PHOTOS BY FLYOVER PROPERTIES

After just one month of living in his new condo, Mike Bryant declared to his wife, Nancy, and their two daughters, “This is my favorite place I’ve lived.” 

Having spent a wonderful childhood with her parents in a large Highland Park home, Courtney Bryant laughs at the memory. When she helped her parents find the condo at 220 N Dithridge St. in North Oakland in 2017, she knew unit 705 would be the perfect step down from the home they had spent 40 years in. 

“My parents loved the large private balcony accessed through the dining room and kitchen,” she says. “With views of tree-lined Dithridge Street and St. Paul’s Cathedral, it was a perfect place for their morning coffee.”

Now that her parents have moved into a personal care home, Bryant is helping them sell the condo they lived in and loved for seven years. While there are new condominiums popping up across the city weekly, she says they liked the charm of the stately older building, where they kept a busy life. 

Bryant’s mother served on the condo board, took continuing education classes at the University of Pittsburgh and often spent time at Phipps Conservatory and the Carnegie Library. As for her dad? It was all about the food. 

“My dad enjoyed the impeccable 24-hour valet service and brief walk to Butterjoint and Food for Thought Deli, which our family believes has the best matzoh ball soup in Pittsburgh — at least since Bagel Nosh in Squirrel Hill closed many years ago,” Bryant says.  

Now listed by Sarah Leitera of Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices for $375,00, the two-bedroom, two-bathroom condo is located in Dithridge House, which has many on-site amenities that make it a great place for retirees looking to relax and enjoy their days. 

Beyond the 24-hour valet service enjoyed by Mike Bryant, there’s a pool, sauna, locker rooms, a library and community rooms available for gatherings. Built in 1972, the building’s common areas have a warm, eclectic feeling. Because all units in the building must be owner-occupied, residents often get to know their neighbors. 

“This is a very sought-after condo building,” says Leitera. “That’s due to its well-known reputation of being well-managed and nicely maintained.” 

After some research, Bryant believes Dithridge House may be the oldest condo building in Oakland. While many of the other condo buildings in the area began as rental units, Dithridge House, which recently marked its 50th anniversary, has alway been condominiums. 

Leitera says the corner unit has some nice upgrades, such as a walk-in shower for accessibility and a new JennAir cooktop and wall ovens. The countertops and other interior finishes also have been updated throughout the years. 

“The view from the balcony is super for a city condo,” she says. 

That view is best taken in from the large balcony, which can be accessed from both the kitchen and living room. 

“Many people might want a higher floor,” says Bryant, “But we love being above, below and within the view. It’s fun to look out on the various roofs and steeples while being in the eye line of the gorgeous tree that marks the front driveway.” 

While the outdoor space is what the couple will miss the most, the interior is designed for urban living. Measuring just over 1,600 square feet, the condo uses that space wisely. A spacious foyer opens to the living room, kitchen and the hallway, where both bedrooms and bathrooms are located. 

The primary suite includes a large walk-in closet and an updated bathroom. The second bedroom has a standard closet, although there’s another walk-in closet off of the foyer, giving the unit ample storage. 

While her parents hoped to stay at Dithridge House longer, Bryant is thankful for the years they had there. She encourages house hunters not pigeonhole the building as a retirement community. 

“Dithridge House is an older building, but don’t let that fool you. It’s also an active, engaged and welcoming community,” she says. “Doctors, graduate and medical students, young professionals, mature professionals and retirees call the building home. The neighbors are terrific.” 

Meg St-Esprit is a Bellevue-based freelance journalist who covers real estate, lifestyle, education, parenting and travel for a variety of local outlets including Pittsburgh Magazine, PublicSource, Kidsburgh, Pittsburgh City Paper, and City Cast Pittsburgh. Meg offers Hot Property, an inside look into unique and historic homes on the market. Each week, Hot Property goes behind the For Sale sign to share the story of a special Pittsburgh-area home.

About: North Oakland
Population: 9,779
Planes, Trains, & Automobiles: North Oakland is walkable with many amenities and ample public transportation, so many residents do not own cars. The neighborhood is centrally located with easy access to the interstates, highways and other areas of the city. The airport is a 20-minute drive, but is also easily accessed by bus for Oakland residents via the Airport Flyer route.
Schools: Pittsburgh Public Schools (pghschools.org)
Neighborhood: North Oakland is a vibrant urban community anchored by universities and longstanding local businesses. There is no shortage of eateries, museums, events and nightlife. Amenities like pharmacies and grocers are also plentiful in and around North Oakland. While students do make up a large portion of the population, long-time residents still report a close-knit community feel and say they know their neighbors well.