Harmar

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.