Southern Allegheny County, which is insulting given how many people use the trail AND that it is the SOuth Hills of Pittsburgh.

For more on the Moutour Trail orgaization see:
http://www.montourtrail.org/index.shtml#TheOrg

To sign up see:
http://www.montourtrail.org/membership/signup.html

[bleedingheart]

15. I will have to check that out..

My husband was looking at homes in Strabane...but not sure about that either.

One home we saw via the Net turns out to be involved in a foreclosure and it needs work...(we love fixing stuff up..)

[RamboLiberal]

8. Crafton Ingram area has some really beautiful older homes

I work in that area. I take a lot of lunch time walks and it's a beautiful tree-lined area with a really nice mix of homes. I don't know if any are for sale. Nice access to I79. I believe the schools are decent. Don't know about taxes.

There's a couple on Steuben street I absolutely love the way the owners have refurbished, especially a couple with huge circular wrap-around porches. I also love little isolated Thornburg though I get the feeling those houses are pricey. I often walk in that area as well.

I hear you bleedingheart. You know I live in McKeesport and I've worked most of my life on the other side of the tunnels.

Carnegie, Bridgeville, are also great areas. You might also check out some of the areas close to 79 like Canonsburg, Houston, etc.

[bleedingheart]

9. It is just so hard to leave my little area...

but the commute can be a supreme pain in the ass.....

I may or may not move and we have some time to think about this...but I figured that it would be a good idea to start looking around at some of the other areas around..

I am just concerned that if I move too far in one direction or another I will end up being in the same situation again...ah what i would give for decent mass transit...(rail..)

[PittPoliSci]

10. you can't leave me!

noooooooooooo!!!!!!!

[bleedingheart]

11. More than likely we aren't going to move at all...cuz I am lazy

but we are trying to remain open minded about it!

[Rauterkus]

16. Move to west end or South Side

Hi,

My advice, FWIW, move to the west end or South Side. Come Live Over Here!

You'd be able to scoot down river to Sewickley and to Parkway West too.

Ta.