I’m often asked (usually by myself) what the point of this column is. For a long time, I didn’t really have an answer.
Many publications do regular features on houses to buy because they are popular. I was asked to do one, except instead of focusing on big, beautiful, expensive houses, I was to focus on the “affordable” ones. Though, what that meant was left up to interpretation.
In the process of actually writing this column, a new reason has emerged: it’s to showcase the less-traveled, less-desirable, most-overlooked parts of Pittsburgh, and reasons why I think it could be fun/interesting/OK to live there. Nobody needs to tell you why Lawrenceville and the Strip are great, but less renowned areas like Esplen, Mt. Oliver, Fairywood, Brighton Heights, etc., could sometimes use a little explanation.
I swear I’m not trying to blow up anyone’s spot. (And no, I don’t know what to do about private equity buying up cheap houses in Carrick, but I think it’s bad and someone should stop it). However, I’m totally fine with just about anyone who wants to move in, buy an old house, take care of it, and contribute to the community/tax base/what-have-you.
Maybe someday we’ll see Pittsburgh overrun with unpleasant amounts of tech bros, robber barons, Ravens fans, etc. But right now, I still see so many abandoned homes, trash-strewn hillsides and weedy empty lots. If someone wants to bring those places back to life, I’m all for it. Pittsburgh is an acquired taste, and if someone makes a good faith attempt to acquire it, that’s good enough for me.
For sale: 1708 Termon Ave., Brighton Heights, $210,000.
Omg we’ve hit the motherlode of weirdness here — this place looks buttoned-up and stately on the outside, but check out the purple room. We’ve got leopard-print curtains, psychedelic brain-wave art, a purple couch, and a rug with a giant cigarette that also seems to be planet Earth. Thank you, dark gods of Zillow. Thank you, Brighton Heights. I will treasure this listing forever.
For rent: 7147 Harrison Ave., Swisshelm Park, $1,350/month.
This ad touts the proximity of Parisi Coffee Shop, Rocco’s Tavern, and Pub in the Park. I’ve never heard of any of those places — and yet, I’m pretty much sold. One thing I like more than coffee shops and dive bars is coffee shops and dive bars that I haven’t been to yet. This place is run by Arkham Realty, which might be a Batman reference. I’ve certainly lived in places for dumber reasons than that.
For sale: 22 Young St., Garfield, $199,900.
I’ve spent a lot of time in Garfield in recent years because my son’s school is there, and this is a place that has undeniably changed. I’ve seen houses that have been abandoned for years get fixed up and seemingly inhabited by actual people (and not flippers). But that’s just an outsider’s view, so I really have no idea. If you want cheap, weird little houses, there are still a few like this out there, though. Why does this house, built in 1900, have three upstairs windows of different sizes, in descending order? I also have no idea. “Young Street Garfield” would make a great 2010s Soundcloud mumble-rapper alias, in case anyone needs that.
For rent: 5007 Blair St., Hazelwood, $1,250/month.
Look at too many houses, and you start to anthropomorphize them a little, seeing faces, even expressions, in windows and doors. This rowhouse isn’t jumping on the mustache bandwagon; it’s been sporting the old soup-strainer since Mike Ditka was catching passes in Aliquippa. Inside, everything is bright and white and clean, which is less fun, but will probably help get this place rented.
For sale: 343 Conniston St., Bon Air, $150,000.
After saving the world from fascism, a generation returned from World War II and decided that the time-honored principles of home building were no good anymore, so let’s build houses as receptacles for cars, instead of people. And yet, I have a lot of nostalgia for homes like these, because they look a lot like the one my grandpa built by hand in O’Hara. Hey, it was cheaper and probably a great way to relax after a long day hammering molten metal in the blacksmith’s forge. And there was still some vestigial craftsmanship left; solid little brick houses like this one are still rock-solid and clearly built for a harder, less comfortable world.
For rent: 1415 Lager St., Troy Hill, $950/month.
Lager Street. Well, Troy Hill was a German neighborhood for a long time, and where there were Germans there were breweries, and, hey, you can walk to Penn Brewery from here (which specializes in German food and lagers). So, yeah, all that and central air for under $1,000/month. Troy Hill is also pretty quiet and has incredible views.
This article appears in Mar 12-18, 2025.
