$74,853Average Value$290Average Price per Sq Ft3Homes For Sale
A historic Polish neighborhood in need of some TLC
When immigrants from Poland started arriving in Erie in the early to mid-1800s, they settled in what is now the Lower East Side of Erie, also called Trinity Park. The name most likely comes from the influence of Holy Trinity Catholic Church, the second Polish parish in the city and best known for its annual summer Polish festival. “It’s an old Polish neighborhood from back in the day,” says Rose Nouri, a Realtor with Coldwell Banker Select, who was born and raised in Erie and is part of a husband and wife real estate team that’s been in business for 30 years. “I grew up in the neighborhood, and my mom still lives there. My sister and I go back to shop for Easter sausage at Urbaniak Brothers.”
Over the years, homes in Trinity Park have changed hands from owners to landlords who have deferred maintenance and allowed many properties to fall into disrepair. While new immigrants continue to move in, many don’t have the means to buy a home, let alone renovate. “What’s needed is a balance between homeowners and investors,” says Realtor Tim Bogdanets with Howard Hanna-Erie Southwest. The son of immigrants, Bogdanets also grew up in Trinity Park and has rehabbed homes with this family’s construction business. “As home values rise, so will incentives for homebuyers and owners to put money into their properties. This is happening in the neighborhood already.” With homeownership classes at the St. Martin Center, a Catholic non-profit community organization, and other financial incentives, such as low-down-payment and low-interest FHA loans, homes in Trinity Park are slowly getting the owners and TLC they need.
Lower-cost homes with investment and rehab potential
Trinity Park homes range in price from $13,000 for a total restoration to $160,000 for properties that have been completely renovated and updated. Most are colonial-inspired houses built in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, with four bedrooms on average and original period details, such as hardwood floors and trims. Many of these homes are wood-sided, although some have been updated with vinyl siding. Multi-family homes built as duplexes and triplexes are widespread throughout the neighborhood and often tenant-occupied. A third of all homes in Trinity Park are multi-family. “I have investors coming in from California and New York wanting to buy properties in Trinity Park because values are low compared to their markets,” Nouri says. “Multi-family homes are particularly attractive to investors.”
Many updated homes in Trinity Park have front porches and well kept yards.
Trinity Park is quiet overall, as the streets are quite peaceful.
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Traveling by bus, bike, car, train or plane from Trinity Park
Erie Metropolitan Transportation Authority buses stop throughout the neighborhood on State, Parade, East 18th, 21st and 26th streets. Amtrak trains stop at Union Station across State on West 14th Street. Passengers can board trains to Boston, New York and Chicago. Erie International Airport on the city's west side is 7 miles away.
Cyclists will find bike paths along the Bayfront Connector, which takes drivers downtown or south to Interstate 90. On I-90, motorists can reach Buffalo, 85 miles east, and Cleveland, 105 miles west. Nearby, Interstate 79 connects drivers to Pittsburgh, 120 miles south.
Trinity Park is also within a few miles of three major area hospitals, including UPMC Hamot downtown, Saint Vincent on West 25th and the Erie VA Medical Center on East 38th.
Erie schools and colleges with a strong community focus
The public schools that serve Trinity Park all belong to the Erie City School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche. McKinley Elementary, a C-minus school, is across the street from the park with the same name and offers a low 10-to-1 student-teacher ratio. Woodrow Wilson Middle, a C-rated school, is one of several community schools in Erie that partner with organizations to remove any barriers students may have to get a good education. National Fuel became the middle school’s partner in 2023. Erie High, earning a C and partnering with the United Way, offers athletic teams in nine sports. The high school’s girls basketball team won their fourth District 10 Class 6A championship in 2024.
Gannon University, a private Catholic school within 2 miles of Trinity Park, actively promotes a culture of service. Gannon students regularly volunteer for neighborhood cleanups and assist with renovation projects.
McKinley Elementary School serves grades PK-5th.
Woodrow Wilson Middle School serves grades 6-8.
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Local markets, social clubs, eateries and arts
Trinity Park has few restaurants; what it does have are well-established markets that have served the neighborhood for decades, like Urbaniak Brothers Quality Meats. This full-service grocery store specializes in Polish food with an extensive selection of meats, cheeses and baked goods. Many of the products sold are old school, such as farm-fresh milk in bottles. Serafin’s Food Market is one of the oldest in the neighborhood, established in 1926, and Almadina Supermarket on Parade Street is one of several international grocers.
The Pulaski Club and the Polish Falcons Nest Post 123 are local social clubs for people of Polish descent. Many younger members who have moved out of Trinity Park maintain their membership because of their generational ties with the community. Downtown Erie, next to the neighborhood's northwest corner, offers shopping, entertainment, sports venues and eateries like Calamari’s Squid Row, known for its signature calamari and outdoor patio. PACA Performing Artist Collective Alliance, a progressive theatre and community performance space, is in the same northwest corner. City Gallery, an exhibition space that collaborates with PACA, is within the same block.
Neighborhood parks for sports, art and play
On the east side of Trinity Park, McKinley Park is across the street from McKinley Elementary and features basketball courts, a tennis court and an open area with mature shade trees. McKinley also offers a playground next to the school. Poetry Park is a small green space between houses across the street from Holy Trinity Catholic Church, one of the original Polish heritage churches in the neighborhood. Its beautiful brick walkways and circular assembly area are the work of Amara Geffen, a community and environmental public artist whose purpose was to create a model place for sharing art and beauty in Erie’s inner city. Witherspoon Park is farther west and adds a soccer field and more basketball courts to the neighborhood, and Holland Street Playground offers swings, slides and jungle gyms a few blocks south.
Community gardens found throughout the Trinity Park area allow residents grow produce.
The Hold Fast to Dreams Poetry Park is located between Ash and Reed on East 22nd St. in Erie.
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The Zabawa Polish Festival at Holy Trinity Church
Holy Trinity Church, founded by Polish immigrants in 1903, hosts the Zabawa Polish Festival in August to celebrate the neighborhood’s Polish heritage. Over 15,000 pierogis and other traditional Polish foods, bakery items and beverages are consumed at this three-day event. Festivalgoers can also enjoy Polish musical groups, door prizes, a Polish heritage mass and a polka mass.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Fred Amendola,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Burton Park
McKinley Park
Poetry Park
Witherspoon Park
Holland Street Playground
Transit
Airport
Erie International/Tom Ridge Field
15 min drive
Bus
Parade St & E 22nd St
Bus
E 18th St & Parade St
Bus
E 26th St & German St Ib
Bus
East Ave & E 23rd St Ob
Bus
E 26th St & Perry St
Bus
E 19th St & Buffalo Rd
Bus
E 26th St & Parade St
Crime and Safety
1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime
Trinity Park
US
Homicide
9
4
Sexual Assault
5
4
Assault with Weapon
7
4
Robbery
7
4
Burglary
5
4
Motor Vehicle Theft
5
4
Larceny
4
4
Crime Score
6
4
Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com
Trinity Park Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Trinity Park, Erie sell after 67 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Trinity Park, Erie over the last 12 months is $388,000, up 168% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Vacant duplex stripped to the studs and ready for renovation. Great bones and tons of potential. Sold as-is. Bring your plans and make it cash-flow ready!
2-unit property on a busy street,perfect for steady rental income. Both units are rented and bringing in reliable cash flow. A solid, low-maintenance investment close to shops, bus lines, and daily traffic.
3 bed, 1.5 bath home in Southeast Erie with updates throughout the last 2 years—new roof, furnace, A/C, hot water tank, flooring, kitchen, baths, 200-amp electric, and more. Features a cozy enclosed porch, full basement, and off-street parking.
Property Id: 2045376Spacious 2-Bedroom Apartment | 1st Floor Duplex | Central LocationAvailable August 1st — this charming 2 bed / 1 bath first-floor apartment on Reed St offers over 1,100 sq ft of living space in a conveniently located duplex. 15 minutes to Millcreek Mall, downtown Erie, and major grocery stores — super easy to get around from hereFeatures
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Fred Amendola,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
6,318
Median Age
33
Population under 18
33.2%
Above the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
11.9%
Below the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$31,804
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$45,031
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
75.7%
Below the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
8.8%
Significantly below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
3%
% Population in Labor Force
54.4%
Weather
Annual Precipitation
43''
Average Winter Low Temperature
21°F
Average Summer High Temperature
81°F
Annual Snowfall
29''
Area Factors
Bikeable
Bike Score®
57/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
71/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
35/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
