Astoria question. (Portland, Coos Bay, Seaside: real estate, homes, new construction)

[pookie11]

I've read through all the Astoria threads in this forum (quite a few of them, actually) but no one has asked about the smell. Has it gotten better?

Last time I was there, say ten years ago, it was a bit of a depressing fishing community, but not too bad. I understand that its gotten better, but it also had a distinctive (bad) smell most of the time. I think it was a paper mill or something, but it definitely took it a notch down for me from other coastal cities, such as Seaside in OR and Westport in WA.

Can anyone else weigh in on this? It was definitely a dealbreaker for me last time and I don't want to have to drive back up to check it out if it's just as bad.

Thanks.

[SDF]

Originally Posted by pookie11

I've read through all the Astoria threads in this forum (quite a few of them, actually) but no one has asked about the smell. Has it gotten better?

Last time I was there, say ten years ago, it was a bit of a depressing fishing community, but not too bad. I understand that its gotten better, but it also had a distinctive (bad) smell most of the time. I think it was a paper mill or something, but it definitely took it a notch down for me from other coastal cities, such as Seaside in OR and Westport in WA.

Can anyone else weigh in on this? It was definitely a dealbreaker for me last time and I don't want to have to drive back up to check it out if it's just as bad.

Thanks.

I spent a week up in Warrenton and Astoria in mid-July and didn't notice any type of odd smell. It's still a small, sleepy fishing town, and probably always will be. I love camping and fishing up there. Being from SoCal, I always have a problem remembering that hard liquor is only sold in designated liquor stores. I walked into a Rite-Aid asking where it was and they looked at me like I was crazy... uhhhhh, we're not in California....

[JeffsWife]

we have made 2 trips to astoria and 1 of them was a 6 night stay in long beach washington. we had to come back to astoria for our groceries and none of these times did we notice an odd smell so i hope that gives you some comfort.

[mayfair]

We went through Astoria this summer and I didn't notice any smell. The town looked tidier and there was new construction near the water that wasn't there two years ago.

[cvanripe10]

I hear it rains every single day in Astoria year round. Looking at the sunshine/precipitation chart on it's city-data profile, it might be true

[Marko3]

I've spent many weekends enjoying trips to Astoria and I've never noticed a smell. In fact, with the steady breeze from the Columbia River and Pacific Ocean, I'd argue that it's probably one of the more refreshing areas. The only areas I've noticed smells on the coast is near Tillamook (large number of grazing cows) and certain areas of Coos Bay smell a little fishy, but that's to be expected near the docks. Hope this helps.

[Chad A.]

Originally Posted by cvanripe10

I hear it rains every single day in Astoria year round. Looking at the sunshine/precipitation chart on it's city-data profile, it might be true

I live in Portland, travel to Astoria to work a few days a week, then I come back.

Astoria isn't wet all the time. They do have their dry days there, for sure, and it's pleasant. In the summer, from the top of the hill at Astoria Column (lighthouse that's now just a tourist attraction in town) you can see Mt. Rainier on a clear day.

And, no, I don't notice any more foul scents there than any other town around there.

[GR82BAGATOR]

We were just there in September and there wasn't an odd smell to Astoria, not that I can recall. I know that there was a paper mill the closer we got to Portland, maybe it was in Vancouver but that's the only time I remember a foul smell! By the way, this Floridian LOVED every inch of Oregon I got to see!

[momofboys]

I have lived here for 6 years now and there really isn't an odd smell all the time. The only time I smell something is every once in awhile in the mornings, and that is usually due the tides having an odd smell. I know that if you drive up or down Hwy 30, there is the Wauna papermill in Wauna. Now that usually does have a very bad smell, but you only have to put up with it for a couple minutes while you drive through.

[chrisruns2far]

I have a very good friend who loves living in Astoria, he has been there for four years and says that he has never smelled any bad oders. I visit there at least once a year and always enjoy it. Yes it rains there ALOT during from October thru May (over 75 inches of rain annually versus 40 inches a year in Portland), but the summers are much dryer and very pleasant and never too hot. Astoria has been discoverd within the past 5-10 years, therefore real estate has gone up significantly, but still much more affordable than many parts of the state. Great old historic downtown and many victorian homes in excellent condition and a couple of really good resturants and a great book store.