Hoping your 2012 is a year filled with health, joy and good fortune!
One of our most popular rental destinations is the Shadyside neighborhood in Pittsburgh's East End. Often, our potential renters tell us they are interested in Shadyside because the neighborhood was recommended by friends who have lived in or know the Pittsburgh area. Although they know they want to live in Shadyside, new renters often have not seen for themselves what makes the neighborhood so appealing. Because of this, I'd like to provide a few details of why I think Shadyside is a great spot for our renters.
Since I moved to Bloomfield in February, 2005, it has been my favorite Pittsburgh neighborhood. I originally moved into a two-bedroom Lobos Management apartment on Edmond Street. The apartment itself was nice – it had off-street parking, a dishwasher, and a balcony, but the location was awesome. As a graduate student at Pitt, I enjoyed the thirty minute walk to campus. When I got lazy or sick, or if the weather was too terrible, I would catch the 54 Bus Route. As a vegan with “goofy” dietary restrictions, I enjoyed being close to the Quiet Storm and Thai Cuisine Restaurant – two of the better reviewed, vegan-friendly restaurants in the East End. To stock up on more substantial groceries, it was a quick and easy trip (by car, bike, or foot) to the Whole Foods Market or Strip District for produce shopping.
Although the location is what originally hooked me for the Edmond Street Apartments, I quickly became enamored with the neighborhood itself. Since I grew up in a small town, the close-knit community vibe that Bloomfield provided really appealed to me. Unlike the more transient neighborhoods in Pittsburgh’s East End, many of the people here were homeowners whose families had lived here for a few generations. In spite of this, the neighborhood has never felt too old or ornery because there has also been an influx of young renters. There are weird, idiosyncratic stores and services that presumably cater to the older residents – like vacuum repair and vintage tuxedo shops, but there are also cool offerings for younger people with varied interests – an anarchist bookstore, a few live music venues, coffee shops, and one of the best record shops in the city. I have since moved from the Lobos Management apartment and out of the Bloomfield neighborhood entirely. I now reside a few blocks away in Friendship. Although I still have great access to lots of Pittsburgh culture, I find myself missing the strong sense of community I experienced in Bloomfield. This time of year is especially tough on your wallet. If you are lucky enough to live in one of Lobos Management’s buildings with a T stop or bus stop nearby, try public transportation. If that, or a car pool are not an option for you, here are a few tips from Lobos Management on how to save some money by getting better gas mileage on your vehicle. Review your driving habits and save yourself some cash.
1. Don’t ignore this light… (!). You get better gas mileage if your tires are properly inflated to the correct pressure. Right now you can really get a good deal at Get Go… they have free air! 2. Don’t keep junk in your trunk. Excess weight reduces your fuel efficiency, so don’t do things like cart your golf clubs around during the winter or leave your bowling ball in the back seat all week if your league only meets on Wednesdays. 3. Drive smart. A few examples are to avoid idling, speeding, and rapid acceleration or braking. 4. Service your engine. Ignoring service to your engine could have a terrible effect on your gas mileage and your safety! For more ways to save on gas… check out this link from the U.S. Department of Energy. http://www.fueleconomy.gov/feg/driveHabits.shtml These twin brick buildings are located at the corner of Fifth Avenue and Craig Street in Oakland, a favorite location for University of Pittsburgh and Carnegie Mellon students and staff (Honestly, I wish I would have know about this building when I was a student… because the place where I lived didn’t have A/C).
Praises: Superb location! Air Conditioning, magnificent hardwood floors available, convenient off street parking behind the building, on-site laundry, new energy efficient windows. Complaints: These apartments lease from August to August and rent so fast that if you wait until summer time to find your home, they’ll already be taken. |