Hi everyone, I am sure you don't remember me but awhile back I solicited opinions on the Pitt area because DH and I wanted to move there from DE, and well, we have finally decided to take the plunge! DH is looking for a job there and we have our house listed. We are working with a realtor in Pitt but it is confusing to pick a town, since I don't know too much about the area. I think we will end up in the east end area, like around Squirrel Hill. Which should be a great place for our business (in the "green" industry, think- crunchy/earth-friendly), too, I am hoping at least! Anyway, I am SO excited to be joining you ladies! I can't WAIT to move to Pittsburgh, it is going to be so much fun living there! I hope all of this happens sooner rather than later so fingers crossed that the house selling and finding a new job happens swiftly!
Abigail Noelle, 8.29.09
Brady Phoenix, 8.29.09
Claire Zoe, 10.26.10
Re: Moving to Pitt!!!
I used to live in Regent Square and have a lot of family in Point Breeze (both very close to Squirrel Hill), and loved it!
You will love Frick Park. Lot's to do and some great places to eat! Good Luck
Due JUNE 24th
Brady Phoenix, 8.29.09
Claire Zoe, 10.26.10
Brady Phoenix, 8.29.09
Claire Zoe, 10.26.10
Congrats on the move!! I can give you a lil' insight to both.
I grew up in Squirrel HIll and my husband and I recently bought a house in Shadyside, but he grew up in FC. LIving in SH is nice if you are close enough to walk to shops (if that's your interest). The main street is very adorable with cute shops ("Littles" for shoes, little cafes, the library, etc.). If you are looking there, I would also suggest looking at Shadyside. Walnut Street and Ellsworth Avenue are hip lil' places... esp Walnut. Coach, Apple, Starbucks, Henne Jewelers, etc. Very, very nice. Younger crowd than FC because a very "average" house in FC will go for $750k and up and in Shadyside you can get a cute 3-bed, 2-car garage for around $500k. Believe me... we've looked! Also, you will get more college students hanging out in Shadyside (esp on Wed nights) as everyone from Pitt and CMU go there to hang out, but it's completely safe and the students are actually very well behaved. On the west side of Shadyside, you'll pay more because you are more near millionaire row. Squirrel Hill children attend the Pgh Public Schools and so do Shadyside children. But, I would look into private schools as Pgh Public Schools just got red marks in math and science both... very poor. Ellis School is an all girls private school that most children go to.
Fox Chapel is home one of the best private school districts in the country.. Shadyside Academy. Starts at $10k/year for K, but their public school is also continually ranked in top 3 in western pa, and also ranked in the nation. When you live in Fox Chapel, you will more than likely join the country clubs (which you need to interview for to join), do spa days w/ other wives, etc. It's a totally different culture... very fun and posh. You can't walk to anything, but the streets are amazing in that the planners left tons of nature around the homes so you feel warmth in the area, but yet you are 10 minutes outside the city. Careful you don't get too far deep into FC (past the "Forest" area) or else it'll take you 25-30 to get to the city, if that interests you.
So, that's a bit about each area. Good luck! And if you need a realtor, I can recommend ours. We've bought 4 homes from her and she's amazing!
Squirrel Hill is beautiful, and if you can afford it a wonderful place to have kids. A lot of the east end area is "granola" earth friendly. In Point Breeze is the East End Food Coop (REALLY pricey) but down in the Strip District is Right By Nature (Medium pricey) and in East Liberty (gentrification map makers now call this "East Shadyside") there is a Whole Foods.
Pittsburgh is so great, I love it here. I saw some postings about schools, there is an Eco Charter School that a friend of mine sends his daughter to. She's 7 and absolutely loves it. If you're more into homeschool, PA Cyber is a great resource.
If you want a hidden neighborhood, try Polish Hill. Quiet, beautiful, and there are a lot of people with kids there. That's where boyfriend and I are moving around month 7. It is more "urban" than SqHill or Fox Chapel... In demographics and house design. An example, on a given summer day you could walk past old Polish ladies coming back from Mass and kids drinking on their porches. Not a lot of businesses there right now, but that helps keep the neighborhood very quiet and peaceful.
Good choice moving to Pittsburgh! It's cheap as hell and the crime rate is lower than low. Good luck!