Sewickley

Winding, forested connective roads between newer subdivisions and established side roads in the hills east of Sewickley make up Aleppo Township. “We’re basically made of three communities – the Masonic Village continued care retirement community, Sewickley Heights Manor and the people who have lived here a long time in older houses that we call the founders,” says Gwen Patterson, manager of Aleppo Township. “A lot of families have been here for several generations, and people make an effort to get to know the neighbors living down the street.” Attached to the broader Quaker Valley community through the highly rated public school system and nearby recreation and shopping hubs, Aleppo Township provides shady, spread-out suburban living with commuter perks like proximity to I-79 and downtown Pittsburgh. Townhouses in the Sewickley Heights Manor community come up most often on the market, shadowed by larger early 2000s single-family homes built up pine-lined streets in The Ridge subdivision. Tudor-style townhouses built over garages in the 1970s and 80s sell for $200,000 to $400,000 depending on square footage while complementary single-family homes up the hill sell for $500,000 to $780,000. HOA fees range by unit size as well, and residents can expect to pay anywhere from $265 to $400 per month. Outside The Manor, homes range from renovated 1870s farmhouses or new traditional custom homes hidden within forested acreages to early and mid-20th century designs like ranch-style homes and Cape Cods on grassy side streets or hidden behind roadside thickets. Smaller, older homes are most common, selling for $125,000 to $500,000 depending on upkeep and lot size, while new traditional and custom homes built on upward of an acre sell for $500,000 to $1.4 million. While the only sidewalks in the township are in the Masonic Village, subdivisions and side streets are typically quiet enough to walk the dog or let the kids ride bikes. Aleppo Township has a CAP Index crime score of 1 out of 10 compared to the national average of 4. Industrial buildings and manufacturing centers congregate along Deer Run Road, including an Amazon warehouse. Residents can attend services in the intimate, amber-toned chapel of St. Mary Church off Glenfield Road. Commuters have a 15-mile drive into downtown Pittsburgh via Interstate 279, and those heading toward Cranberry or Washington can merge onto I-79 which cuts through the western edge of the township. Just west of Aleppo Township, Sewickley provides a hub of boutique retail and diverse dining options on the blocks surrounding Beaver Street. Residents can pull into a spot along Broad Street and walk to the green-roofed Sewickley Public Library, stop for a coffee and French fare at Cafe Des Amis Sewickley or pop into Rite Aid for prescriptions and essentials, all within a quarter mile of each other. “We’re able to head into Sewickley or out to Ohio Township for more shopping. You can find all that stuff you need within a few miles,” Patterson says. For major grocery trips and home improvement needs, the hilltop Giant Eagle and Home Depot are about 7 miles east, a short drive away from the Mt Nebo Pointe Target and Sam’s Club. The Sewickley Heights Manor Homes Association maintains amenities like outdoor tennis courts, a playground and a swimming pool open during the warmer months, with an additional tennis court and basketball court sitting closer to The Ridge. Across from the community’s entry road, Fern Hollow Nature Center is known for hosting summer camps, guided nature walks and a lively fall music festival on their sprawling grounds. Outside of scheduled programming, locals can walk paths through grassy meadows and pockets of forest, check for ripe fruit in the berry patch or rotate through educational play stations in the outdoor classroom. Kids bus to Quaker Valley schools, starting at Osborne Elementary School and continuing to Quaker Valley Middle School and Quaker Valley High School which all earn an A from Niche. Middle and high school students can join Creekers programs at their schools, partnering with the nearby Fern Hollow Nature Center to get hands-in-dirt experience and explore careers in watershed and environmental sciences. Maintaining Aleppo Township's natural beauty is a priority for many locals, leading them to participate in the Earth Day Clean Up each April 20th. Following a quick breakfast and meet-up at the Township Building, volunteers head out, collecting several truck beds’ worth of debris from township roadsides. “We have a nice group of dedicated core volunteers who show up every year, but people who are busy one year can show up the next,” Patterson says.

Glen Osborne is a small community that’s living large in Pennsylvania. The borough of about 600 residents and 200 homes offers comfort alongside the Ohio River. Osborne’s rural landscape also lies just beyond the shadow of its well-known urban cousin, downtown Pittsburgh, just 12 miles away. “We have great access to downtown and the airport, it’s easy to get in and out of town,” says Elizabeth Fecko, a Realtor with Compass Pennsylvania, LLC who’s a Pittsburgh native. Fecko says residents and homebuyers find Glen Osborne peaceful and pedestrian-friendly. “It’s really the walkability of this town. You can jump on a bike. You can take a stroll,” she says. “And we’ve got great parks, and of course, the river is right there.” Glen Osborne is a friendly community with a lot of charm and character, says Meg Smith, a Realtor for Compass Real Estate, who’s lived in the area for over two decades. Some of this charm can be found in the riverfront views, and in the many stonewall buildings that sit within walking distance of people’s homes, she says. Mary Roberts Rinehart Nature Park sits in the center of the community, next to Osborne Elementary, and offers walking trails, an amphitheater and picnic areas. Community events held here include building small, fairy-themed houses. The Allegheny Country Club and Sewickley Heights Golf Club are the nearest private golf courses. Sewickley Community Center is the place to go for sports practices and lessons. Smith says people take advantage of the hilly Pittsburgh terrain by hiking. This, along with the river, naturally attracts outdoorsy people. Even though it’s outside the neighborhood, Riverfront Park is a popular spot to catch scenic views of the Ohio River while feeding the geese. Children can attend Osborne Elementary School, which earns an A from Niche, before advancing to Quaker Valley Middle School, which receives an A and offers an alternative online academy. "People move here for the schools, but also, residents take pride in the schools,” Smith says. Kids move on to Quaker Valley High School, which is known for its athletics and receives an A from Niche. Watermark Classical Academy and Sewickley Academy are two private school options nearby. The nearest churches include Grace Orthodox Presbyterian Church, St. James Church - Divine Redeemer Parish and St. Stephen's Church. Cape Cods built in the 1920s sit on expansive lawns and range from $650,000 to $800,000. Colonial homes range from $400,000 to $1.2 million, depending on the number of bedrooms. “The majority of homes here are older than 100 years,” Fecko says. “Very few of them are newer, not many have been since the 1960s.” No matter the architecture, most homes are larger than those in surrounding neighborhoods. Giant Eagle Supermarket, in the Quaker Village Shopping Center, is the nearest grocery store. The neighboring community of Sewickley has quick to-go and fine dining options. Caliente Pizza & Draft House serves plenty of wings, while The Hotel and Rosas Cantina is an old hotel turned into a tavern that offers American and French-inspired dishes. Sewickley has a small village of businesses that offers everything from libraries to ice cream shops, says Fecko. “There’s a YMCA, Sweetwater Center for the Arts, a movie theater and shopping,” says Fecko, ticking off a list of ways the locals spend their time. The Sweetwater Center holds community events such as the Sweetwater Blooms Market and weekly jazz nights. A few times a year, downtown Sewickley shuts down its streets and has festivals like the Sewickley Stampede & Roundup, a car show and block party. Pittsburgh International Airport is 11 miles away. To reach the city, commuters can either use the many bus stops along Beaver Street or drive there using Pennsylvania Route 65.

Sewickley Heights epitomizes serene living in a luxurious setting. The borough in Allegheny County features a diverse array of housing options, mostly on multiple acres of land surrounded by woodlands. Renowned for its top-rated schools and abundant recreational opportunities, including parks, golf courses, and the Sewickley Valley YMCA, Sewickley Heights provides a lifestyle of unparalleled comfort and convenience. While seamlessly connected to downtown Pittsburgh via Interstate 279 South and located just 11 miles from Pittsburgh International Airport, the borough offers a slower lifestyle not too far from the bustle of the city. Sewickley Heights offers a variety of homes, reflecting the diverse architecture surrounding it. "It's very out of the way almost and has a sort of a rural feel to it, but not like farmland, that rural is like in the middle of the woods. It's the nicest little town in all of the Pittsburgh area," says Mark McClinchie, Realtor with Compass Realty, who has been selling homes since 2018. Duplexes start at $55,000 in the community. Starting at $193,000, Tudor-style homes in the neighborhood can be seen side by side on the streets. Contemporary houses, around $500,000, sit on private lots of land amongst the trees. Cabins on five-acre plots offer rustic retreats at $615,000, while Colonial mansions exude grandeur from $1,295,000 and up. French Provincial homes, starting at $2,000,000, have amenities like pool houses with kitchens and bathrooms. Farmhouse-style dwellings, priced at $2,395,000, are close to the Allegheny Golf Course. Newly constructed estates redefine luxury at $10,000,000. The median home price in Sewickley Heights is $499,999. Students go to Edgeworth Elementary School, which has an A rating from Niche, before transitioning to Quaker Valley Middle School, which also has an A rating. From there, students can attend Quaker Valley High School, which has an A rating. The school offers the Global Scholars Program, where students get the opportunity to learn about world issues from experts around the globe and participate in seminars and simulations. With its significant excess of open outdoor spaces, Sewickley Heights has plenty of recreation for its residents. Locals go to Sewickley Borough Park for hiking, biking, and horseback riding. Golf enthusiasts can join Allegheny Country Club, which has an 18-hole course. They also have tennis and pickleball courts. The Sewickley Valley YMCA offers a range of programs and facilities including a pool and exercise gym with access to training classes. Nature lovers can explore the wonders of Fern Hollow Nature Center, with 33 acres of parkland and creek systems, offering diverse programming including archery classes, educational demonstrations, and fly-fishing lessons. "If you're looking for a restaurant and shops and stuff, the village of Sewickley is five minutes away, just at the bottom of the hill," McClinchie says. For a relaxed evening out, Sidelines Beer House, just two miles away, offers traditional bar foods like wings and burgers. Cafe Des Amis is renowned for its breakfast and lunch offerings, including omelets, French toast, and a variety of sandwiches. Locals can grab groceries at Giant Eagle Supermarket, just three miles away. Around 11 miles away in Wexford, there are stores like Trader Joe's and Whole Foods, McClinchie says. Located just 15.5 miles from downtown Pittsburgh, residents can easily access the city via Interstate 279 South. For air travel, Pittsburgh International Airport is approximately 11 miles from Sewickley Heights. However, walkability within the neighborhood itself is limited. Sidewalks are sparse, and the area is considered car-dependent, necessitating vehicle usage for most errands and daily activities. Sewickley Heights can experience landslides after heavy rainstorms, causing road closures around the neighborhood.