STARTING OVER IN THE STRIP DISTRICT
When Janice Talerico turned 50, she decided it was time for a change. Born and raised in the North Hills, and having lived in Marshall Township for 12 years, she decided she was ready to start over and have less. "I wanted to try city living," she says; the Cork Factory, a rental community in the Strip District, gave her the chance to test the waters.
The move has been a roaring success: "It's been a great way to simplify my life," she says, and "I'm in the heart of a lot of activity."
Talerico loves to wander around the bustling Strip on Saturdays and savor its unique ambience. "In suburbia, there's more of a mall orientation," she says. "Here, there's a different flavor, a lot of different [one-of-a-kind] shops." She's noticed the same trend with restaurants: In the city there are fewer chains and more locally owned spots to dine - everything from elegant to funky.
"[Living here] has given me a new excitement about doing things in the city," she says with a smile. This year she joined the Carnegie Museums for the first time; she's walked to Pirates games and to the Point; she bikes the river trails. In the summertime, she takes advantage of the Cork Factory's swimming pool.
Residents here enjoy sharing time with people, she explains. "You get a completely different exposure. There's more diversity... You get everybody - young, old, single, married, all nationalities."
When she left her house in the 'burbs, Talerico went from more than 3,000 square feet to 1,500 square feet. Although she was worried that a smaller space might make her feel claustrophobic, she had a pleasant surprise: With its high ceilings and open walls, her loft feels bigger than it is, she claims. During the day, Talerico loves the way the light pours in, and at night she often sees the Gateway Clipper chugging by her two-bedroom apartment, which boasts a river view, 14-foot ceilings and lots of tall windows set into thick brick walls. The cement floor and the exposed ductwork are a reminder of the industrial past of the historic landmark complex, the erstwhile Armstrong Cork Factory, built in 1901 and designed by notable local architect Frederick Osterling.
Above: Janice Talerico appreciates the high ceilings, open space and abundant light at her apartment in the Cork Factory. Designers for this Strip District loft were Jan Lott and Jill Balmuth of J.A. Lott Design & Associates in Squirrel Hill.
Talerico, a vice president at Giant Eagle, says the move reduced her commute to RIDC Park East in O'Hara Township from 50 miles with tolls to 20 miles with no tolls. She admits she misses her suburban outdoor space and English gardens, but the tradeoff has been worth it. "It's more than I expected - I do love coming home to this...I love seeing the city every day."
PIONEERING IN A NEW NEIGHBORHOOD
Kathy and Mark Wallace lived in Marshall Township for 25 years. When their two children left home, the Wallaces decided to trade in their spacious grounds and 4,000-square-foot home in the North Hills for downtown Pittsburgh. "We'd always traveled; we really liked what cities had to offer - different foods, restaurants, the vibrancy... We've always been urban-minded," says Kathy.
Left: Kathy and Mark Wallace traded their spacious grounds and 4,000-square-foot-home for a condo downtown. Visiting her parents here is daughter Stephanie.
Six years ago, when the Wallaces made the move, there weren't many condos to buy, so they rented until just a few months ago, when they bought a two-bedroom condo at 941 Penn Ave.
With the 14-foot-high ceilings, expansive windows and private balcony, their condo "lives like a house," says Kathy. Very quiet... and romantic. "Our stress level has plummeted," she says. "It's pretty easy living down here."
The Wallaces went from three cars in suburbia to one in the city. Mark uses public transportation to get to Federated Mortgage Corp. on Mount Washington, where he works as an operations manager. Kathy works in real estate as the vice president of development for Solara Ventures, which conveniently has an office at 941 Penn Ave. Spontaneity is never a problem, with last-minute theater tickets and impromptu dinners a part of their everyday lifestyle.
On weekends, Mark runs the downtown bridges. He plays tennis on Washington's Landing and at the restored clay courts in Frick Park. The new Aveda Salon keeps Kathy busy trying new spa services. Because they both like to cook, they make frequent visits to the Strip, where they "pick out what looks good and build a meal around it," says Kathy When eating out, Palate is their favorite French bistro, and the restaurant Eleven is just two blocks away. In warm weather, they go to Seviche for mojitos. Mark's Grille is their local "Cheers" bar.
The biggest surprise for the Wallaces has been the sense of community downtown. Your neighbors are "more a part of your orbit because you're on foot," says Kathy. "We're all pioneers, and there's a camaraderie."
The diversity in urban living is another attractive feature for the Wallaces. The international population has grown, and they have friends of all ages. "It's already a neighborhood...and a vibrant one," says Kathy. "I'm terribly happy living downtown."