Frontenac Apartments

I stayed in its studio from 2015 to 2017 when I was at CMU, and I love the location. It's only 10 mins walk from the bar scene in Walnut but it's quiet at night. 5-10 mins walk to Target, Giant Eagle, and 15-20 mins walk to Aldi, my favorite grocery in Burgh. 71B stopped right in front of the building and 71 D & CMU shuttle stop just two blocks away, a huge plus especially during winter when the bus always crowded when it reach College or Bellefonte St. However, the elevator was broken quite... often and since it was built almost 90 years ago, some part of the building needs to be updated. The property manager could have more friendly attitude, both of the staff seems very cold and it's just a hassle to walk every month to Kenmawr while Kamin actually has an office in the basement. Read More

The Frontenac is not the best building in Shadyside, but it is also far from the worst. The studio apartments are a nice size, and include a separate kitchen and dining area. There is no shortage of closet space - the primary walk-in closet is so big that I've seen some people use it as a bedroom. The hardwood floors are original and very nice. The kitchen and bathroom are nothing to write home about, but they get the job done. All utilities are included. The best feature of this building is the... location. You're a 5 minute walk from the shops and restaurants on Walnut St., S. Highland, and Ellsworth, and Whole Foods, Trader Joe's, and Target are also very close by. I really think this is one of the best locations in Shadyside.

I have two complaints about this building. First, it allows smoking, and the smell will find its way into your apartment if your neighbor is a smoker. Second, the staff at Kamin Realty are not very helpful. I've had maintenance requests go unanswered, and it seems like they try to avoid interaction with tenants at all costs.

Overall, I think this is a decent building in an excellent location. Of course there are better options in apartment-dense Shadyside, but for the price, the Frontenac is definitely worth a look. Read More