The next 23rd avenue? (Portland: houses, neighborhoods, to live)

[LilyKey]

Hi everyone, Portland girl here. I love NW 23rd avenue and the whole uptown area. A lot of people don't. Most people I know like the Hawthorn area. I personally like clean streets and big old houses and I don't enjoy (this is harsh but it's TRUE!) listening to a bunch of dirty-hippy-wannabe's and/or angry-20-something's who just complain about how life sucks and then talk about playing their music uptown "if you can stand all the yuppies." I wish they wouldn't even come up if they hate it so much! I love art and music and education. I'm a young professional myself and have a young family but do NOT want to move to the suburbs. We're just not suburb people.

Does anyone have any suggestions for a nice neighborhood in Portland where there would be other families like ours but where homes don't tote the NW 23rd pricetag?

(Wow, I sound really bitter and cranky. Sorry about that. Hawthorn attracts a different kind of crowd and maybe I just need to branch out more - I was just using it as an example of what we're not looking for.)

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Irvington, Laurelhurst, Ladd's Addition have the closest feel (to me) in comparison to the Nob Hill area above NW 23rd. But none of them are exactly cheap. There is nothing cheap that's close to downtown.

I remember back in the 80's when 23rd was like Hawthorne is now, so I wouldn't be surprised if Hawthorne ends up becoming more like 23rd in the future and the remaining hippies move to Belmont or North Mississippi.

[Supernova7]

It isn't going to be easy to find what you're looking for not just in Portland but ANY city in the U.S. "You like the yuppy" neighborhoods but don't care for the suburbs." If I understand you correct, any clean upscale area is going to COST money, and a lot of it! Also, most families choose to move to the suburbs, for many different/personal reasons. I agree w/ Cactus that many traditional neighborhoods are being rundown and revamped for the young urban professionals. It's NOT that they like or want you, the developers simply want your money and are in tune to your desires.

Frankly, Belmont/Hawthorne is what makes Portland standout and attract people. My interests are the exact opposite of what you seek as I like a city that's not pristine, rough with an edge, variety, culture, diversity (even though Portland's mainly caucasian)...etc. I feel that a REAL CITY has to have that Metropolitan NY'ish, Chicagoish, LA feel to it regardless of its size.

Portland stands out for it's political nature more than anything. That's why so many socialists, communists and liberals move there. People want to live or relive the 60's counter culture atmosphere and Portland resembles that more than other cities. Though still a far cry from achieving that objective in my opinion. If Portland continues to getrify and loses the Hawthorne feel, I can't see it being a liberal city any longer.