Overview & Orientation
East Liberty is a neighborhood in Pittsburgh’s East End, centered on Penn Avenue and Highland Avenue. It covers just over half a square mile. East Liberty is known for the East Liberty Transit Center on the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, the Kelly Strayhorn Theater, landmark buildings like the Highland Building and Motor Square Garden, and a busy commercial district with several major grocery stores.
Where East Liberty Is
- County: Allegheny County
- Municipality type: Neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. The area became part of the city in 1868, when Pittsburgh annexed Collins and Liberty Townships.
- Size: About 0.58 square miles
- ZIP code: 15206. East Liberty addresses use “Pittsburgh, PA” as the mailing city.
- City Council: Mostly District 9, with a few areas in District 8
- Bordering neighborhoods: Highland Park, Morningside, Stanton Heights, Garfield, Friendship, Shadyside, and Larimer
Typical Drive Times
Times are approximate. Traffic varies by time of day.
| Destination | About |
|---|---|
| Downtown Pittsburgh | 15–25 minutes |
| Oakland | 10–15 minutes |
| Lawrenceville | 10–15 minutes |
| Squirrel Hill | 10–15 minutes |
| Monroeville | 20–30 minutes |
| Cranberry Township | 35–45 minutes |
| Pittsburgh International Airport | 30–40 minutes |
A Brief History
In older English usage, a “liberty” was common land on the edge of a town. Jacob Negley, whose farm covered much of the area, developed it and named it East Liberty after the old grazing commons.
In 1816, Negley made sure the Pittsburgh-Greensburg Turnpike ran through East Liberty, which turned it into a trading center. Thomas Mellon, who married Sarah Jane Negley, later persuaded some of Pittsburgh’s first trolley lines to pass through. The Pennsylvania Railroad’s East Liberty station followed in the 1850s.
In the 1960s, urban renewal turned Penn Avenue into a pedestrian mall and wrapped the business district in a ring road, Penn Circle. East Liberty Development, Inc. formed in 1979 to lead rebuilding. The conversion of Penn Circle back to two-way streets was finished in 2024.
Notable Landmarks
- East Liberty Presbyterian Church: A Gothic Revival building by architect Ralph Adams Cram, built from 1931 to 1935 and filling an entire city block. It was designated a Pittsburgh Historic Landmark in 1969.
- Highland Building: A 1909 office tower at 121 South Highland Avenue, designed by Daniel Burnham for Henry Clay Frick. It has since been converted to apartments.
- Motor Square Garden: Built from 1898 to 1900 by banker Andrew Mellon as the East Liberty Market, at 5900 Baum Boulevard
- Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Opened in 1914 as the Regent Theatre at 5941 Penn Avenue. It reopened in 2001 under a new name honoring Pittsburgh natives Gene Kelly and Billy Strayhorn.
Housing & Real Estate
Housing Stock
- Historic rowhouses: The Alpha Terrace Historic District on North Beatty Street has 25 stone rowhouses built from 1889 to 1894 with Queen Anne and Romanesque Revival details. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1985 and named a City of Pittsburgh historic district in 1996.
- Converted landmarks: The Highland and Wallace Buildings, early-1900s commercial buildings, now hold apartments.
- Newer construction: Mixed-use buildings with apartments and retail have gone up along Penn Avenue and around the East Liberty Transit Center, rebuilt in 2015.
Types of Homes
East Liberty’s housing mixes 19th-century rowhouses, older houses on the side streets, and apartment buildings that range from converted early-1900s offices to new construction near the busway.
Prices and availability change daily. That means the live feed is the place to check. See current homes for sale in East Liberty.
Schools
Public Schools
East Liberty is served by Pittsburgh Public Schools. Neighborhood school assignment depends on the address and the district’s feeder patterns, and many district schools are magnet programs that accept applications from across the city.
Public schools located in or at the edge of East Liberty include:
- Pittsburgh Obama 6–12, an International Baccalaureate magnet school at 515 North Highland Avenue, in the former Peabody High School building since 2017
- Pittsburgh Dilworth PreK–5, a magnet school at 6200 Stanton Avenue, in a 1915 building listed on the National Register of Historic Places
Confirm the assigned school for any address with the district.
Nearby Colleges & Universities
- University of Pittsburgh, Carnegie Mellon University, and Carlow University (Oakland)
- Pitt’s School of Health and Rehabilitation Sciences has space at Bakery Square, next door in Larimer
- Chatham University (Squirrel Hill)
For school performance data, visit the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s Future Ready PA Index and the district’s own website. School assignments can change. Confirm directly with the district.
Getting Around
Major Roads
- Penn Avenue: The neighborhood’s main street, running east to Point Breeze and west to Garfield, Bloomfield, and the Strip District
- Highland Avenue: The main north–south street, running north to Highland Park
- Centre Avenue and Baum Boulevard: Main routes west toward Oakland and the Hill District
Public Transit
The East Liberty Transit Center sits on the Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, a 9.1-mile bus-only road between Downtown and Swissvale. The P1 East Busway route runs seven days a week, making all stops between Swissvale and Downtown. Express Flyer routes and the P3 to Oakland also use the busway. Check the PRT trip planner for current routes and schedules.
Walkability & Bikeability
See Walk Score for East Liberty, Pittsburgh for walking, transit, and bike ratings.
Things to Do
Parks
Liberty Green Park
100 block of Larimer Avenue, where East Liberty meets Larimer. A 3.25-acre park opened in 2021, with a 14,500-square-foot playground, open lawn, play mounds, and a plaza.
Enright Park
A 2.2-acre park between South Euclid and Negley Avenues, on the Friendship side of the neighborhood. The city’s redesign plans call for two playgrounds, a rebuilt basketball court, a spray area with the park’s restored whale sculpture, and a pavilion.
Highland Park
The large city park and home of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, just north of the neighborhood
Arts
- Kelly Strayhorn Theater: Dance, theater, film, and performance programs, including the newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival
Annual Events
- Farmers Market Cooperative of East Liberty (year-round): Saturdays, 5 a.m. to noon, at 344 North Sheridan Avenue. The market has operated since 1941.
- East End Farmers Market (seasonal): A Citiparks market on Monday afternoons at Liberty Green Park
- newMoves Contemporary Dance Festival: Presented by the Kelly Strayhorn Theater
See the East Liberty Development, Inc. site and the Citiparks farmers market listings for current dates.
Dining & Shopping
- Penn and Highland Avenues: The core business district, with restaurants, coffee shops, and services
- Whole Foods Market: 5700 Penn Avenue, in the Liberty East development, opened in 2022
- Trader Joe’s: 6343 Penn Avenue. It opened in 2006 as the first Trader Joe’s in Pittsburgh.
- Target: 6231 Penn Avenue, a two-level urban store with parking below
- Kelly’s Bar & Lounge: A long-running neighborhood bar known for its mac and cheese and its walled patio
- Paris 66: A French bistro and crêperie at 6018 Centre Avenue, open since 2009
- Bakery Square: Next door in Larimer, a former Nabisco factory (1918) reopened in 2010 with offices, shops, and apartments
Library
Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh – East Liberty is at 130 South Whitfield Street. The branch first opened in 1905, moved to its current site in 1968, and reopened after a LEED Silver renovation in 2010. Its children’s room holds King Arthur murals painted in 1935 under the Works Progress Administration. It also has a teen space and four meeting rooms.
Local Services & Resources
City of Pittsburgh Services
City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
311 for non-emergency city requests: dial 311 or (412) 255-2621, or use the online 311 portal
Website: pittsburghpa.gov
Community development organization: East Liberty Development, Inc.
Utilities
- Water and sewer: Pittsburgh Water, formerly the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority
- Electric: Duquesne Light
- Trash and recycling: City of Pittsburgh Environmental Services. Find your collection day at PGH.ST or on the city’s collection schedules page. When a holiday falls on or before your collection day, pickup moves one day later.
Emergency Services
- Emergencies: Call 911
- Pittsburgh Police Zone 5: Zone 5 station, 161 North Euclid Avenue, (412) 665-3605
- Fire: Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire
- EMS: Pittsburgh Emergency Medical Services
Hospitals Nearby
- UPMC Shadyside (5230 Centre Avenue, Shadyside), with an emergency department
- AHN West Penn Hospital (Bloomfield)
Permits & Zoning
Building permits, trade licenses, and planning applications go through OneStopPGH, the city’s online permit portal. In-person help is at the OneStopPGH counter, 412 Boulevard of the Allies, or by phone at (412) 255-2175, weekdays 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Exterior work in a city historic district, such as Alpha Terrace, also needs Historic Review Commission approval.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is East Liberty part of the City of Pittsburgh?
Yes. East Liberty is a City of Pittsburgh neighborhood in the East End. It became part of the city in 1868, and its ZIP code is 15206.
What county is East Liberty in?
East Liberty is in Allegheny County, as part of the City of Pittsburgh.
What school district serves East Liberty?
Pittsburgh Public Schools. School assignment depends on the address, and many district schools are magnets open to students citywide.
How long is the drive from East Liberty to Downtown Pittsburgh?
About 15 to 25 minutes. Traffic varies by time of day. The P1 East Busway bus is another option.
Is there public transit in East Liberty?
Yes. The East Liberty Transit Center is a stop on the Martin Luther King Jr. East Busway, where the P1 runs seven days a week between Downtown and Swissvale.
What parks are in or near East Liberty?
Liberty Green Park on Larimer Avenue, Enright Park between South Euclid and Negley Avenues, and Highland Park, home of the Pittsburgh Zoo & Aquarium, just to the north.
Where can I buy groceries in East Liberty?
Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s, and Target are all on Penn Avenue. The Farmers Market Cooperative of East Liberty runs Saturday mornings year-round on North Sheridan Avenue.
What types of homes are in East Liberty?
A mix of 19th-century rowhouses, including the Alpha Terrace Historic District, older houses on side streets, and apartments in both converted historic buildings and new construction.
Who do I contact for city services in East Liberty?
Call Pittsburgh 311 at 311 or (412) 255-2621 for non-emergency city services. Permits go through OneStopPGH.
Thinking About a Move to East Liberty?
Whether you are buying in East Liberty or selling a home here, we’re happy to answer questions. No pressure. Just local knowledge. Start with the current East Liberty listings, or reach out to our team.
Mike Pastor Group | Realty ONE Group Landmark
412-214-9494 | pittsburghhometeam.com
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Written by Mike Pastor, Team Leader, Mike Pastor Group | Realty ONE Group Landmark | PA License RS328638
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