Shaw's Glen was what the locals called early settler John Shaw, Sr.'s land. Later the area's name was officially changed to Glenshaw to honor its founder.
Nestled in the townships of Shaler and Ross, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania is a little village all by itself
Shaw's Glen was what the locals called early settler John Shaw, Sr.'s land. Later the area's name was officially changed to Glenshaw to honor its founder.
Nestled in the townships of Shaler and Ross, Glenshaw, Pennsylvania is a little village all by itself. It's 15 minutes north of the center of Pittsburgh and borders the Allegheny River. It was established in the early 1800s by John Shaw, Sr., who bought 600 acres of land. He and his family started businesses in the area and built several of the early buildings of the village, some of which remain standing today. The currently population is 8,981.
Getting Ready for the Big Move
Glenshaw does have public transportation that is serviced by the Port Authority of Allegheny County. Getting around will not be a problem. You can go to the Port Authority website and plan your trips around the village and into downtown Pittsburgh. You can also walk most places because the village has a walk score of 54.7 percent. There are some places though where you will need a bike or car to get around.
Just to be on the safe side, give yourself four to eight weeks of prep time for the move. This will give you time to find the right place and plan out the logistics. Be proactive and run your own credit report in advance. It's always good to check it and you can avoid those nasty little surprises that can pop up from time to time. There's no need to try to explain stuff at the last minute when you don't really need to. Most landlords and apartment complexes may want a security deposit, a copy of your ID, several copies of your pay stubs and possibly some bank statements. Be sure to have this handy in case they need to verify this info.
Hire movers? Well, that all depends on your situation. If you've got a lot of stuff and you're going to need help, you'd better start recruiting friends and family as soon as possible. Nobody likes being asked to help move at the last minute and some people don't like being asked at all! Sometimes people can get really grumpy when you ask them to help you move. To avoid this scenario altogether, you can always choose to use a moving company. If you can't find anyone to help you move or if lifting and bending is not in your future, then hiring movers is the way to go. You'll be a hero as you'll probably manage to save yourself and others from possible long-term back injuries. Another smart thing to have is a map of Pittsburgh that clearly shows Glenshaw so you won't have any challenges getting around town.
What to Expect
The village of Glenshaw is in the center of Shaler Township and its top apartment community is Shaler Highlands. It offers one and two-bedroom apartments for rent. Renters will be happy to hear that the area has a decent amount of single family homes and townhouses for rent. Those needing more space will find it highly possible to find a home for rent within this 3.1 square mile community. The cost of living is just a bit lower here compared to Pennsylvania averages, but the housing values are near state averages.
There are two main neighborhoods in Glenshaw to consider for your next move. They are Sharpe Hill/Undercliff and Bradley Drive/Governor Drive.
Sharpe Hill/Undercliff: This is the less expensive of the two areas but it is very trendy and hip. You can find small to medium-sized single family homes and a few apartments for rent that are reasonably priced. Rent in this neighborhood is just a bit lower than other parts of the state. There is a Kmart in the neighborhood where residents can shop for clothing, food or hardware.
Bradley Drive/Governor Drive: Nearly full of urban sophisticates, this neighborhood has a walk score of 68.5 percent and it's mostly filled with medium and large homes. This neighborhood is more pricey than Sharpe Hill/Undercliff and there are fewer apartments. You can find restaurants on the outskirts of this neighborhood such as the Rice Roadhouse on Mt. Royal Blvd. There are other businesses on this busy road, too.
Glenshaw is a stones throw away from downtown Pittsburgh. However, there are still things you can do right in your neighborhood. There are several restaurants and businesses along Butler Plank Road. On Mt. Royal Road there are sandwich shops, Chinese food and Italian food. Other places to find grub will be on Highway 8. Northwest in the township of Ross (which Glenshaw is also a small part of) is Ross Park Mall with several flagship stores like Macy's.
Butler Plank Road is also home to the historic Glenshaw Library building. It was founded in 1895 and it is still a functional, operating library. History buffs will also get a rush by checking out the residence of Thomas Wilson Shaw, son of the founder of Glenshaw. It was built way back in 1824.
Ready for some fun? You can have your portrait painted in the village or stop by one of several magic shops for some interesting fun. Take a dance class at a local studio or you can learn to keep the bullies away by learning Karate on Glen Avenue. There are places where you can learn how to act and if you like creating things with you hands, check out the pottery studio on Highway 8.
There is a YMCA for recreational activities and there are local parks that offer green space for those that love the outdoors. Some of the parks are Glenshaw Park, Fied Field, Kiwanis Park, Ellen Hughes Park and Fall Run Park. Fall Run Park is a state park and it is the largest park in the Shaler Township, which has a hiking trail that leads to a beautiful waterfall. Kiwanis Park has the township's only swimming pool and it has the most facilities.
You can experience all the joys that suburbia has to offer in this village. After you leave the hustle and bustle of Pittsburgh, it's great to know that you can escape "The Matrix" just a few miles down the road in Glenshaw.
