Bordered by: North Ave. on the north, Allegheny Ave. on the west, 279 on the south, and West Park on the east.
Just next door to Allegheny Center, Allegheny West is the tiniest neighborhood in Pittsburgh, at roughly 8 square blocks.
At the turn of the century, Allegheny West was the site of Millionaires’ Row, a strip of Allegheny City (along Ridge Ave. and Brighton Rd.) that housed many of the steel and iron tycoons of the day. At that time, the area was home to more millionaires than any other neighborhood in the world.
Economic and environmental changes (they really didn’t like all that smoke!) following the first World War pushed many of these wealthy families out of Allegheny West, as they relocated to Sewickley or East End neighborhoods like Shadyside and Squirrel Hill. The mansions were divided into apartments and rooms for rent, and by WWII, many were abandoned.
In the urban renewal of the 60s, many of the mansions were destroyed and replaced by the Community College of Allegheny County. The Allegheny West Civic Council formed in the 70s to fend for the preservation of the area, and many of the remaining houses have been rennovated since that formation. The residential section of Allegheny West has been designated a City Historic District.
Like Allegheny Center, Allegheny West is rumored to be haunted by the residents of its past, and ghost tours are offered at Halloween time.
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September 22, 2007 at 6:09 pm
[...] Who Next Up: Allegheny West [...]
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