Intro to Greensburg Neighborhoods:

Whether you're looking for an apartment to rent, purchasing a home for the first time, or downsizing to a senior friendly home, a Greensburg neighborhood should be at the top of your list. Greensburg neighborhoods feature tree lined streets, sidewalks, neighborhood parklets and green spaces, and neighborhood businesses. City residents enjoy a close proximity to many key amenities like the Five Star walking/running/biking trail, the Palace Theater, the Robertshaw Amphitheater in St. Clair Park, the Westmoreland Museum of American Art, the downtown shopping district, and churches of all faiths.

Although the housing developments in the City are older, the construction quality is equal to or exceeds many new developments. Houses are of sturdy construction and contain interior and exterior details that reflect a time when architectural detail and charm and character were important. Most rehabilitation needs are limited to minor needs such as a fresh coat of paint or new shutters. Homeowners take pride in the curb appeal of their homes with many owners planting a variety of flowers and shrubs.

While some may view housing within the City of Greensburg limits as sub par to that available in surrounding Townships, actual data suggests otherwise. Despite an increase in housing development in the far reaches of Westmoreland County, median house values in all neighborhoods within the City of Greensburg have remained constant with the value County-wide. Greensburg neighborhoods include Academy Hill, Saybrook Village, Underwood, Northmont, and Park Lane. The historic and economic value of the Greensburg neighborhoods should not go unnoticed.

Academy Hill is located north of Downtown Greensburg and is one of Greensburg's most identifiable neighborhoods. This collection of about 250 homes is rich in significant and historic architecture such as Late Gothic Revival, Queen Anne, Colonial Revival and Tudor Revival. This gathering of famous architecture led to Academy Hill's designation as a Historic District in 1999. The only other historic district in Greensburg is the Downtown area.

Academy Hill is perhaps most well-known for its annual home and garden tours, which showcase the time and care that owners put into their properties. The home tour is held in December, just in time for admirers to gaze at elaborate holiday decorations. The garden tour takes place in July, as flowers and plants are reaching full bloom. The tour also includes special points of interest, such as the oldest Sycamore tree in Westmoreland County.

More information about the Academy Hill Historic District, including homeowner information, is available at www.academy-hill.org.

The Northmont area of Greensburg is located near Greensburg Salem High School and Nicely Elementary School. The neighborhood was mostly developed in the 1950s, and the principles of that time period have held steady in the population throughout the years.

The close proximity to the two schools has resulted in a tight-knit community, focused on maintaining a quiet and safe neighborhood. In recent years, neighbors have come together to reduce speeding and noise, especially near the schools. Northmont is perfect for someone looking for tranquility within the city limits.

Saybrook Village, a large development (over 400 homes) and mixed use neighborhood began to flourish in the 1980s during the burst of movement to the suburbs. Saybrook accommodates a variety of living styles, offering split-entry homes, condominium units, townhouses, and apartments. Saybrook is only four miles from Downtown Greensburg, and boasts an established homeowners association.

Underwood was formerly added to the City of Greensburg in 1905. From this point on, residential development in the East Greensburg area flourished. This section of the city was named for town philanthropist Morrison Underwood, who formed a trust for Greensburg High School (now Greensburg Salem High School).

During the construction period, the Underwood area boasted sidewalks, tree-lined streets, and large lots with big yards as selling points. These amenities still exist today, with wooded, natural buffer zones contributing to the "green" of Greensburg. Underwood is within walking distance of Downtown Greensburg and only a few miles from the retail shopping mecca on the US Route 30 corridor.

The Shuey Plan is a 1930s-1940s era neighborhood that boasts a view of Seton Hill University's fabulous tree-lined campus. Homes in this neighborhood are very desirable due to the close proximity of both US Route 66 and Route 130. The homes are nestled amongst one of Greensburg's natural hillsides in a park-like setting.

After more than a century, Greensburg's neighbor, the Borough of Southwest Greensburg has maintained a fine residential community, withstood the changes in industry and commerce, and strengthened its vitality and community pride. This strong sense of community is seen in the continued development of the Southwest Greensburg Volunteer Fire Department, originally organized in 1905; and the Southwest Greensburg Police Department. The area also has several playgrounds and recreational facilities, often utilized by local youth recreation teams. The borough also houses numerous churches of various denominations, making Southwest Greensburg a tight-knit, community-oriented neighborhood.

The newest development within city limits is Park Lane. Developed on the west side of Route 130, across from Hawksworth Drive, the 20-acre development was developed in 2005 by Marino Brothers Construction, Inc. Developers Dan and Bob Marino won the 2006 Smart Growth Award for their development of Park Lane, and including lampposts, sidewalks, and incorporating mixed land use and compact building design into this walkable neighborhood.