What Pittsburgh's Neighborhoods Do Best
Here's how some of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods contribute to America's Most Livable City, from sprawling urban green spaces to free public Wi-Fi.
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BloomfieldHistoric homes: It isn’t a coincidence that Bloomfield feels like a doorway to Pittsburgh’s past: 68 percent of homes there were built before 1939.Historic homes: It isn’t a coincidence that Bloomfield feels like a doorway to Pittsburgh’s past: 68 percent of homes there were built before 1939.
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Bluff (uptown)Carbon-neutral commuters: Sixty-seven percent of the working population bikes or walks to the office (or works at home).Carbon-neutral commuters: Sixty-seven percent of the working population bikes or walks to the office (or works at home).
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DowntownWi-Fi hotspots: The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s enormous, open Wi-Fi zone covers most of downtown—from Heinz Field to CONSOL Energy Center—and, best of all, the first two hours are free.Wi-Fi hotspots: The Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership’s enormous, open Wi-Fi zone covers most of downtown—from Heinz Field to CONSOL Energy Center—and, best of all, the first two hours are free.
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East LibertyInvestment: What started with Whole Foods and Market District sprouted hot restaurants BRGR Bar and Plum, Conflict Kitchen and Urban Active gym at Bakery Square (also home to Google and Anthropologie). Better yet: A Target is coming soon.Investment: What started with Whole Foods and Market District sprouted hot restaurants BRGR Bar and Plum, Conflict Kitchen and Urban Active gym at Bakery Square (also home to Google and Anthropologie). Better yet: A Target is coming soon.
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GarfieldYouth: Nearly 40 percent of Garfield’s residents are age 19 or younger.
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GreenfieldFamily-friendly: With reasonably priced Victorian and ranch homes bordering Schenley Park, Greenfield is the suburb in the city, offering surprisingly great views of downtown, quick access to Murray Avenue shops and a rare thing for young urban families: a backyard.Family-friendly: With reasonably priced Victorian and ranch homes bordering Schenley Park, Greenfield is the suburb in the city, offering surprisingly great views of downtown, quick access to Murray Avenue shops and a rare thing for young urban families: a backyard.
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Hill DistrictMixed-income housing: The Crawford Square housing development received national recognition as a model for New Urbanist redevelopment and helped to revitalize the Lower Hill.Mixed-income housing: The Crawford Square housing development received national recognition as a model for New Urbanist redevelopment and helped to revitalize the Lower Hill.
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LawrencevilleCreativity: It’s the mecca of roller derby, roller disco, 24-hour art shows and soft-rock happy hours. Lawrenceville is for the young, quirky and creative.Creativity: It’s the mecca of roller derby, roller disco, 24-hour art shows and soft-rock happy hours. Lawrenceville is for the young, quirky and creative.
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Mt. WashingtonRomance: Tried and true, the stunning views from Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, LeMont (or, for a slightly less stuffy date, The Grandview Saloon) have saved many men from the doghouse.Romance: Tried and true, the stunning views from Monterey Bay Fish Grotto, LeMont (or, for a slightly less stuffy date, The Grandview Saloon) have saved many men from the doghouse.
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North ShoreNew digs: Seventy-eight percent of homes and apartments were built after 1990. Also, Stage AE, the new concert venue, has made our music scene relevant again.New digs: Seventy-eight percent of homes and apartments were built after 1990. Also, Stage AE, the new concert venue, has made our music scene relevant again.
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North SidePark space: Allegheny Center has 62 acres of green space, which is the most in the city (not to mention 17 historic landmarks).Park space: Allegheny Center has 62 acres of green space, which is the most in the city (not to mention 17 historic landmarks).
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OaklandCommuter-friendly: Transit cuts aside, Oakland’s 200-plus bus stops and free campus shuttle services aren’t a bad alternative to paying more than $3 per gallon of gas.Commuter-friendly: Transit cuts aside, Oakland’s 200-plus bus stops and free campus shuttle services aren’t a bad alternative to paying more than $3 per gallon of gas.
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Point BreezePaychecks: Median income tops $93,000 per year for Point Breeze residents.
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Regent Square/Swisshelm ParkSafety: This neighborhood has the lowest crime rates in the city, with two crime reports filed for every 100 residents in 2008.Safety: This neighborhood has the lowest crime rates in the city, with two crime reports filed for every 100 residents in 2008.
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ShadysideShopping: Sure, many other posh U.S. cities have a Coach, Williams-Sonoma, J. Crew, White House Black Market and Apple store all in one neighborhood, but can their shoppers finish off a hard day at the racks with a strawberry crepe from Pamela’s?Shopping: Sure, many other posh U.S. cities have a Coach, Williams-Sonoma, J. Crew, White House Black Market and Apple store all in one neighborhood, but can their shoppers finish off a hard day at the racks with a strawberry crepe from Pamela’s?
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South SideNightlife: Sure, South Side is home to more than 80 bars, but the addition of the SouthSide Works added a vital element of non-sloshed nightlife for those who have outgrown beer bongs and falling asleep on empty pizza boxes.Nightlife: Sure, South Side is home to more than 80 bars, but the addition of the SouthSide Works added a vital element of non-sloshed nightlife for those who have outgrown beer bongs and falling asleep on empty pizza boxes.
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Squirrel HillEggheads: Seventy percent of residents have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher), making this the smartest community in the city.Eggheads: Seventy percent of residents have earned a bachelor’s degree (or higher), making this the smartest community in the city.
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Strip DistrictCheap eats: Whether it’s a freshly baked Italian sub from Sunseri’s, authentic Peruvian rice and beans at Chicken Latino, an overstuffed Rachel from Smallman Street Deli or traditional carnitas at Reyna’s Taco Shack, the Strip is the king of the cheap lunch.Cheap eats: Whether it’s a freshly baked Italian sub from Sunseri’s, authentic Peruvian rice and beans at Chicken Latino, an overstuffed Rachel from Smallman Street Deli or traditional carnitas at Reyna’s Taco Shack, the Strip is the king of the cheap lunch.
Click the icons below to launch. (Source: Department of City Planning)
This article appears in the April 2011 issue of Pittsburgh Magazine.
