Any of You Currently Living in Pittsburgh? (1 Viewer)

[Boy_of_wonder75]

My family is looking to get out of the deep South and we're compiling our list of places. A lot of places in the northeast make the cut, some in the PNW. Pittsburgh is an intriguing one because it's undergone some revitalization but is still very affordable. Are any of you there? Or maybe recently from there that can shed some light on what it's like?

 

[Madmarsha]

Well, you have your answer. Unless you WANT to live in a town where there are no other Saints fans, Pitts isn't for you.

 

[Buickman]

I know a lot of people in Northern Virginia that's moved away from there.

 

[Zardnok]

My wife got her undergrad from Pitt and we have explored moving back to the area as well in the past few years. I am not sure if I can answer questions, but I can try. Anything specific you are curious about? I can ask her.

 

[HoustonGold]

Pittsburgh definitely has a bright future.

 

[Brennan77]

I have friends in pittsburgh as I went to college nearby. I don't know it well but I can ask them. I can say that I was always fond of it and felt that the Steelers fanbase was similar to that of the Saints.

 

[soupcan dan]

aside from some great little bars up by the inclined tram there is no life in pittsburg

 

[livefromDC]

I have friends in pittsburgh as I went to college nearby. I don't know it well but I can ask them. I can say that I was always fond of it and felt that the Steelers fanbase was similar to that of the Saints.

This. I think it's why it's so easy for Saints fans to root for the Steelers if it's a not a game against the Saints. Fanbases are very similar.

I spent a little time there doing research at Carnegie Mellon. It was only a few months, but here's my thoughts. Going from New Orleans to any city in the US that's not NYC, Chicago or LA is always going to be hard since New Orleans is the most unique place in the country. Even the 3 cities I named are different in the since that there's so many people there how could they not develop a personality. Pittsburgh felt genuine to me in a way that New Orleans does too. It doesn't have the identity crisis of Houston or pretentiousness of a Dallas or lack of culture that Atlanta has. It knows what it is and it's fine with that. The question is what is your family searching for in a city? You're not giving us much to go on.

 

[Eeyore]

Corn

On

Pizza

 

[Boy_of_wonder75]

For those who can answer:

So, it's very affordable for a city. Is downtown walkable? That is, is it structured such that getting around on foot is reasonable? Is there green space downtown? How is the arts community?

Is it an interesting city? Nothing will compare to New Orleans in that regard, but some cities are just more interesting than others. They celebrate diversity and encourage it. Is Pittsburgh like that?

What city would you compare it to? For example, if it's like Dallas--overly corporate and dull--I'd like to know.

I'm less concerned with the food scene because I can cook really well.

Thanks!

 

[Zardnok]

For those who can answer:

So, it's very affordable for a city. Is downtown walkable? That is, is it structured such that getting around on foot is reasonable? Is there green space downtown? How is the arts community?

Is it an interesting city? Nothing will compare to New Orleans in that regard, but some cities are just more interesting than others. They celebrate diversity and encourage it. Is Pittsburgh like that?

What city would you compare it to? For example, if it's like Dallas--overly corporate and dull--I'd like to know.

I'm less concerned with the food scene because I can cook really well.

Thanks!

Questions answered by my Wife who lived in Pittsburgh area and got her Under-Grad degree from Pitt:

Is Downtown Walkable? My wife says a slow Yes... She says downtown you can walk around downtown, just be careful like any major city.
Is there Green Space downtown? Not really, there are public areas, but not really green. "The Point" is the downtown green space where the three Rivers come together and they hold concerts and events.
Arts Community? Pittsburgh has a huge arts community, but not downtown, downtown is its own neighborhood.

Absolutely an interesting city. Definitely celebrate diversity and encourage it "Way more than the South".

Pittsburgh is unique in its own right and can't really be compared to any other city. That is what makes it "Special". Downtown has some Corporate stuff, but that isn't why you go to Pittsburgh. You go to Pittsburgh for the Strip district and Oakland where the Colleges atmosphere is and Schenley Park which is not in Downtown. All of the different neighborhoods contribute to the unique small town feel, but combining them all together is what makes Pittsburgh it's own big city.

Pittsburgh food scene will have great Italian and Polish food. It is "way cheaper" in Pittsburgh to eat out than here she says. (My input-Put Fries on that Sandwich and call it Pittsburgh style.)

Her advice is to learn the Mass Transit system with busses and Subway to really open up the different areas of the City. She said she would want to live in Squirrel Hill or Shady Side if we were moving back. Lawrenceville is on an upswing currently with a resurgence of money and investment, so maybe able to get in there cheaper.