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The most ridiculous? Hardly. But how does one measure the "cosmopolitan" nature of a city? Wouldn't foreign born residents, or a foreign presence be a fair measure?
Proximity to any other city is totally irrelevant.
I will admit I'm surprised by the foreign-born stat - perhaps Portland does have more of an international presence. Although, neither seem too strong in that arena.
I will admit I'm surprised by the foreign-born stat - perhaps Portland does have more of an international presence. Although, neither seem too strong in that arena.
East Portland is full of immigrants. Though that's not part of "tourist Portland".
East Portland is full of immigrants. Though that's not part of "tourist Portland".
I've spent time in the Hawthorne/Belmont/Division area, as well as the Hollywood District and Alberta. Although I'm guessing by East Portland you mean further East?
I've spent time in the Hawthorne/Belmont/Division area, as well as the Hollywood District and Alberta. Although I'm guessing by East Portland you mean further East?
Yeah, towards 82nd and further east in the "uncool" part of town. Much of 82nd itself is the Asian shopping and restaurant district for the city(mostly Chinese and Vietnamese). The only sort of "ethnic" area I can think of in inner Portland is the old black neighborhoods around MLK in NE and the little Ethopian/Eritrean stores/restaurants in that area. But inner east Portland(west of 50th or so and south of Killingsworth) is where the popular areas and stereotypes of Portland reside.
Yeah, towards 82nd and further east in the "uncool" part of town. Much of 82nd itself is the Asian shopping and restaurant district for the city(mostly Chinese and Vietnamese). The only sort of "ethnic" area I can think of in inner Portland is the old black neighborhoods around MLK in NE and the little Ethopian/Eritrean stores/restaurants in that area. But inner east Portland(west of 50th or so and south of Killingsworth) is where the popular areas and stereotypes of Portland reside.
Are there any walkable nodes or interesting corridors towards 82nd ave and East, or is it mostly just auto-oriented sprawly urban form?
Are there any walkable nodes or interesting corridors towards 82nd ave and East, or is it mostly just auto-oriented sprawly urban form?
There's little pockets of places where the old street-car lines were(since much of the area up to 82nd was street car suburbs), but once you get past 205 or 92nd, it's very much suburban sprawl. Stark Street around Montavilla just over 82nd on the other side of Mt. Tabor is a cool little neighborhood with an old movie theatre and restaurants and bars. Lents has a kind of little downtown, but it's completely dead despite the city pumping money in there(could be interesting if people opened up anything interesting there). NE Glisan past like 70th has a suprising collection of halal markets and East African businesses and NE Sandy around Roseway going back west has older storefronts and a mix of old businesses and newer Vietnamese places. It's kind of the frontier though, except for Montavilla none of those areas are really in danger of gentrfying yet could use some new investment. A lot of it reminds me of parts of South Seattle.
The Asian part of 82nd is cool, but it's mostly Asian strip malls and groceries, while 122nd is some pretty ugly suburbia(with some good Mexican places). There's a reason though that it's fairly cheap out there and where foreign immigrants can open family businesses or buy a home there.
There's little pockets of places where the old street-car lines were(since much of the area up to 82nd was street car suburbs), but once you get past 205 or 92nd, it's very much suburban sprawl. Stark Street around Montavilla just over 82nd on the other side of Mt. Tabor is a cool little neighborhood with an old movie theatre and restaurants and bars. Lents has a kind of little downtown, but it's completely dead despite the city pumping money in there(could be interesting if people opened up anything interesting there). NE Glisan past like 70th has a suprising collection of halal markets and East African businesses and NE Sandy around Roseway going back west has older storefronts and a mix of old businesses and newer Vietnamese places. It's kind of the frontier though, except for Montavilla none of those areas are really in danger of gentrfying yet could use some new investment. A lot of it reminds me of parts of South Seattle.
The Asian part of 82nd is cool, but it's mostly Asian strip malls and groceries, while 122nd is some pretty ugly suburbia(with some good Mexican places). There's a reason though that it's fairly cheap out there and where foreign immigrants can open family businesses or buy a home there.
Interesting - thanks for the detailed description. That's a part of Portland I don't know well at all, but next time I'm in town I'll have to check out some of those areas that you mention. I've noticed in a lot of non East-Coast cities a lot of the ethnic enclaves, aside from Chinatowns, are in the sprawlier parts of town (with SF and portions of LA being the notable exceptions). As you mentioned, it's probably due to lower costs and walkable areas being at a premium.
As an aside, last year we checked out St. Johns and I was pleasantly surprised to find a very cool, walkable neighborhood with a ton of character and a lot of cool bars (including some very divey but fun spots). It's interesting because I'd been going to Portland for years and had only recently even heard that St. Johns existed. It definitely seems like a city with a lot of "hidden gem" areas.
Is Richmond's economy better or worse than Portland's?
Probably better. Fewer people want to live there--it's not a destination city like Portland, so it has a less saturated job market overall.
Portland is kinda like Tucson or Albuquerque in that regard--everyone wants to live there for lifestyle reasons, but there really aren't enough jobs to go around. Lots of people in those cities end up underemployed, especially educated professionals with years of experience, or just plain unemployed (mostly recent college grads with no experience).
Probably better. Fewer people want to live there--it's not a destination city like Portland, so it has a less saturated job market overall.
Portland is kinda like Tucson or Albuquerque in that regard--everyone wants to live there for lifestyle reasons, but there really aren't enough jobs to go around. Lots of people in those cities end up underemployed, especially educated professionals with years of experience, or just plain unemployed (mostly recent college grads with no experience).
Exactly. Many people move to Portland without a job waiting. Many people who lose a good job cant find another one. Portland economy was never that strong to begin with, but seems like this recent migration makes it even worse because of oversaturation. Richmond is pretty well off from what I see on paper. There are jobs, big companies and COL is low.
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