Where's the place to be in Pitt? (Pittsburgh, Washington: middle-class, best neighborhoods)

[m_boogie]

I just got a job offer in Pittsburgh & though I don't know much about the city, I'm seriously considering the move. I would be coming from DC & the change of pace/scenery would be nice. Being accustomed to city living, I would have to live in the city proper.

Which neighborhoods should I look into? Whats the going rate for a 1 br? Whats the nightlife like? Can you get by without a car? I heard that the area isn't that friendly to black folks- is this something I should be worried about? Will I get my ass whipped if trash the Steelers?

[Chichappens]

Depends on your personality likes/dislikes and what type of social life you are looking to be close to. The IT PLACES TO LIVE... is Southside, Shadyside.

If you don't like the steelers thats fine but, don't be looking for a argument by trashing them....then you will have issues of hate.

[Drover]

I do believe, as a matter of city ordinance, that Steelers-trashing is an asswhippable offense.

[PreservationPioneer]

Pittsburgh has many very nice neighborhoods within the city. Some are more gritty, some are historic, some are row-house neighborhoods, and some are typical suburban-like house and yard neighborhoods. You will want to research and explore the different neighborhoods to decide which best fits your style. Here are some highlights:

Downtown: one of the priciest areas. If you want the total urban lifestyle this is the way to go, and there are several apartment buildings and condo developments downtown.

Strip: walkable to downtown, very pricey, gritty urban neighborhood full of old converted warehouses.

North Side: I think the North Side in general has a larger African American population. The hot areas on the North Side are Mexican War Streets and Deutchtown. Other possibilities are Manchester, Troy Hill, Spring Hill, Spring Garden, East Allegheny. The latter neighborhoods are in transition. North Side has some of the most historic parts of the city and oldest (row house) housing stock.

South Side: the closer to Carson street, the more hip it is. This is one of Pittsburgh's best neighborhoods. It is vibrant. It is also dense (row house) and very historic.

Lawrenceville: Lawrenceville is kind of like South Side, it's a historic row house neighborhood, very dense and hip.

Bloomfield: next to Lawrenceville, another great, hot neighborhood, full of neat boutique stores, bars, and historic row homes.

Shadyside: This is more typical suburban-like homes. The houses are generally large old mansions with big yards and wide streets. There is a neat little business district.

Highland Park/ Morningside / Point Breeze: East end neighborhoods, a lot like Shadyside, except more affordable, and not as pretentious.

Oakland / Schenley Farms: college town, still a lot of nice apartment buildings, if you like a busy atmosphere. Schenley Farms is an affluent neighborhood full of old mansions next to Oakland.

Regent Square / Frick Park: Nice older neighborhoods full of beautiful houses with yards and wide streets.

Mt Washington: great neighborhood up on the hill overlooking the city, very affordable.

Polish Hill: great, older row-home neighborhood full of affordable homes.

West End: West end is really one of Pittsburgh's cool neighborhoods that doesn't get a lot of attention. It has a very cool business district.

Squirrel Hill: probably Pittsburgh's most suburban-like neighborhood. It has a vibrant business district and grand old homes.

Friendship: another great east end neighborhood full of grand old mansions.

Bluff/ Uptown: an area in transition, located adjacent to downtown, has plenty of historic housing stock, much in need of renovation. But if you are an urban pioneer, this is a great place to go.

Anyway, the point of doing all this is to help people realize there are more than a couple good neighborhoods to choose from in the city. All of the above would be great possibilities depending on your taste and needs.

[m_boogie]

I was just joking about the Steelers thing. Yall seem a little too die hard for that. I was wondering- is hockey in Pittsburgh like basketball in NYC/Chicago? You know, everyone plays & id super competitive?

[m_boogie]

alleghenyangel - Thanks a lot! Very informative.

[Impala26]

I would say that it totally depends on the type of living arrangement you prefer. There is plenty of affordable housing in and around the city proper. However, housing types/styles, neighborhood character, access to transit, shopping and entertainment all vary depending on the area.

From what I've seen many middle-class families end up sheltered in the more remote suburban regions. For a single/couple however, you do indeed want to start by sticking closer to the city as these suburbs are certainly family- and car-oriented. That said, most city neighborhoods are well-served by buses if you prefer to commute this way (and it's cheaper and usually less-stressful). As for going totally car-free, that's not an easy thing to do, especially if you want to go to another neighborhood or a suburb (as opposed to traveling from a neighborhood to downtown). I've found late-night transportation options lacking, but for the rest of the day and commuting it's pretty solid.

[Copanut]

If you're looking for tatoos and hooters, South Side.

[Drover]

What about tattooed hooters?

[Copanut]

Originally Posted by Drover

What about tattooed hooters?

Naturally, my favorite, but I was trying to be polite.