Renting in Pittsburgh: South Side Apartments

A recent study just found that Pittsburgh has the most bars and pizza shops per capita of any city in the United States. A major contributor to this somewhat dubious distinction (well, at least to health-conscious teetotalers) is the South Side. Running alongside the Monongahela River, this flourishing entertainment district has become a magnet area for students and young professionals. South Side apartments are hot commodities that don't stay on the market long, as lifelong Pittsburghers and recent transplants continue to flock to this bustling area.

It’s not just the bars and nightlife that make the area attractive to the city’s younger residents. The South Side is just a drive (or walk, with the recent addition of a pedestrian area) over the awesomely named and arachnid-like Hot Metal Bridge to Oakland, where the University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Carlow College are located. For Duquesne University and Point Park University students, with downtown campuses that are not conducive to student living, the South Side apartments are popular choices. The neighborhood is just a quick walk over the 10^th Street Bridge to downtown.

The South Side is made up of two areas — the Slopes and the Flats, which are exactly what they sound like. The Flats are on a grid and, with the exception of some inexplicable one-way streets, are easy to navigate. The Slopes, on the other hand, are not for the Pittsburgh neophytes or those with a fear of heights or who like their neighborhoods planned in a logical fashion. However, if you can manage the narrow roads, some truly great South Side apartments are available for affordable prices in the Slopes.

The South Side has seen major revitalization in the past decade. True, it was always vibrant — the streets were crowded with late-night revelers — but the area has become more diverse in its options. The South Side Works opened in the mid-2000s with shopping, dining, and a movie theater. It’s since expanded to include a wine bar, hotels, and a German beer hall. The South Side Riverfront Park is an even more recent addition to the area that offers a great view of the Mon and links to the river trail for jogging and biking.

If you only pass through the South Side every couple months, it may seem that it is constantly changing. There’s always something new. A new restaurant, a new store, a new coffee shop, and, of course, a new bar. The South Side is fun. It’s walkable. It’s vibrant.

One major trend in the area has been the renovation of older houses into multifamily properties. Most of the homes in the area are like others in Pittsburgh — old. The new demographics of the area are dictating a change. No longer do South Side residents require an entire house. Younger people without children are willing to live in smaller quarters. So, property managers and investors are renovating properties and turning them into high-end apartments in the trendy neighborhood. This style of South Side apartments started in the Flats and is moving up to the Slopes.