If Not Corvallis- Albany OR Lebanon? (Salem, Bend: transplants, high crime, home)

[DavePautsch]

Can'tWait...
The historic district in Albany is a real gem of an area. It is just off the downtown area, mostly quiet streets (Washington, Ferry, Broadalbin being busier than the others).
Stay to the SOUTH of Ellsworth/Lyons as a general rule (the side that Montieth River Park is on) and you will be fine.
Having been in a number of these homes some of them have been remodeled in exceptional fashion...others need some work so much will depend on what your needs and your capabilities are.
Some friends of mine live in a historic home on 6th and Ferry and love it. They are 2 blocks from the main downtown area, they Do indeed walk to school.
Albany is a small town so you are never far from anything.
Please feel free to contact me, and I'd be happy to give you more indepth information or answers to specific questions.

Dave

[CantWait2Bthere]

Thanks Dave for your input...it makes me look forward even more to our next trip to Oregon. Last time we focused on Corvallis and Eugene but this time we will check out more of Albany and areas surrounding. I really do think it would be nice to snatch one of those historic homes. I could go for one move in ready but I most definalty would not mind the challenge of restoring one that needs work.

Of course, ultimatly the deciding factor is where we will land jobs. My husband has already had two requests for interviews after posting his resume on a goverment website but though the money is tempting we really don't have any desire to live in Washington D.C. ! That's the place to go I guess when you have a security clearance and are retired military. Does anyone know when that Distribution Center for Lowe's will open in Lebanon? He says he thinks it would be fun to work there.

[DavePautsch]

Can'tWait
Lowe's is indeed hiring now. Most of the upper management jobs I am GUESSING are being at least initially filled by transfers. I say that because I know of a couple individual families who have relocated here for that purpose. The Sunday Democrat Herald had ads for many of the hourly positions.
IF it is anything like the Target Distribution center in Albany there is a lot of turnover in the management jobs...he may want to consider Targer distribution too...great (amazing) facility.

As to Historic Homes, there are a couple on the market right now...I'd be happy to provide you information on them...but don't want to violate any forum rules Feel free to contact me privately...and I'll help you with whatever info I can.

Dave

[artc]

I am moving to Lebanon and was wondering about the telephone and internet services. Does the wireless network cover the whole city and if so how well does it work. I have an hdtv and was wondering if there are any over the air networks available.? It looks like I might have to go Dish. Is Centurytel the citys phone company? Thanks so much for your time.

[dbjewett55]

I have kived in Albany for about 2 years now. This my second time living here and for the most part I enjoy the small town atmosphere. Hope you don't mind the rain, it does that quite alot here in the winter. It is something you get used to after a while. The difference between Albany and Lebanon, to me is that Lebanon is more of a farming community, where Albany is going for the city attitude.. The crime in albany is higher, but depending on where you live is alomost no existant. People in both towns can be quite friendly. This is very refreshing after livning in Las Vegas for 10 years. The driving around here will keep you alert. The way people drive around here especially in town(Albany) can be frustrating at times. There are alot of the drivers who act they are the only ones on the road, so you must beware. I like Albany because it is right off the Interstate, so it makes going north or south convienent. Salem is 25 miles to the north and Eugene is about 45 miles to the south. The summers up here a great, there is so much to do and the sund does not set until as late as 10pm in July/August. Once you become accustomed to the weather you should really enjoy it here. Please feel free to contact me if you have other questions I can answer for you.

Originally Posted by CantWait2Bthere

Hey everybody!

I was hoping to get some insight from anyone or everyone about the differences between Albany and Lebanon.

As I have mentioned in prior posts, my husband and I will be locating to Oregon this year and our goal is to gain employment in the Willamete Valley so we can live in Corvallis. We visted there and enjoy the town;not to mention all we have read about the school district there.

However, as many of you have pointed out before, I do notice while searching the MLS that the housing prices are a little higher there. Though I am sure we could manage it, I want to stay open minded about other areas, especially since I see that there are some nice properties on a couple acres of land availabel on the outskirts of Albany and Lebanon.

I notice according to City-Data that Albany has the higher crime rate and whole the schools don't rate as high. Lebanon has a slightly lower crime rate and some of the schools are considered "strong". I know that it is a smaller town.

Can any residents or others familiar with both areas give me the pros and cons of each. Thank you thank you thank you!

[CantWait2Bthere]

Thanks dbjewit55!

That infor is quite helpful, although I am surpirsed to hear about the drivers! I am hoping it is an improvment over Californian drivers! The crime thing surprises me a little bit because I thought I saw on this City Data thing that Lebanon was higher than Albany.

I am expecting and looking forward to cooler weather. Right now we live more inland and my husband is fed up with the long summer hot dry heat. The really nice weather is closer to the coast but to live there costs more shekels than we have.

What about the stink? I am interested in hearing your input about the smell of the paper mill? Thanks

[DavePautsch]

In the valley we refer to that as "the smell of money!"

The smell is more hype than anything. Yes, there are days (especially when there is an inversion layer) when you get a bad smell. In the last year I can think of maybe 3 or 4 days when it was really noticeable.
The mill has spent a great deal of money on scrubbers and has significantly reduced emissions...when we moved here 5 1/2 years ago we noticed it...but it was NEVER as bad as people have made it out to be.

I spend a great deal of time in a neighborhood just north of the mill...(Millersburg) and there is always a great deal of concern there too; but having talked to many of the home owners there, it just doesn't make the day to day "hit list" of things they are concerned with.

Just my 2 cents on this persistent non-issue.

Dave

[wvlifer]

As a Valley resident all my life, I must put my two cents worth here. Being 24, I've seen this place go through so many changes it's heartbreaking. I was born in Lebanon, and raised in Albany...and I barely recognize my hometown.

As far as the driving issue - just in the past 6 years it's gotten to the point where I no longer want to drive. Funnily enough, I moved to California for about 8 months and while I recognized the driving traits there, I do have to say Californians did drive somewhat more sensibly. However I came back to Albany and my suspicions were confirmed. It is due to the influx of Californians (and just rude people in general) that has caused the degradation of the roadways. Think I'm wrong? Which brings me to my next point.

Housing market. I hear how inexpensive housing is here in the Valley or Oregon in general. Well folks, it's not going to stay that way. I remember in the 80's and early 90's the slogan 'Californians go home!!!'. Do you people honestly think that moving 600-800 miles north is going to solve your monetary dilemmas? The more of you that come here, the more expensive things get. It's a simple lesson in Economics. Which brings me to my next problem....

Why is nobody talking about the rampant drug usage!!! Meth is a demon here - yeah, you might find a house for a good price even in the good side of town but you cannot avoid the homeless and tweekers that pervade the very fabric of this town. I hear worries of Weyerhauser stinking, but have you been next to a Meth head lately? Believe me, they smell worse than anything the paper mill ever put out. Albany is a real hotbed, it's everywhere. Lebanon is worse, and don't get me started on Sweet Home. Do any of you Albanites remember VALIENT? How that program got shut down because of corruption? Seized drugs were disappearing from the cage....

You Californians (and other migrators from other states) want to move here because your town or state is too big or too expensive for you to handle. What do you think you're doing to us who have lived here for years? Trust me, if you want to move to a smaller town you will get the small town attitude. The hicks, the hillbillies, meth-addled individuals......sure there are wonderful people here, including myself - but you need to prepare yourself for a culture shock. It's a different world up here in the great white North. And sorry, but even Corvallis is slipping downward. I much prefer Eugene and the surrounding area.

I'm sorry if I've offended anyone. My Dad has been a real estate agent for 14 years here, and he and my Mom moved here from California in the 70's. He worked for Western Kraft/Willamette Industries/Weyerhauser for the better part of 30+ years...so I'm not just talking in random senseless circles. But sugarcoating Corv/Alb/Leb area is not doing anyone any favors. I hope some higher quality humanity moves in here honestly....maybe improve this community. May I suggest Santa Fe as an alternative? Lovely place. Doesn't hardly rain

[CantWait2Bthere]

wvlifer....For this being your first post to these forums you sure have set the tone as being pretty negative. And for you to assume that we Californians ONLY want to live in YOUR state because it's too expensive for us to handle trust me when I say some of us are doing pretty well down here and we would like to see our wealth go a little further while at the same time getting to a slower pace of life.

I have done my reseach and have spoken to lots of cool people on this forum and have covered all those bases including that HUGE "Meth epidemic " that seems to get associated with Oregon. My family and I have been visiting Oregon every chance we get and as I recently posted on another thread, we fell in love with Albany and Corvallis. I am even thinking of looking into Roseburg area in a couple months. I didn't see all these tweekers and I didn't find a problem with the driving.

Maybe you should follow your own advice and you should move to Santa Fe.

[jjpop]

Wow, wvlifer. Life in the mid valley seems pretty good to me. I didn't know I was living in such a s**thole.