Bad Neighborhoods/Suburban (Portland, Lake Oswego, West Slope: low income, apartment, rentals)

[alizbet]

Doing a little research before I come to visit.

What areas in Portland are considerend "bad neighborhoods" or bad sections? Looking at Portland neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Less desirable areas to live would be industrial and fringe -- low income (think litter on the sidewalks, loud neighbors -- family of 5, car breakins et. al., and too much mall action.

Looking for a condo/rental in an area that is treed, more residential and quiet, walking-running trails, very clean and safe, close to the city and close to many suburban -- middle-upper class neighborhoods and professionals (these are my clients). I'd be looking at simply renting an apt. Prefer not to live in the city or in 'the action' but close enough by 15-25 min.

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by alizbet

Doing a little research before I come to visit.

What areas in Portland are considerend "bad neighborhoods" or bad sections? Looking at Portland neighborhoods and surrounding communities. Less desirable areas to live would be industrial and fringe -- low income (think litter on the sidewalks, loud neighbors -- family of 5, car breakins et. al., and too much mall action.

Looking for a condo/rental in an area that is treed, more residential and quiet, walking-running trails, very clean and safe, close to the city and close to many suburban -- middle-upper class neighborhoods and professionals (these are my clients). I'd be looking at simply renting an apt. Prefer not to live in the city or in 'the action' but close enough by 15-25 min.

My first thought was Lake Oswego.

[backdrifter]

Originally Posted by wanderbygrace

My first thought was Lake Oswego.

Or Dunthorpe...

[OscarLevant]

I would recommend Lake Oswego; I have lived here 5yrs and love it. I commute daily to downtown PDX during the week I just take the WES so I have no worries about traffic or parking. Before I moved here I lived in close SE (around Clinton & 21st) and would not recommend living in that area. My apartment was broken into more than a few times and one of the times I was actually at home .

Lake O has alot of really nice areas and is extremely walkable, whereas in my old neighborhood it felt really crowded and at times not safe.

[alizbet]

I'll look into Dunthorpe and Lake Oswego.

Broken into while you are there?? How horrible. Do you have pets? I always think that's what so many animals think of when the strange petsitter comes in.
Break ins are awful.

I have been looking (trying to) for Portland rentals -- apts and can't really make heads or tails of the some of the areas.

I've also looked at this Mapping America ? Census Bureau 2005-9 American Community Survey - NYTimes.com which is fantastic but also doesn't help much for Portland.

I'm also not even sure of the divisions SE, NW, SW etc. is that what the neighborhoods are called in Portland (as opposed to catchy names in and around Seattle)? And then of course there are towns surrounding Portland.
Just trying to zone in that's all on areas that would fit so I can refine a search.

Single professional, renting, wanting treed area, clean, very safe, catering more towards professionals (no loud neighbors (cross the fingers), thin walls, car break ins, litter on sidewalks etc.). I'll be driving a lot and clients are generally professionals, families, couples and middle - upper middle class, so I don't want to plant myself next to or on the border of the sketchy sections or plant myself too far away from the city.
I could be in Portland but as mentioned can also be within 20 min. from Portland if surrounding areas to me are nice.

Long bridges over water scare me if I had to do it daily, but I suppose that's the least relevant.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by alizbet

I'll look into Dunthorpe and Lake Oswego.

Broken into while you are there?? How horrible. Do you have pets? I always think that's what so many animals think of when the strange petsitter comes in.
Break ins are awful.

I have been looking (trying to) for Portland rentals -- apts and can't really make heads or tails of the some of the areas.

I've also looked at this Mapping America ? Census Bureau 2005-9 American Community Survey - NYTimes.com which is fantastic but also doesn't help much for Portland.

I'm also not even sure of the divisions SE, NW, SW etc. is that what the neighborhoods are called in Portland (as opposed to catchy names in and around Seattle)? And then of course there are towns surrounding Portland.
Just trying to zone in that's all on areas that would fit so I can refine a search.

Single professional, renting, wanting treed area, clean, very safe, catering more towards professionals (no loud neighbors (cross the fingers), thin walls, car break ins, litter on sidewalks etc.). I'll be driving a lot and clients are generally professionals, families, couples and middle - upper middle class, so I don't want to plant myself next to or on the border of the sketchy sections or plant myself too far away from the city.
I could be in Portland but as mentioned can also be within 20 min. from Portland if surrounding areas to me are nice.

Long bridges over water scare me if I had to do it daily, but I suppose that's the least relevant.

Check out this website. You will find names of Portland neighborhoods as you scroll to the bottom. GOOGLE is your friend. Heep in mind there is tons of competition for what you want. The best way to find a good place to live is to scour a neighborhood for "For Rent" signs. Be the first to apply.

Portland Neighborhoods: Navigating Portland

[Nell Plotts]

And have all the info for references, employment (or income sources) at hand.

[wanderbygrace]

Originally Posted by alizbet

Long bridges over water scare me if I had to do it daily, but I suppose that's the least relevant.

This will give you an idea of the bridges in the PDX area:

Columbia River bridges:
Interstate Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Those are the only two in the Portland area.

Willamette River bridges:
List of crossings of the Willamette River - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Focus on the thirteen road bridges down to the Boone Bridge. The rest are well outside the PDX metro area.

IMO, the most intimidating ones would be the St. John's, Marquam (I hate getting stuck on this one during rush hour) and Fremont (all over the Willamette).

[Hans64]

Much of SW Portland would fit your requirements, check out Hillsdale, Bridlemile, Raleigh Hills, West Slope.