Pittsburgh Real Estate
Pittsburgh - America's Most Livable City!
Settled at the confluence of the Allegheny and Monongahela rivers which together form the starting point of the Ohio River at The Point, the city is located in the southwestern portion of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. As with many Ohio Territory settlements, Pittsburgh was built originally for its military importance in response to Native American, French, and English conflict throughout most of the 18th century. The settlement morphed in name from Fort Prince George (England), to Fort Duquesne (French), to Pittsborough (English). It was incorporated as a borough in the late 1700’s and chartered as a city in the early 1800’s as the “Borough of Pittsburgh”.
The city of Pittsburgh can attribute most of its growth and decline to the steel industry. In 1875, after a boost to the iron and steel industries from the American Civil War, steel entrepreneurs such as Andrew Carnegie capitalized on the geographic and resource rich area of Pittsburgh. Formation of the Carnegie Steel Corporation, and subsequent steel booms triggered by industrialization, World War I, and World War II cemented Pittsburgh’s importance in an industrialized America. During this time, Pittsburgh’s population swelled as a primary reaction to the availability of jobs. Most were European immigrants, and thus had great influence on the development of a culturally diverse city. As the steel industry imploded in the latter portions of the 19th century, Pittsburgh began transitioning its economical focus on one of research and service.
From the Carnegies to the Mellons to the Heinzes, the families that made Pittsburgh great in the 19th and 20th centuries invested millions after steel collapsed to bring the city back to its former glory, setting it apart from other cities that recovered more slowly.
Today (2009), Pittsburgh has more jobs than when steel peaked in 1979. The enviornment is cleaner, the economy is more diverse, construction is booming and the popoulation declines seesm to be stablilizing.
In Pennsylvania, there are more than 4,100 foundations and more than a third of their $28 billion is assets are in Pittsburgh. The city has more philanthropies than some states. There are few communtiies int he United States that have those resources Pittsburgh has and the foundations encourage recipients to reach higher.
One of the best donations - and one of the largest ever to a school district - is the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center's $100 million, 10-year commitment to the "Pittsburgh Promise", which provides college scholarships to Pittsburgh's students, promotes the reform of Pittsburgh Public Schools and leverage the development of Pittsburgh's neighborhoods.
Demographically speaking, Pittsburgh’s cultural make-up reflects the convergence of European communities during expansion of the steel industry. Pittsburgh boasts a large population of Croatians, Ukrainians, Germans, and Irish. There are 90 “neighborhoods” in Pittsburgh, most reflecting cultural influences from the culture that mainly settled there.
The triangular shaped Pittsburgh downtown area called the "Golden Triangle" has four main areas surrounding it:
The North Side is home to various neighborhoods in transition, primarily composed of residential neighborhoods and is noteworthy for well-constructed and architecturally interesting homes. Places of interest include: Heinz Field (home of the Pittsburgh Steelers and Pitt Panthers football teams), PNC Park (Home of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team), the Carnegie Science Center, National Aviary, Andy Warhol Museum, Mattress Factory installation art museum, Penn Brewery, Allegheny Observatory, and the new $300-million, 450,000 square foot River's Casino (August 2009) and 3,800 space parking garage.
The South Side was once an area composed primarily of dense inexpensive housing for mill workers, but has in recent years become a local Pittsburgher destination. The South Side's East Carson St. is one of the most vibrant areas of the city, packed with diverse shopping, eateries, pulsing nightlife and live music venues.
The East End is home to the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, Carlow University, and Chatham College. Notable neighborhoods include: Shadyside and Squirrel Hill are large, wealthy neighborhoods featuring unique shopping/business districts. Oakland is home to most universities. Bloomfield is Pittsburgh's Little Italy and is known for its restaurants and grocers. Lawrenceville is a revitalizing row house neighborhood popular with artists and designers. The Strip District is a popular open-air marketplace by day and one of Pittsburgh's hottest destinations by night.
The West End includes Mt. Washington, with its world-class view of the Downtown skyline.
Pittsburgh is on the move and the compact area of downtown Pittsburgh now features the nation's largest mixed-use "green" (enviornmentally friendly) building. Three PNC Plaza (May 2009) is the city's first high-rise in 20 years. This new 23-story building is located at Fifth and Market Streets and generated approximately 800 on-site and indirect construction jobs. It is a major initative that hasbeen good for the growth of the region - adding jobs, attracting new buisness and welcoming new residents. Its first-rate amenities will make the high-rise a destination in and of itself. Building highlights include 11 stories of office space, a 10-story Fairmont Hotel, The Residences - 23 luxury "sky-home" condominiums located on the building's top 10 floors, a restaurant and retail space along with a 300 space underground garage.
Bordering the new Three PNC Plaza is the revitalization project of the Fifth-Forbes corridor and Market Square on one side to the 12-block Cultural Distric on the other.
Learn more about our Pittsburgh Real Estate options.
Read more about Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Downtown Pittsburgh, Imagine Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh Business
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