Redeveloping South Hills arts and community life in Allentown
Allentown is a redeveloping neighborhood high in the South Hills of Pittsburgh. It's clear the community was a booming historic streetcar suburb thanks to the metal tracks and ornate commercial buildings that still line Warrington Avenue. The wear on homes and storefronts on that same strip also tells the story of later industrial and population decline. Thanks to lower-cost real estate and the hard work of members of the Hilltop Alliance, Allentown is developing an artsy and approachable modern reputation. Walking through the neighborhood today, you might hear a comedy show or hardcore music spilling out of local bars and witchy mom-and-pops. And from your own backyard or overlooks at one of the Steel City’s major parks, you can see how close Allentown is to the commuter and cultural hubs in downtown Pittsburgh.
Downtown Pittsburgh as seen from the Allentown neighborhood
Penguin sculptures welcome you to the neighborhood.
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Allentown is a quiet neighborhood in the South Hills.
Lower-cost historic homes in South Hills neighborhoods
Different styles of National and Victorian homes were built close together along Allentown’s hilly city blocks from the late 1800s through the early 1900s. You can find many properties with original historic details as well as newly updated houses. Move-in-ready homes can range from around $70,000 to the lower $300,000s, depending on size and renovation levels. Houses needing significant work can go for under $50,000. “A lot of people are coming in and fixing up homes in Allentown,” says Beth Nichols, a Realtor at Coldwell Banker with eight years of experience serving the Pittsburgh area. “Investors buy them, flip them and then another investor buys them to rent.” Most residents rent rather than own in Allentown, whether in single-family homes, small multifamily properties or larger apartment complexes.
Artsy, alternative businesses on Warrington and Arlington avenues
Streetcar wires hang overhead along Warrington Avenue, giving Allentown’s quirky, modern business district a unique look. “It’s artsy, you know, a lot of coffee shops and tattoo places. It definitely has the entrepreneur kind of vibe,” Nichols says. Many old-fashioned commercial buildings on Warrington and Arlington avenues are covered in colorful murals, hinting at the unusual businesses found inside first-floor storefronts. Some local favorites include:
Grim Wizard Coffee, a goth cafe to sip a latte and play pinball while listening to metal music
Alla Famiglia, an upscale eatery known for sit-down Italian fare
Death Comes Lifting, an alternative gym where you can lift weights or take a yoga class in the training crypt
The Weeping Glass, a curio shop full of antique oddities and taxidermy decor
Bottlerocket Social Hall, a neighborhood bar known for live music and comedy shows
The business district in Allentown has many things.
Stop into The Weeping Glass for some cool treasures.
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Bottlerocket Social Hall in has been voted one of the best bars in Pittsburgh.
Revitalization and quirky events through the Hilltop Alliance
The Hilltop Alliance represents a handful of South Hills neighborhoods, but Allentown is home to many of the group’s most successful community events and redevelopment initiatives. The Bi-Annual Allentown Night Market returns each spring and fall, drawing neighbors and visitors to browse creepy-cool market stalls, order from food trucks, listen to live music and watch circus acts. The Hilltop Alliance also champions support initiatives like Fresh Fridays on the Hilltop, a free produce distribution service, and connects residents to resources for everything from housing rehabilitation to new business grants.
Commuting to downtown and walkable PRT bus stops
Downtown Pittsburgh is about 2 miles away across the Monongahela River. Pittsburgh Regional Transit’s light rail, called the T, occasionally reroutes service to Allentown’s streetcar tracks, but PRT buses offer more consistent service between downtown and the South Hills. You can use sidewalks to reach bus stops on a few of the neighborhood’s busier streets, but it might be a hilly walk.
The T occasionally runs through the neighborhood.
Allentown is a great place to live, work and play.
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Magnet and neighborhood schools in PPS
Allentown is served by the Pittsburgh Public School District. Kids can attend neighborhood schools assigned by home address or apply to other schools with magnet academic programs. Pittsburgh Grandview PreK-5 is a neighborhood school in Allentown that’s walkable for many students.
Entrance to Pittsburgh Grandview PreK-5.
Pittsburgh Grandview PreK-5 serves Allentown.
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Emerald View Park’s sprawling amenities and downtown views
Emerald View Park is one of Pittsburgh’s five regional parks. It curves along the slopes of Mount Washington, connecting multiple smaller parks and recreation areas across more than 250 acres. Grandview Park, the eastern tip of the park system, is within Allentown. There, you can find a playground, sports court and bandstand event space with views of downtown Pittsburgh. Other scenic overlooks and recreation amenities are accessible via Emerald View Park’s forested hiking trails and paved walking paths.
Emerald View Park has some unique sculptures to look at while visiting.
Emerald View Park also features one of the best views of Downtown Pittsburgh.
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Allentown Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Allentown, Pittsburgh sell after 105 days on the market compared to the national average of 55 days. The median sale price for homes in Allentown, Pittsburgh over the last 12 months is $127,500, up 81% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
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