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Lawrence Park

Lawrence Park

Neighborhood in Erie, Pennsylvania

Erie County 16511

$170,299 Average Value
$115 Average Price per Sq Ft
4 Homes For Sale

A historic community on the shores of Lake Erie

When General Electric established its locomotive plant in Erie County in 1910, they envisioned Lawrence Park as a Garden City where factory workers and their families could live among tree-lined streets and lush community parks. World-famous city planner and Philadelphia native John Nolen was tasked with developing the community, ultimately abandoning the Garden City concept in favor of brick rowhouses that could accommodate the influx of workers moving to the area during World War I. Although it's now owned by Wabtec, the plant remains standing today and employs about 2,000 people, making it the third-largest employer in Erie County. “There are still a lot of people who live here and work at the plant. You just walk down the street and walk right into the plant,” says Jim Van Dyne, Vice President of the Lawrence Park Historical Society. While the plant is no longer what it once was, one thing in Lawrence Park remains the same: a sense of community. “My sister was driving through here once, and some plywood flew out of her truck onto the road. She stopped to pick it up, and all these people stopped their cars and got out to help her,” Van Dyne says. “These people give. They help out and open their arms to strangers.” The township also offers a central location along the southern shore of Lake Erie, just 5 miles from downtown Erie.

Lawrence Park, formed by GE in 1911, has a historical marker on Main Street.
Lawrence Park, formed by GE in 1911, has a historical marker on Main Street.
Dabrowski's Restaurant, on historic Main Street, has been serving Lawrence Park since 1983.
Dabrowski's Restaurant, on historic Main Street, has been serving Lawrence Park since 1983.
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Row homes in Lawrence Park, were built when GE formed this company town in 1911.
Row homes in Lawrence Park, were built when GE formed this company town in 1911.

The Lawrence Park Historic District includes rowhomes

The Lawrence Park Historic District is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and protects the township’s original neighborhoods. Its first streets — including Rankine, Silliman, and Smithson Avenue — were named after prominent scientists and shaded by 1,000 trees planted by General Electric. “Part of the design was that every street had a signature tree. One had elms, one had maples, one had sycamores,” Van Dyne says. The district contains a mix of Cape Cod, Colonial Revival and American Foursquare houses built throughout the early 20th century. A bit further west are blocks of Philadelphia-style rowhomes with covered front porches and narrow, fenced-in backyards. Smaller neighborhoods that developed around these streets include the Lake Cliff subdivision, which borders Lake Erie and features ranch-style and Cape Cod homes built around the mid-1900s. Prices in the township range from about $85,000 for a three-bedroom rowhome to $250,000 for a four-bedroom Colonial Revival. There are also several houses of worship in the historic district, including the Lawrence Park United Methodist Church and The Church of St. Mark the Evangelist.

Catch some sun and a hearty lake breeze, on the shore of Lake Erie in Lawrence Park.
Catch some sun and a hearty lake breeze, on the shore of Lake Erie in Lawrence Park.

Abundant green spaces include the Lakeside Recreational Area

Pocket parks are scattered throughout Lawrence Park, including a greenbelt that separates residential streets from the Wabtec plant. Curtis Park has a playground and swing set, while Elbow Tree Park features miles of wooded nature trails for dog walkers and runners to explore. At Beute Park, the grassy lawn comes alive each summer as neighbors set up their lawn chairs and lay out their picnic blankets for the Gazebo Concerts series. Several green spaces line the shores of Lake Erie. The Lawrence Park Golf Club features a private 18-hole course with scenic vistas of the lakefront, and the Lawrence Park Fishing Club provides anglers with access to Four Mile Creek. Next to the Lake Cliff subdivision is the Lakeside Recreational Area, home to the Lakeside Boat Launch and a sandy beachfront known for its dazzling sunsets. The Iroquois Avenue Branch Library features a full calendar of events, including family story times and adult craft nights. The township is also less than 2 miles north of Eastway Lanes, an old-fashioned bowling alley with competitive leagues for all ages.

Local festivities include an annual Fourth of July parade

The Fourth of July is an all-day affair in Lawrence Park. The festivities begin with a bike parade through the neighborhood, but the main event is the annual Fourth of July Parade that travels down Main Street. Neighbors line the street to watch as the Iroquois marching band, Lawrence Park Historical Society and other local groups make their way through downtown, passing out candy along the way. The day ends with a dazzling fireworks show over the Iroquois High School football field.

The Lawrence Park Dinor is known for their fluffy pancakes and
The Lawrence Park Dinor is known for their fluffy pancakes and "Erie's Best Greek Sauce" .

A walkable commercial corridor along Main Street include the Lawrence Park Dinor

The township has several beloved local restaurants, many of which sit along Main Street in downtown Lawrence Park. A vibrant sign for the Lawrence Park Dinor might draw attention with its apparent misspelling, but residents know that’s just how diner is spelled around Erie. The diner is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is known for its signature Greek sauce, a ground beef mixture served on top of omelets, hot dogs and french fries. Down the street is Dabrowski’s Restaurant & Deli, which has been a go-to for authentic Polish food since 1983. Irish Cousins provides a place for neighbors to gather long after sunset, including live music every Friday and karaoke nights on Wednesdays and Saturdays. At the end of Main Street is an old-fashioned Dairy Queen with a walk-up window. “It’s just like it was in the 1950s. On a warm summer night, half of Lawrence Park is out there buying ice cream and chit-chatting,” Van Dyne says. For groceries, Giant Eagle Supermarket is less than a 2-mile drive from Lawrence Park.

Career-based learning at Iroquois Junior/Senior High School

Students may attend the Iroquois School District, which earns a C-plus from Niche and has an average student-teacher ratio of 12-to-1. Iroquois Elementary School scores a B and serves kindergarten through sixth grade, and the school works with the local United Way of Erie County to support low-income families. Older kids can attend Iroquois Junior/Senior High School, which earns a C and contains two separate wings for junior high and senior high school students. The high school partners with Erie County Technical School to offer a Career and Technical Education Program with pathways in technical training, construction, human services, manufacturing and transportation.

Pennsylvania Route 5 connects residents to downtown Erie

Pennsylvania Route 5, locally known as East Lake Road, bisects the township and connects residents to the city of Erie. The thoroughfare leads about 5 miles west to downtown and 10 miles west to Erie International Airport. The EMTA provides local bus service to the community, with stops along the township’s main streets. Residents refer to the bus as “the e,” and it travels downtown among other destinations.

Sally Stimpson
Written By
Sally Stimpson
Tiffany Karla
Photography Contributed By
Tiffany Karla
Chris Norton
Video By
Chris Norton

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Schools

Source:
GreatSchools: The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process. View GreatSchools Rating Methodology

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Parks in this Area

Transit

Airport

Erie International/Tom Ridge Field

20 min drive

Bus

Iroquois Ave & Iroquois High School

Bus

E Lake Rd & Water

Bus

Main St & Water St Inbound

Bus

Main St & Newton Ave

Bus

E Lake Rd & Joliette Ave

Bus

Main St & Smithson Ave

Bus

E Lake Rd & Howe Ave

Crime and Safety

1 - Low Crime, 10 - High Crime Lawrence Park US
Homicide 4 4
Sexual Assault 4 4
Assault with Weapon 4 4
Robbery 3 4
Burglary 3 4
Motor Vehicle Theft 3 4
Larceny 3 4
Crime Score 4 4

Source: WhatIsMyCrimeRisk.com

Demographics and Home Trends

Home Trends

Median Price (12 Mo)
$162,500
Median Single Family Price
$155,000
Average Price Per Sq Ft
$115
Number of Homes for Sale
4
Last 12 months Home Sales
41
Months of Supply
1.20
Median List Price
$164,900
Median Discount From 1st List Price
0%
Median Home Sale Price YoY Change
2%

Home Facts

Number of Homes in Neighborhood
1,403
Median Year Built
1930
Avg. Single Family Home Size Sq Ft
1,405
Significantly below the national average
1,935
Median Lot Size Sq Ft
6,098

Distribution of Home Values

Source: Public Records

Homes for Sale

Homes for Rent

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Average Home Value




Source: Public Records

Property Mix - Square Feet

This Neighborhood Has More Owners

Demographics

Total Population
3,818
Median Age
41
Population under 18
24.5%
On par with the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
20.3%
On par with the national average
19.1%

Finances

Median Household Income
$63,245
Below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$71,191

Education and Workforce

High School Graduates
95.3%
Above the national average
89.1%
College Graduates
27.5%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
7.9%
% Population in Labor Force
71.2%

Area Factors

Somewhat Bikeable

Bike Score®

42 / 100

Car-Dependent

Walk Score®

36 / 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score

Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.

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Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
NEIGHBORHOOD
Lawrence Park