Testimonial My husband and I just moved to the neighborhood of Polish Hill in August 2009. Since I grew up in the suburbs, I was hesitant to buy my first home in the city of Pittsburgh. However after I scoped out the neighborhood and talked to a few locals, I was more than excited to move there. Our neighborhood is so quaint and is a mix of young professionals who just moved into this up-and-coming neighborhood, as well as older folks who we met that have told us they have lived here for 30+ years! My husband and I both work at the University of Pittsburgh, so you can’t beat the commute -- and we live 2 minutes from Downtown, the Strip District, and Bloomfield. This is extremely convenient for both shopping and nightlife. I feel Polish Hill is a safe and vibrant neighborhood which I hope continues to grow!
-Lauren B.

Photo Credit: Robert Strovers/Artistic Pursuits

Polish Hill is a small, friendly neighborhood comfortably nestled on the steep hillside between the Hill District and the Strip District, just minutes east of Downtown.

The front porches and doorsteps line quiet residential streets, welcoming frequent visits from neighbors. Polish Hill homes are a varied lot, including frame rowhouses, detached brick homes, suburban-style ranches, and brand new townhouses, all nestled into the hillside terrain of the neighborhood.

Settled by Polish immigrants in the late 1800s, Polish Hill boasts some of the best views from its hill tops. In 1905, those same early settlers finished construction work on the Immaculate Heart of Mary Church, which has since been designated a Pittsburgh landmark and remains the centerpiece of the neighborhood.

Polish Hill is a close-knit neighborhood and has been home to many generations of the same families. Many of today's residents are the great-grandchildren of the original settlers. Residents range in age from one to 100, and each calls the other neighbor.

Residents do most of their shopping in the adjacent business districts of Downtown, Bloomfield or the Strip District.

If you are seeking recreation, Polish Hill is also home to the West Penn Recreation Center, which offers basketball courts, weight rooms, an outdoor swimming pool and West Penn field - which boasts a skate board park complete with ramps and a bowl. West Penn Recreation Center also offers a lunch program for senior residents, along with recreation programs for all ages.

Schools

Families in Polish Hill enjoy a variety of educational options. The Pittsburgh Public School District - which was recently named one of the Country's Top Ten Large Urban Districts by GreatSchools.org - offers a mix of neighborhood schools and specialized magnet choices in or near Polish Hill, including:

• Pittsburgh Sunnyside PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Arsenal PreK-8
• Pittsburgh Peabody 9-12

Please visit the Pittsburgh Public Schools website for more information.
If you are interested in private, parochial, or charter school options, please visit the "Education" section of our resource page for links.

Libraries

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh is one of the oldest and most respected public library systems in the country. Established by Andrew Carnegie as a public trust in 1895, CLP has 19 locations throughout the City of Pittsburgh. Neighbors in Polish Hill enjoy these branches:

• Lawrenceville Library
• Hill District Library
• Main (Oakland) Library

For more information about the Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh, visit their website.

Polish Hill Links

Neighborhood Organizations

Polish Hill Civic Association

Polish Hill Videos

Neighborhood Series: Polish Hill