Lake Oswego vs. West Linn (Portland: house, theatre, high schools)

[Smiled]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

It would be no contest for me--Lake O, definitely. The lake is good for rowing and it's got all kinds of ducks.

Actually, the lake is private; you have to buy an easement. I find LO a bit pretentious; I'd greatly prefer West Linn, personally. Lake Oswego was originally named Sucker Lake, but that didn't sell lots well, so the real estaters renamed it. In the 1960s, it was called Lake NoNegro.

[Nature Girl]

That's what I thought? It is a private lake. Plus it seems to me that the residents have a much easier access to the water for activities in WL. I could be wrong though. LO just feels too much like "money" and not as family friendly. When I say "friendly", I mean strangers talking to one another with no reservations. Sorry, just what I've experienced.

Originally Posted by Smiled

Actually, the lake is private; you have to buy an easement. I find LO a bit pretentious; I'd greatly prefer West Linn, personally. Lake Oswego was originally named Sucker Lake, but that didn't sell lots well, so the real estaters renamed it. In the 1960s, it was called Lake NoNegro.

[Metlakatla]

Actually, the lake is private; you have to buy an easement.

I don't recall saying that the lake wasn't private...

[123ZZZ]

Oswego Lake is private to the citizens of Lake Oswego. But it was stated you must have a home along the lake to have access to it, but that's not true. During the summer Oswego Lake is open to all citizens of LO through the Lake Grove Swim Park. I posted a picture of this location and you can read about it here: http://www.ci.oswego.or.us/parksrec/commspts.htm

As for my debate with Nature Girl. Well, I would personally pay a little extra for the convenience of having all the amenities of Lake Oswego in my backyard (Golf Course, in-door tennis courts, Lusher Farm, Bridgeport Village etc.) I would also pay more to be closer to Portland and have the option of two top-ranked high schools, instead of only one. I also love the more established look of Lake Oswego and the certain flow you have from one area to another. West Linn feels divided into three separate chunks and doesn't have the flow, continuity or beauty Lake Oswego has surrounding Oswego Lake. West Linn is slowly turning its city into a beautiful place, but Lake Oswego has already done that and will continue to improve on what it already has. This leads me to believe Lake Oswego will always be one step ahead of West Linn in ascetics.

[Smiled]

There are NO ascetics in LO. Trust me on this. Bridgeport Village is California, too.

[Smiled]

Oregon Public Broadcasting

By Rob Manning
Lake Grove, OR July 28, 2008 9:46 a.m.

Monday, the Lake Oswego school board will decide if it wants to help make a massive city project easier, or if it wants to protect a cherished community park.
As Rob Manning reports, if school board members move ahead, they face lawsuit threats and allegations of class bias.





The Lake Grove Swim Park is like something out of a Norman Rockwell painting. Screaming grade schoolers tumble off the wooden docks into the water. Shirtless teenaged boys play ping-pong, while giggling girls scrounge change for soft drinks at the nearby snack bar.
Carrie Wood: “It’s a natural setting that just captures the essence of summer, for me, and for our family.”
Carrie Wood says she brings her kids to the swim park every day, all summer long. But there’s a big cloud hanging over next summer.
City officials want to close the park temporarily for its $100-million sewer project. Construction would take about 20 months - at least one lost summer.
The city kept property-owners on Oswego Lake informed about the sewer project.
But thousands of people living in the less affluent Lake Grove section of Lake Oswego - like Carrie Wood - only learned by chance that the swim park might close - and she's frustrated.
Carrie Wood: “I first heard about it because there were trees tagged to be cut down. And this was before the Fourth of July, and when I came here and I asked the staff, I said ‘why are these trees being cut down?’. They told me that the swim park was slated to be closed for next summer, 2009. And that was the first I’d ever heard of it.”
Lake Grove residents like Wood pay taxes for the swim park and get exclusive use of it.
The state Department of Environmental Quality is leaning on Lake Oswego to fix its undersized underwater sewer pipe
In recent years, sewage has overflowed into Oswego Lake. The replacement would have two parts: a fixed pipe, and a buoyant section that’s meant to withstand an earthquake.
Joel Komarek: “We don’t know of another application like this.”
Project manager Joel Komarek says the unique underwater pipe needs two different lakefront properties.
Joel Komarek: “This swim park site, had been identified a couple of years ago, as being an optimal site from which to stage this particular operation.”
The executive board for the swim park is also the local school board. School board member Linda Brown says the city kept changing what it wanted the swim park for. Now, she wishes the district had publicized those talks.
Linda Brown: “If I had it to do over again, I would have made sure that a letter went out to all the users of the Lake Grove Swim Park.”
But Brown defends using the swim park, saying the big pipe project is requiring people all over Lake Oswego to put up with inconvenience, for the good of a necessary project. But some Lake Grove folks, like Carrie Wood, say people who live on Oswego lake don’t “get” the swim park.
Carrie Wood: “It is why we stay in Lake Oswego, and it’s why we stay in Lake Grove.”
Wood says she’s starting to believe there’s a bias against her part of town.
Carrie Wood: “Unfortunately, what this whole process can look like, whether it was intentional or not, it appears that the city of Lake Oswego and the Lake Oswego School District value the people with money -- the people who live on the lake -- more than the people who don’t. That’s what it can look like.”
Linda Brown says she understands Lake Grovers frustration at a time when food and gas prices are high.
Linda Brown: "When people find something that they can actually control, I think people tend to gravitate to that, and want to make sure they exercise that control."
Parents rejected an offer by city officials to close just part of the park. Proejct manager Joel Komarek says going elsewhere would cost time and money.
Joel Komarek: “I’m not aware of properties that are undeveloped around the lake, that would provide the same, or similar features...without having to demolish a house, that’s the reality of it.”
If school board members grant the city access, Lake Grove parents are threatening to sue, or stop raising money for the school district. Board members say they hope parents reconsider.
They say the kids might be able to swim in the summer, but they'd lose out when they're in class the rest of the year.

[Nature Girl]

"Well, I would personally pay a little extra for the convenience of having all the amenities of Lake Oswego in my backyard (Golf Course, in-door tennis courts, Lusher Farm, Bridgeport Village etc.) I would also pay more to be closer to Portland and have the option of two top-ranked high schools, instead of only one."

So why are you assuming people can afford that much more for a home? LO is WAY more expensive than WL? Again, WL is not that far from everything as well, and 43 is a very easy commute into everything you would need? Sounds like a no brainer to me! As far as parks, scenery, low crime, rivers, and schools, I just do not see much of a difference between the two. Other than the WL residents seem a bit more friendly.

Do not need a fabulous downtown, because the distance from my home (and a lot of the homes here) to downtown LO is pretty close in distance to downtown WL!! haha. Face it, there a few desirable reasons to choose WL over LO, doesn't mean one is better than the other. It's all Irrelevant and what is most important to that person(s).

Originally Posted by 123ZZZ

Oswego Lake is private to the citizens of Lake Oswego. But it was stated you must have a home along the lake to have access to it, but that's not true. During the summer Oswego Lake is open to all citizens of LO through the Lake Grove Swim Park. I posted a picture of this location and you can read about it here: City of Lake Oswego: Parks & Recreation: Sports: Community Sports Organizations

As for my debate with Nature Girl. Well, I would personally pay a little extra for the convenience of having all the amenities of Lake Oswego in my backyard (Golf Course, in-door tennis courts, Lusher Farm, Bridgeport Village etc.) I would also pay more to be closer to Portland and have the option of two top-ranked high schools, instead of only one. I also love the more established look of Lake Oswego and the certain flow you have from one area to another. West Linn feels divided into three separate chunks and doesn't have the flow, continuity or beauty Lake Oswego has surrounding Oswego Lake. West Linn is slowly turning its city into a beautiful place, but Lake Oswego has already done that and will continue to improve on what it already has. This leads me to believe Lake Oswego will always be one step ahead of West Linn in ascetics.

[123ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Nature Girl

So why are you assuming people can afford that much more for a home? LO is WAY more expensive than WL?

The average for Lake Oswego and West Linn homes are both in the 400,000 range. Sure, it may be a little more expensive to live in LO, but in my opinion, it is completely worth it!

Originally Posted by Nature Girl

Again, WL is not that far from everything as well, and 43 is a very easy commute into everything you would need? Sounds like a no brainer to me!

My point is, if you have the extra money why not have the amenities throughout Lake Oswego right in your backyard?

I have family who live in West Linn and they have double the commute time to Portland. And for those who work in Portland or take advantage of the numerous events there, living all the way in West Linn, especially during rush-hour, can be a bit frustrating.

Originally Posted by Nature Girl

As far as parks, scenery, low crime, rivers, and schools, I just do not see much of a difference between the two. Other than the WL residents seem a bit more friendly.

I agree about the parks, scenery and low-crime being equal between the cities.

Some distinct differences I see between the cities is that Lake Oswego offers both the Willamette River and Oswego Lake, whereas West Linn only offers the Willamette. I also feel Lake Oswego having two high schools and two junior highs, not just one of each like in West Linn, offers more choice in your child's education. Furthermore, Lake Oswego, land-use wise, is also more advanced in terms of landscaping...which includes art, trees, flowers and design.

[Metlakatla]

I don't live in Lake O; family does and has for a long time. I love the established feel and look of the place, though I agree that property in West Linn would be a good investment. However, I like places with good, vibrant downtown areas.

My sister does photography out on the lake and I have some of her stuff hanging on my living room wall. It's great.

[123ZZZ]

Originally Posted by Metlakatla

However, I like places with good, vibrant downtown areas.

Yes, Lake Oswego's downtown has a lot to offer -- movie theatre, George Rogers Park, shopping, dining, ice cream, a view and walkway along Oswego Lake. It is also very well-kept and beautiful.

Nothing like it can be found in West Linn.