Fox Chapel

Residing in O’Hara Township means river living, relaxing on a boat on the weekends and strolling alongside beautiful waterfront scenery. The Pittsburgh suburb offers a slower-paced riverside lifestyle paired with a well-rated school district and convenient access to Downtown. “There are many different areas in O'Hara Township that have parks, playgrounds, coffee, shops, delis and so much to explore,” says Stephanie Veenis, a Realtor at Howard Hanna—Fox Chapel, who has sold homes for 16 years in Pittsburgh. Rob Borgo of Coldwell Banker Realty says that there are a few advantageous reasons to live in this neighborhood. “It’s close to the city and Downtown, the taxes are lower and the housing prices are low,” he says. Borgo has sold homes in the area for nine years. Located on the Allegheny River, O’Hara Township sits about 9 miles northeast of Pittsburgh. The long winding roads of single-family homes are often shaded by trees and feature larger lots. “You can often get a decent-sized yard with spread apart houses on the pricier side there,” says Sara Leitera, a Realtor with Berkshire Hathaway. Adds Veenis, “Neighbors are truly neighbors, and they typically have get-togethers and neighborhood parties. There are also local food trucks, Halloween parades and more.” Prospective buyers can choose between colonial revivals, split-levels with small front porches and ranch-style homes featuring bay windows. Homebuyers can also find contemporary townhouses steps away from the river. Sales prices can range from $208,000 to $1.7 million, depending on the size and condition of the home. Borgo adds that the average home value is $700,000. A four-bedroom, two-bath ranch home can fetch $550,000, while a four-bedroom, three-bath split-level can cost $585,000. A four-bedroom, two-bath home near the river, complete with views goes for about $900,000. The CAP Index crime score is 3 out of 10, which is lower than the national average of 4. Additionally, 82% of structures in the neighborhood are commercial properties. Those new to Pittsburgh (also known as “Pixburgh “or “The Burgh”) might want to brush up on the lingo or “Pittsburghese.” For example, “slippy” is slippery, “nebby” is nosy, “pop” is soda, “yinz” is you all and “Arn City” beer is Iron City Beer. Speaking of beer, while Iron City might be the unofficial beer of Steel City, O’Hara residents might also be seen sipping on Steel City Beer — the brewery is just outside the neighborhood’s border Students in O’Hara Township can the Fox Chapel Area School District, nationally and state-recognized for its excellence. In the 2023 National School Public Relations Association (NSPRA) Publications and Digital Media Excellence Awards competition, the district took home 11 national honors. In the Pennsylvania School Public Relations Association's (PenSPRA) 2023 Excellence in Education Communications Contest, the district took home eight honors. And, the Pittsburgh Region of the Scholastic Art Awards in 2023 presented awards to thirty-nine students from Fox Chapel Area High School. All six schools in the district have earned the National Blue Ribbon Awards. “The area is pretty sought after for the schools,” Leitera says. According to Niche, the school district has top-tier ratings in academics, teachers and college prep. Schools include O’Hara Elementary School, Dorseyville Middle School and Fox Chapel Area High School. All three schools have a Niche grade of A-plus. “The Fox Chapel school district is popular and encompasses many different municipalities,” says Veenis. There are 11 colleges and universities including Carnegie Mellon and Duquesne universities. Spending time outdoors and viewing the scenic Allegheny River at O’Hara Township’s parks is a common activity for residents. The Chapel Harbor Riverfront Park shows off panoramic vistas of the river that can be enjoyed from paved paths or a small pier with a bench. Visitors can also launch a kayak or canoe from the park. At Fox Chapel Marina, large boats are kept at the only full-service marina in Pittsburgh and spend quality time out on the water. At O'Hara Township Community Park, residents can walk or run on paved trails next to a creek and a pond stocked with fish. The park also has playgrounds, a basketball court and a tennis court for active folks. For neighbors who like to eat out, the township offers a robust business district of restaurants and bars. Baja Bar & Grill serves American food on a deck with views of the Allegheny River and the Fox Chapel Marina. The atmosphere is ideal for a night out with friends complete with live music and dancing. At Jimmy Wan's Restaurant & Lounge, enjoy Asian food like dim sum in an upscale white tablecloth eatery ideal for date night. Mercurio’s O’Hara offers Italian fare like woodfired pizzas in a casual setting great for families. At Bob's Garage, celebrate with drinks and karaoke at a hometown bar decked out with decorations for top-notch holiday ambiance from Halloween to Christmas. For groceries, Market District Supermarket on Freeport Road, Aldi on Butler Street and Giant Eagle on Kappa Drive are options. Points of interest in or near the community include the Bayernhof Museum and the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium. The Bayernhof Museum features a vast maintained mansion with hidden passageways and doorways filled with music boxes and other mechanical instruments. O’Hara Township neighbors can easily commute to the big city. Routes 28 and 8 are on the neighborhood’s southern border. There are also 15 Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus stops along Main Street, which is near the southern border. For city adventures, a Steelers game at Acrisure Stadium or a performance in Heinz Hall are fun options.

Sometimes still called Harmarville after the former company town, Harmar hasn't had production in its subterranean tunnels for upward of 50 years, mirroring many other mines in the Freeport Coalfield. Shaking off the last of the coal dust with the demolition of the Cheswick Generating Station in 2023, Harmar and nearby Harwick and Cheswick retain the strong sense of community pride found in many post-industrial neighborhoods along the Allegheny River. “There’s no division line. Whether you’re from Cheswick or Harmar, all those communities work together,” says Connie Rusek-Lichok, an associate broker at Coldwell Banker who has lived and specialized in the Allegheny Valley for 45 years. “You’ve got churches, schools, recreation, shopping – you pretty much have it all. If you’re from down there, it’s like you’re a friend for life.” Above-ground commerce and commuter pathways along the Pennsylvania Turnpike and Route 28 have brought about Harmar’s modern identity as a pit stop during interstate travel and commuter suburb to Pittsburgh. Long, grassy blocks of single-family homes are the norm in Harmar, lining streets in a blend of simple vernacular styles popular from the 1920s through 1950s like Minimal Traditional cottages, Cape Cods and ranch-style homes. Prices range from $75,000 to $300,000 depending on square footage, lot size and renovation needs. Homes in HOA-maintained communities like Forest Highland and Forest Manor have the highest prices in Harmar’s market, with townhouses selling for $340,000 to $775,000 and New Traditional single-family homes selling for $730,000 to $1.2 million plus additional monthly fees in the mid-three figures. While blocks close to the Allegheny River are flat and lined by sidewalks, pedestrian infrastructure and walkability take a hit on streets and subdivisions in the surrounding hills. Homes hiding past the railroad tracks on Hancock Camp and Werner Camp roads often enjoy backyard dock access to the Allegheny River. Route 28 provides a 15-mile commute into downtown Pittsburgh, though rush hour traffic factors heavily into drive time. PRT bus stops along Freeport Road provide regular service from Tarentum to Pittsburgh, with a more limited line running all the way out to Harrison Township. Pennsylvania Turnpike drivers needing a break from the road get off at the Allegheny Valley exit, heading toward the commercial strip lining Freeport Road in Harmar. Past a collection of hotels, fast food joints and gas stations like Sheetz, McDonald’s and Taco Bell catch highway traffic heading to larger retailers like Target and Giant Eagle Express. Sit-down chains from Denny’s to Yinzer-centric Primanti Bros. pop up in larger buildings and a few small strip malls. Allegheny Health Network Harmar Neighborhood Hospital punctuates the western end of the commercial corridor. Further big box anchors are a few miles north at the Pittsburgh Mills Mall. East of the Bessemer & Lake Erie Railroad Bridge, Freeport Road transforms into more of a main street, eschewing neon-lit national chains for long-standing local businesses like Wicked Witches Bar & Grille, Fat Cat’s Subs and Riverview Antique ‘N Market Place. “The Bear’s Inn on top of the hill – those men were coal miners, they serve a delicious spaghetti dinner,” Rusek-Lichok says. “They’ve put together monuments for the Harwick Mine disaster and for firemen, they’re very community oriented.” Several churches, including Our Lady of Victory and Saint Francis of Assisi, hold services throughout the community. A handful of small community parks are scattered throughout Harmar, like Harwick Park and Acme Park which provide tree-shaded playgrounds and basketball courts to people living up in the hills and down along Freeport Road. In Cheswick, MacLean Avenue Park provides courts for tennis players and playground equipment for the kids while Rachel Carson Riverfront Park offers a more tranquil green space and access to the Allegheny River for anglers. Boaters and kayakers can take off from the Springdale Boat Ramp or Cheswick Marina, navigating the lock and dam to explore the overgrown forests at Allegheny Islands State Park or opting to head up toward Tarentum. Hockey games and public sessions draw skaters to the Alpha Ice Complex. Acmetonia Elementary School serves prekindergarten through sixth grade and earns a C-minus from Niche. Springdale Junior-Senior High School serves seventh through 12th grades and earns a C-plus. High schoolers wanting career and vocational training opportunities can opt into half or full-day programs run through the Forbes Road Career and Technology Center. The borough of Cheswick puts on community events throughout the year, one of the most anticipated being the annual Strawberry Festival. Each June, hundreds gather in parks or parking lots to enjoy live music and kid-friendly activities like the petting zoo and barrel train. While the vendor list and food offerings grow and change every year, strawberry shortcakes prepared by the borough’s recreation board are always a highlight. The Pittsburgh Shrine Center is a magnet for special events, hosting dozens of festivals, dances and concerts that open ticket sales to the public as well as private parties. During times of unusually heavy rain, low-lying sections of Harmar close to the Allegheny River may experience flooding. These areas are largely industrial, and flooding up to Freeport Road is rare.