Local Portanders: a question about Countiesl (Portland, Clackamas: low income, apartments, for rent)

[Supernova7]

I'm looking for a low cost studio/one bedroom apt in Portland and would like to be relatively close and/or easy commute via bus/rail in to downtown.

Important points:

1) Right next to Cascade City College, believe it's on Killingsworth St.
2) Multiracial community, liberal/socialist attitudes, on the bus route
3) Movie theaters, used clothing/thrift shops, grocery, coffee shops
small independent stores.

4) Max/busses, streetcars should run frequently in this area.
5) Close to major/central library and parks as I love Tai-Chi in the mornings.

6) Low income-moderate income community comprised of "apartment renters"

Please no...Lofts, Condo's, upscale trendy communities. I appreciate an area that feels like a real city with edge where you can live on a budget. Relatively safe to walk late at night and a few 24hr coffee shops would be nice, if they exist?

I checked on Craigslist and Portland has the following counties: Washington, Multomah, Clark/Cowlitz, Clackamas, N. Coast, Yamhill.

Which "county" should I be looking under related to my description above?
If you have suggestions for streets that would meet my needs and feel I'lll be happy there, please share your thoughts and specify the name of the streets, area: N,SE,NW,NE..etc, County and zipcodes. Thanks everyone...

[beatnik28]

If you want to be right next to PCC - Cascade campus, you'll want Multnomah Co. (North Portland or sometimes refered to as NoPo)

Cascade Campus | PCC

You'll find the neighborhood atmosphere you want there, although it's getting more popular / upscale / gentrified every day, but what part of Portland isn't?

Use Google maps for 705 N Killingsworth, 97217 to get an idea of the area.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by beatnik28

If you want to be right next to PCC - Cascade campus, you'll want Multnomah Co. (North Portland)

Cascade Campus | PCC

Thanks. What county is Hawthorne District/SE fall under as well as Downtown Portand State University?

[beatnik28]

They are both in Multnomah Co. as well.

Most (if not all) of Portland proper is in Multnomah.

Portland is divided East/West by the Willamette river, and North/South by Burnside St. Once you get an idea of where those are and where they intersect, the quadrants (NE, SE, NW, SW etc.) are easy to determine)

[beatnik28]

Also, since you talked about PSU, if you want to live near PCC-Cascade, the MAX yellow line runs through N. Portland (there's actually a N. Killingsworth stop), which makes for an easy commute to downtown.

TriMet: MAX Light Rail System Map

[diggitydot]

Just an quick heads-up. Clark and Cowlitz counties are actually across the I-5/I-205 bridges in Washington...not in Oregon. Yes, they are commonly considered suburbs of Portland, but is in a different state, and have different taxes, and will significantly more issues with commute/traffic.

Since Clark county is mainly a loose collection of suburbs (and Cowlitz is fairly rural) it would likely be a good idea to eliminate them from your list of possible locations to live. At least, based on the criteria you listed in your original post.

[smsdreamer2007]

ok the only county that is portland is multnomah county, the others are near portland but are not portland i currently live in washington county which is hillsboro, beaverton, forest grove etc.... they are close and use trimet which is portlands bus line but they are not portlad, people consider them subcities of portland but hey are not the subcities of portlan are for example old town china town and the pearl district. it would be o proble for you to commute to the listed schools from the area seeing as portland has max, bus, streetcar and trolley running all thorugh these areas, but just for your reference i you want to be in portland the city and not hte area, multnomah county is your best bet.

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by beatnik28

If you want to be right next to PCC - Cascade campus, you'll want Multnomah Co. (North Portland or sometimes refered to as NoPo)

Cascade Campus | PCC

You'll find the neighborhood atmosphere you want there, although it's getting more popular / upscale / gentrified every day, but what part of Portland isn't?

Use Google maps for 705 N Killingsworth, 97217 to get an idea of the area.

Thanks so much for the info! It was most helpful. Now I can focus on Multnomah county to find my future home. So far the only place I know to find apartments/rooms for rent is on Craigslist, if you guys know of any other good sources please feel free to shoot them my way?

Believe me I know exactly what you mean about gentrification, it's most unfortunate. You have kids that "look" poor and homeless when in fact they come from wealthy homes and have sizable bank accounts. I don't really care for all the upscale lofts and all the young professionals turning historic neighborhoods in to gentrified upscale yuppy holes. Do you have poor people living in Portland or does everyonoe just appear to look poor?

What communities do they live in?

[Supernova7]

I'm glad to hear about the yellow line and glad that North Portland "might" be the area I'm seeking. I'm definitely not interested in the suburbs and Pearl. Don't really know how the area is around PSU but I heard it's decent, supposedly in the Old Towne district?

SE/Hawthorne appears to be pricy and gentrified according to people's comments here. So I suppose I should be checking out areas in SW/N/NE as these appear to be the only areas with low-moderate income areas with city edge. Is the area around Cascade College dense? meaning lots of stores, grocery, used clothing outlets, coffe shops in walking distance w/lots of people? If I have to I'll get a bike as I don't want to purchase a car and pollute the environment.

[beatnik28]

Here's some good info on N. Portland.

Piedmont and University - Guide to North Portland Neighborhoods

If you stay in the southern part of NoPo (Boise and Overlook neighborhoods), it is dense and urban, and new shops / restaurants / pubs etc. are opening all of the time. As you move north within NoPo it gets more industrial due to its proximity to the water and the ports.

I wouldn't rule out living downtown (SW and NW), or even close-in NE (close in to Downtown) if I were you. It sounds like you want an urban environment, with easy access to public transportation.