Site of arguably the longest-lasting pizza battle in the
city (Mineo’s vs. Aiello’s), Squirrel Hill is a vibrant, eclectic area in
Pittsburgh. It’s not only a battlefield for pizza enthusiasts, but a hub of
ethnic food in the city. Vietnam, China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Thailand, and
India represent Asia. There’s also cuisine from Mexico, and Asian and Kosher
groceries. Squirrel Hill apartments are snatched up quickly by students and families eager to have everything they need within walking distance.
The neighborhood is right off 376 with an entrance ramp on
the corner of Forward and Murray Ave. It borders on Schenley and Frick Parks,
which provide easy access to Oakland and Regent Square, respectively. Because
of its direct (and abundant) bus route to Oakland, it’s a popular destination
for Pitt, Carnegie Mellon, and Carlow students. It borders Point Breeze and
Shadyside as well, and the South Side is just one inbound exit away on the
parkway.
The major commerce of the area is on Forbes and Murray
Avenues, both of which are on hills. Squirrel Hill is almost all residential apartments and houses outside of that.
Shopping is another draw to Squirrel Hill. Several
second-hand boutiques, including Avalon, line Forbes Ave. The area also features
an abundance of ice cream and frozen yogurt joints that are open year-round.
It’s home to the Manor Theater, an iconic independent cinema, and a Jewish
Community Center that features a museum, gym, and pool. Squirrel Hill also boasts
a bowling alley, an iconic record store, and a branch of the Carnegie Library
to round out its attractions.
The neighborhood is one of those rare family-friendly areas
in a major metropolitan area. It lacks the nightlife of some of the other
Pittsburgh neighborhoods — like South Side, Oakland, Shadyside, and
Lawrenceville. Its large Orthodox Jewish population makes Friday nights (the
Sabbath) quiet instead of a raging party atmosphere. And because of its appeal
to families, many of the houses in the neighborhood have remained single-family
homes instead of being subdivided into rental units.
However, the area’s appeal to students has enabled some
recent repositioning of older homes into apartments. A rarity in Pittsburgh, many Squirrel Hill apartments come in the form of large buildings as well as repositioned houses. Squirrel Hill is vibrant and constantly seeing new businesses, new trendy variations
on classic ethnic cuisine, and new interesting coffee shops. It’s one of those
rare neighborhoods that always thrives no matter which businesses are there at
the time. It’s eclectic — even through changes. And it is a great neighborhood to rent.
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