Cool South Side steps project (Pittsburgh, Penn Hills: crime, neighborhoods, buyers)

[BrianTH]

I'll have to try to check this out some time:

South Side staircase comes alive with light | TribLIVE

[Pghuser]

In typical South Side fashion there was vandalism there that night.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by Pghuser

In typical South Side fashion there was vandalism there that night.

While Pittsburgh's steadily increasing cost-of-living may be pricing out law-abiding prospective first-time home-buyers such as yours truly I must admit I hope the gradual (yet noticeable) exodus of the lowlives from the city out to the suburbs as the city continues to become more and more expensive continues to hasten so we can actually ENJOY nice things without this trash ruining it all the time.

[cheezit34141988]

Hopefully that doesnt continuously reflect on all of us Southside residents...I get the vibe that everyone views anyone who lives in the Flats/Slopes as "lowlife...trash"...not saying you in particular SCR, but thats just my impression after talking to peopel both on here and in socalled 'real life'.

[Caladium]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

the gradual (yet noticeable) exodus of the lowlives from the city out to the suburbs

Is that's what actually happening? How do you know? Has there been a noticeable increase in crime in the suburbs or a lowering of the price of housing? Is it just 1-2 suburbs or the suburban area in general? (If just 1-2 cities, which ones? It would be helpful to know for those moving to the area.) I have friends who are interested in Sewickley, but if low lives are moving there I'll tell them to reconsider.

[greg42]

Originally Posted by Caladium

I have friends who are interested in Sewickley, but if low lives are moving there I'll tell them to reconsider.

Dripping with sarcasm, I hope? If not, you should lie and say that it was. Because that's the only way this would make sense.

[groar]

well, yknow, depends on your definition of "lowlife!"

white collar criminals who steal on a massive scale and destroy people's lives en masse? probably. if so, they're already there.

blue collar(?) criminals who vandalize steps and take people's wallets? probly not. well except for the teenagers (for the vandalism part) but again, already there.

seriously, in many cities including pittsburgh there's a trend of lower-income people moving into the inner suburbs, and higher income people gentrifying the city proper. there are still plenty of fancy suburbs out there, of course, but on the whole they tend to be further out. and of course there are still sketchy city neighborhoods as well.

[SteelCityRising]

Originally Posted by dtrtrggr13

Hopefully that doesnt continuously reflect on all of us Southside residents...I get the vibe that everyone views anyone who lives in the Flats/Slopes as "lowlife...trash"...not saying you in particular SCR, but thats just my impression after talking to peopel both on here and in socalled 'real life'.

I'm by no means implying that South Siders = "lowlife trash" en masse. With that being said there is a disturbing trend in not only your neighborhood but also here in parts of the East End that have been struggling to gentrify (including my own neighborhood) of many people taking very little pride in their community. My neighborhood is becoming increasingly expensive, yet I can still guarantee you I'll find litter strewn about our sidewalks on any given day. Vandalism and graffiti (yes, hipsters, tagging public areas without permission and calling it "free public art" is STILL graffiti) runs rampant. It just irritates me that I'm paying progressively more and more with each passing year to live in this city while my real income has remained flat, leading me to cut back on some excesses, while "lowlife trash" like I mentioned can ruin something nice for everyone around them without giving a rat's derriere.

Originally Posted by Caladium

Is that's what actually happening? How do you know? Has there been a noticeable increase in crime in the suburbs or a lowering of the price of housing? Is it just 1-2 suburbs or the suburban area in general? (If just 1-2 cities, which ones? It would be helpful to know for those moving to the area.) I have friends who are interested in Sewickley, but if low lives are moving there I'll tell them to reconsider.

Penn Hills is a prime example of a suburb that has seen tremendous decline overall in recent years. There are still many great neighborhoods to be had there, given its sprawling size, but with how the undesirables have been taking over the parts bordering the rougher areas of the city proper I wouldn't want to purchase property there, as once the public school system declines (which it's already begun to do), property values will go with it, creating a death spiral encouraging more and more troublemakers being priced out of the East End of the city to move there and bring their problems and issues with them.

I seriously hope you jest in your concerns over Sewickley. While Penn Hills, Verona, Braddock Hills, Brentwood, Baldwin, Castle Shannon, Ross Township, Stowe Township, and other closer-in post-WWII-styled suburbs may all be at risk of taking on more and more of Pittsburgh's issues as the city continues to improve I never foresee that being the case for a place like Sewickley.

[cheezit34141988]

Originally Posted by SteelCityRising

I'm by no means implying that South Siders = "lowlife trash" en masse. With that being said there is a disturbing trend in not only your neighborhood but also here in parts of the East End that have been struggling to gentrify (including my own neighborhood) of many people taking very little pride in their community. My neighborhood is becoming increasingly expensive, yet I can still guarantee you I'll find litter strewn about our sidewalks on any given day. Vandalism and graffiti (yes, hipsters, tagging public areas without permission and calling it "free public art" is STILL graffiti) runs rampant. It just irritates me that I'm paying progressively more and more with each passing year to live in this city while my real income has remained flat, leading me to cut back on some excesses, while "lowlife trash" like I mentioned can ruin something nice for everyone around them without giving a rat's derriere.

Understood. Walking through Southside on a Saturday or Sunday morning is depressing, along Carson Street with the bottles/garbage everywhere. However, I've seen increasing amounts of people walking about in teh early morning with garbage bags picking up trash along the main thoroughfares.

[groar]

Originally Posted by dtrtrggr13

Understood. Walking through Southside on a Saturday or Sunday morning is depressing, along Carson Street with the bottles/garbage everywhere. However, I've seen increasing amounts of people walking about in teh early morning with garbage bags picking up trash along the main thoroughfares.

i don't think the state of carson on a saturday or sunday morning can really be laid at the feet of residents of the neighborhood.