Pittsburgh Neighborhoods? (Swissvale, Dormont, Bellevue: established neighborhood, buying, to live)

[mellymakeup]

Hi All,

My husband and I live in Los Angeles and we are planning on buying there sometime (completely priced out of LA, and over it in general)-- I am from an hour south of the 'burgh and lived there until 2002, but am completely out of the loop in terms of up and coming neighborhoods. We love walkable areas close to shops and restuarants, diversity, parks and just overall mellow areas close to public transportation I heard that Swissvale and Regent Square are pretty good these days. Thoughts? Any advice is VERY appreciated.

[user_id]

Regent Square fits your bill, but not really Swissvale. I would not call regent square a "up and coming neighborhood" though, although it is certainly cheaper than anything comparable in Los Angeles it has appreciated quite a bit from say 10 years ago. Unless there are big changes in Pittsburgh, I'd be surprised if the neighborhood saw much appreciation/improvement going forward.

I think the "up and coming" tittle better applies to neighborhoods like Lawrenceville (which also fits all your criteria). Of course, the problem with "up and coming" neighborhoods is that they never come. Pittsburgh is cheap enough where even the more established neighborhoods are not too expensive, for example Squirrel Hill.

It should be noted that there is nothing in Pittsburgh that is going to match the walkable neighborhoods in longer cities like Los Angeles though. Usually you are looking at best a couple blocks of shops and restaurants. Pittsburgh is more like a large town, than a big city.

[Renaldo5000]

For mellowness and walkability I advise the nicer East End neighborhoods like Regent Square, Point Breeze, and Shadyside. If you are willing to live outside of the city limits then check out Aspinwall and Dormont. Oh, and there's this neighborhood called Homewood that is just an absolute gem. You should check it out as well.

[Renaldo5000]

Lawrenceville is not mellow. It is a working-class neighborhood that went in the crapper in recent decades and they are trying to make it into the new South Side. I have a feeling they will succeed, but it will be about 5-10 years before it happens.

[mellymakeup]

Thanks user_id and iwonderwhy, that totally helps! How is the public transportation these days? Does it feel like more people are taking advantage of it because of the economy and the whole "going green" in general?

[mellymakeup]

yeah, i remember the vibe of lawrensville in '02, it was totally on the cusp....sounds like it hasn't gotten there yet?

[user_id]

Originally Posted by mellymakeup

yeah, i remember the vibe of lawrensville in '02, it was totally on the cusp....sounds like it hasn't gotten there yet?

No, but it has improved. Also, it is pretty distinct from the South Side and is in no sense trying to be "the new south side". It is trying to be the artsy area of town and to some degree has accomplished that.

[Renaldo5000]

Originally Posted by mellymakeup

Thanks user_id and iwonderwhy, that totally helps! How is the public transportation these days? Does it feel like more people are taking advantage of it because of the economy and the whole "going green" in general?

I never take the bus, so I am not sure. My friends always ***** about how it takes them an hour to get from one neighborhood to another on the bus though. Personally, I just hop in my car and am there in five minutes. *shrug*

[mellymakeup]

Thoughts on Brighton Heights and Bellevue? Or, the Mexican War Streets?? Thanks!

[Copanut]

I'd stay out of all three.