Get to know Oakland
Oakland is home to four city neighborhoods, each with its own character and collection of resident associations. For detailed information and analysis on demographics and census data, see the existing conditions report prepared in 2020 as part of the Oakland Plan process.
Central Oakland
This is the section of Oakland that visitors and commuters know best. It includes most of Pitt's urban campus and several UPMC hospital facilities, as well as many restaurants, shops and amenities. Its close proximity to attractions such as the main branch of the Carnegie Library, Schenley Plaza, Phipps Conservatory, Schenley Park and the Carnegie Museums make it an attractive place to live. The Forbes and Fifth Avenue business district runs east to west through the northern end of the neighborhood, which is bordered on the north by Fifth Avenue and on the south by Boulevard of the Allies. There is also a smaller business district on Semple Street between Ward and Bates Streets. Long term residents are concentrated in Panther Hollow, the Oakland Square Historic District, and the Louisa Street/Coltart Street area..
Central Oakland Resident Associations
Oakland Square Historic District Community Organization: The Oakland Square Historic District Community Organization is an informal resident association that meets on an as-needed basis to coordinate volunteer efforts to maintain neighborhood plantings, discuss issues of concern and opportunity for the neighborhood and Oakland generally. The group primarily communicate via email. To join the group, send an email to the group owner at andreaboykowycz@gmail.com.
Coltart/Halket community and Panther Hollow: The residents of the Coltart/Halket and Panther Hollow communities do not have regularly scheduled meetings, but are very organized when issues or projects arise. Contact OPDC at 412.621.7863 ext. 217 or aboykowycz@opdc.org to get in touch with these groups.
North Oakland
North Oakland, which includes the Craig Street and Centre Avenue business districts as well as the residential high rises between Neville Street and Bellefield Avenue, is Oakland’s connection to Shadyside, Bloomfield, Polish Hill and the Hill District. Nestled among the civic and cultural institutions north of Fifth Avenue is the Schenley Farms Historic District, a residential neighborhood known for beautiful architecture and well-preserved homes.
NORTH OAKLAND RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS:
Baum Centre Initiative (BCI): BCI is a group of citizens and business owners who work to improve the quality of life and review development proposals in the Baum-Centre corridor. BCI meets the third Tuesday of each month at the First United Methodist Church at 6:00 p.m. For more information, contact Lenore Williams at leefabilli@aol.com.
Bellefield Area Citizens Association (BACA): BACA holds open meetings every second Tuesday of the month at 7:00 p.m. at the First Church-Christ Scientist, located at 201 North Dithridge Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, contact 412.683.8151 or bacaprez.15213@gmail.com.
Schenley Farms Civic Association: For information about meetings and projects, visit www.schenleyfarms.org or contact Rob Squires at schenleyfarms@gmail.com
South Oakland
Although many people refer to everything south of Forbes as South Oakland, in fact South Oakland is south of the Boulevard of the Allies. This almost entirely residential area includes the neighborhood known as Oakcliffe to the west of Bates Street. Oakcliffe is home to one of Pittsburgh’s newest greenways, a resident-designed path with lovely views of the river. At the tip of the western portion of South Oakland, overlooking the Monongahela River, lie additional community assets such as the Frazier Farms Community Garden, Dan Marino Field, and the Frazier Field House community center. South Oakland has one of Oakland's largest concentrations of homeowners, and most of the homes are older brick single-family houses and duplexes.
SOUTH OAKLAND RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS
Oakcliffe Community Organization of South Oakland: Monthly meetings take place on the second Wednesday of every month at 7:00 p.m. at 3240 Craft Place and virtually via Zoom. For more information, visit http://oakcliffe.org or contact Oakcliffe.org@gmail.com or 412.260.1922.
South Oakland Neighborhood Group (SONG): SONG holds open meetings at 6:00 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at the Frazier Field House, located at 3716 Frazier Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15213. For more information, visit http://southoaklandpgh.org or contact southoaklandpgh@gmail.com or 412.440.8840.
West Oakland
West Oakland is a dense residential community that connects with the Hill District, Oak Hill and Uptown. Straddling the hill above Fifth Avenue, the neighborhood enjoys beautiful views of the Monongahela River Valley and the rest of Oakland. West Oakland is home to many long-term residents, a growing number of students, and the University of Pittsburgh's Upper Campus and Carlow University. Like South Oakland, it has one of Oakland’s largest population of long-time homeowners, and the housing stock is mostly brick single-family homes and duplexes.
WEST OAKLAND RESIDENT ASSOCIATIONS
The Corner: The Corner is a welcoming “third place” in Pittsburgh's West Oakland and Oak Hill neighborhoods where community members gather to enjoy good food and connect with one another, get connected to local resources, and participate in and lead programs. For more information, visit https://www.cornerpgh.org/.
Fourth Block Club: West Oakland’s Fourth Block Club meets the second Thursday of every month at Friendship Community Church. For more information, contact Scarlet Morgan at morg394@gmail.com.