When people talk about the revitalization of Pittsburgh, it usually involves the tagline meds and eds — and meds and eds it is in College Town. You’ll find the sprawling buildings of Carnegie Mellon University, Carlow University and the University of Pittsburgh as well as several UPMC medical complexes. Here, you can climb to the top of the second-tallest educational building in the world. Whether you’re working on your degree or visiting someone who is, you’ll never be bored, thanks to a wealth of cultural opportunities.
Green Pittsburgh is a tour of Pittsburgh’s history, from the old mill communities of Glen Hazel and Hazelwood, up through the immigrant destinations of Greenfield and Squirrel Hill and finally to the mansions of the industrialists in Shadyside. It’s also a story of the birth and rebirth of our city: students and young professionals flock to Squirrel Hill and Shadyside, adding vibrancy that radiates from top universities. Meanwhile, redevelopment in Hazelwood and Glen Hazel aims to reclaim lost potential and offers new chances for affordable housing and a blossoming community.
These primarily residential communities have spent the past years growing — and becoming more and more popular. With Pittsburgh International Airport nearby and increasing economic development, it’s easy to see why so many call this end of the region home.
Pittsburgh’s eastern neighborhoods always have shown a broad socioeconomic spectrum, from extravagant wealth to dire poverty. The Mellons, Fricks, Carnegies and Westinghouses built their mansions in this most-stylish part of town. But their departure for greener and more secluded pastures — and the mass relocation of families here after the razing of the Lower Hill — left much of this area economically depressed for decades. Now the long-awaited renaissance of East Liberty is beginning to bring major reinvestment here, too.
Once forbidden territory for settlers and reserved for the various Native American tribes who hunted and camped in the area, the lands north of the Ohio River became part of the Depreciation Lands used to pay Revolutionary War veterans for their service. The numerous small boroughs and townships along Ohio River Boulevard are collected into slightly larger (but still compact) school districts, befitting their continued status as popular hometowns to raise families generation after generation.
Most of these communities, which lie to the east of the Squirrel Hill Tunnels, are residential suburbs with small business districts — but don’t take that as a reason not to visit. There’s tons of beauty in these hills, which are packed with historic homes, parks, schools and churches, as well as evidence of Pittsburgh’s steel-making and industrial past, with warehouses, former blast furnaces and brownfields lining the Monongahela River and small waterways such as Turtle Creek.
The thing that annoyed a young Andy Warhol. A typo broadcast over the city skyline. And how our first mayor outwitted hostile natives at age 13. All of this and much more in the latest edition of Things You Might Not Know About Pittsburgh!
Head east for a robust mix of shopping, dining, keeping active and relaxing options — all tucked in these communities found along some of the region’s main throughways.
Neighborhoods such as Braddock and McKeesport fully embody the progressive spirit that has made the ’Burgh what it is today and what it will be in the future.
Beginning at the south shore of the Monongahela River and climbing the undulating geography surrounding Mount Washington, this area boasts iconic views of the city skyline and many neighborhoods.
A few miles southeast of downtown, on a bend of the Monongahela River, this area is in the midst of a pivot, moving away from its industrial history and toward a mash-up of parks, homes and revitalized main streets.
These townships and boroughs may not seem like much on the map, but we assure you that each is full of tucked-away treasures. They’ve got everything you need for a day or a weekend outside of the city.
There’s good reason to envy those who commute downtown from the South Hills. They get to take in the beauty of Pittsburgh’s skyline every time they emerge from the Fort Pitt and Liberty tunnels. Add to that all of the myriad pleasures of these thriving suburbs, and you have plenty to rave about.
Don’t let the lack of shiny veneer on these hardworking communities fool you. Some of Pittsburgh’s most exciting hidden gems lie west of the Ohio River.
There’s more to do between downtown and Washington County than a drive south on Interstate 79 would suggest. From day trips to afternoon jaunts, this region has plenty to explore off the beaten path (sorry — the beaten highway).
At (and beyond) the southwestern border of Allegheny County, rolling hills cradle a group of easygoing communities. Search for the small surprises and picturesque streets that are drawing more and more residents to these suburbs.
Taking the long way down Route 65 will provide plenty of opportunities for a little bit of shopping, a little bit of learning and a whole lot of fresh air.
Home to Pittsburgh's instantly recognizable skyline, rivers and bridges, the area around Point State Park once was the bleeding (literally) western frontier of the United States. Today, it remains the economic heart of the region.
Museums, historical landmarks, entertainment venues and elegant 19th-century homes pack this section of Pittsburgh’s North Side. The neighborhoods boast a combination of walkable neighborhoods and trendy restaurants.
You’d be hard-pressed to traverse one of these North Side neighborhoods without going up or down a hill. Take in vistas from high above the city, wander along trails, admire nature and eat to your heart’s content.
From historic communities a stone’s throw from the city proper to spacious, booming suburbs with a rural mindset, there’s a hometown for everyone in northern Allegheny County.
