Must consider Shadyside. Contact Franklin West. They own a lot of older buildings in all price ranges. Also call sterling real estate. A friend recommends them. They have a couple big old buildings within walking distance of CMU.

On bikeability. Shadyside and Oakland are in a large relatively flat part of the city. CMU is also in the same flat part. Squirrel Hill is a hill climb or 2 depending where you live from campus. You will get used to biking the hills if you pick sq. Hill. Downtown, south side, north side, strip district and Lawrenceville are below CMU, so live there and you are biking up to CMU. Again doable, but you’ll be climbing.