SW/N/SE locations (Portland, Burns: low income, apartments, rentals)

[Supernova7]

As a Portlander how would you describe these areas by their similarities and differences? Which area has the greatest multi-ethnic mix of people, and low cost housing/shopping/entertainment etc...

[nancy thereader]

That is a wonderful question , Supernova. I would like to know that also.

[Supernova7]

Thanks. Hopefully we'll get some good responses from the locals.

[jojo4]

I don't know anything about NE area.

downtown rundown - downtown is on the west side of the Willamette river. Burnside divide Portland into north and south. The ethnicity is just an approximation, but let's face it Portland is not very diverse ethnically.

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NW - starts from the river and move west.

Old town/china town - This area used to be the pit, drugs and prostitutes, but has been cleaned up a lot. I think there are some cheap rentals there as well as low income housing, soup kitchen, clubs, Magic garden(strip club), voodoo donut, liquor store, Saturday market, Chinese garden, Chinese restaurants and gift shops. Many homeless people in this area. ethnicity - I'd say 90+% white. feel - gritty urban, some artists foothold.
entertainment - great walk/MAX to many places.
low cost housing - good chance

Pearl - many shops and galleries, restaurants, nice park. ethnicity - 90+% white. feel - yuppy town, all the artists left 5 years ago.
entertainment - great but expensive
low cost housing - if you qualify for low income housing

slab town - large hospital, many residential apartments and condos, motorcycle shop, mission theater, couch park, churches, school.
feel - pretty quiet residential neighborhood
ethnicity ? -
entertainment - low?
low cost housing - not sure

nob hill/21st, 23rd street - nice shops, cinema 21 theater, many restaurants of all types, pizza, deli, upscale places, many apartment, room for rent, nice houses
feel - nice residential with shopping and dining, somewhat touristy
ethnicity - 90+% white
entertainment - good in day time, slow at night
low cost housing - probably have to rent a room/share a place with someone.
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SW - start from downtown and move south, then west
CBD - downtown central business district
many offices, food carts, radio shack, pioneer square mall, many restaurants and clubs, liquor stores, smoke shops, lots of stuffs.
feel - business district with a soul, a lot of fun to wander around
ethnicity - 80% white, 20% others
entertainment - great day and night
housing - some low income housing, not many apartments in this area.

PSU - south of CBD
university district, students around, coffee shops, restaurants, food carts, safeway, park block, art museum, old churches
feel - urban university district with diverse population, not just students
ethnicity - 80% white, 20% others
entertainment - great easy to get to any place downtown
housing - student housing, many apartments, some condos, duplexes for rent in Lair hill across the 405

Goose hollow - west of CBD
many apartments and condos, rose garden, washington park, forest park, zupan grocery store, volvo and bmw dealer, pub, lincoln high, the MAC - multnomah atheletic club - upper crust only, PGE ball park.
feel - mix of upscale/medium income residential neighborhood
entertainment - more outdoorsy - forest park has lots of hiking trail, walk to 23rd area easily
housing - some medium income apartments. 10 years ago I split a nice 2br apartment with a buddy for $850, wood floor, funky building, nice location. I think the price has gone up quite a bit since then tho.

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SE - I'm tired so i'll let someone else put something here.

----------- summary -
lower income - not a lot of choices on the west side.
If you want your own apartment - try old town and near PSU.
If you are willing to rent a room or share a 2bedroom, many more options.

ethnic diversity - Portland is not diverse.
The only place I've seen a large % of minority was at Walmart on 82nd Ave on the SE. Oh, also at Fubon on 82nd, this is an Asian grocery/shopping spot. It's getting near suburbia land there. In general - immigrants (asians, russians, romanians, Indians, Latinos, etc...) do not like the urban feel, of course there are exceptions, but people I met could not understand why I would want to live in the urban core. I don't know anything about african americans.

[Supernova7]

Wow...10 years ago the price for a 2 bedroom was $850? In my research that appears to be the present going rate in Portland> $800-900 (2brm) apt.
$600-700 one bedroom and so on......

You know Old Town/China Town doesn't sound bad at all. It seems to have that "city edge" feel that I like. Are there many students/ struggling artists living there? Is it only White and Asian? How far from PSU and regional library? I heard Goose Hollow is nice but probably a bit more expensive and not as close to everything.

I'm surprised the "immigrants" can afford to live and prefer the suburbs. In my travels I've experienced the opposite, people are more drawn to the city/urban life. Unless you have a family and want "specific" things for them.

I guess it's a toss up between PSU campus area and Old Town/China Town for (downtown locations)
North Portland near (Cascade College)
Not sure what NE consists of unless that's Alberta St and Mississippi.



Thank you- good stuff

[oldtintype]

North and NE Portland would be the most diverse. There are tons of cheap studios in Goose Hollow around the south part, closer to PSU. That's where most of the students live.

[jojo4]

Originally Posted by Supernova7

Wow...10 years ago the price for a 2 bedroom was $850? In my research that appears to be the present going rate in Portland> $800-900 (2brm) apt.
$600-700 one bedroom and so on......

You know Old Town/China Town doesn't sound bad at all. It seems to have that "city edge" feel that I like. Are there many students/ struggling artists living there? Is it only White and Asian? How far from PSU and regional library? I heard Goose Hollow is nice but probably a bit more expensive and not as close to everything.

I'm surprised the "immigrants" can afford to live and prefer the suburbs. In my travels I've experienced the opposite, people are more drawn to the city/urban life. Unless you have a family and want "specific" things for them. Thank you- good stuff

There are no Asian residents in old town/china town. They all moved out to 82nd area about 15 years ago. Even the chinese restaurants are moving. The legendary Hung Far Low moved out to 82nd a couple years ago. There are some struggling artists type in old town. PSU is about 15-20 min walk or you can take the light rail - 10 min. Central library is 5 min walk.

Immigrants want space, safety, car, a house - the burb.

[nancy thereader]

I would be looking for a condo in the $350k range. I am not a young person and would rather be with people who are a little older than twenty -somethings. Is there a place for me?

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by jojo4

There are no Asian residents in old town/china town. They all moved out to 82nd area about 15 years ago. Even the chinese restaurants are moving. The legendary Hung Far Low moved out to 82nd a couple years ago. There are some struggling artists type in old town. PSU is about 15-20 min walk or you can take the light rail - 10 min. Central library is 5 min walk.

Immigrants want space, safety, car, a house - the burb.

No Asians and they call it "China Town" that's odd? I guess they found a home all the way on 82nd, which I'm guessing is quite a trip from downtown. The proximity to PSU and the library sound good, really good!

Is the area known for high crime or is it a relatively safe place to walk around at all times of the night?

Anything open 24hrs over there? I presume no minorities in the area.

Where's the cheap Movie Theaters I've been hearing so much about?
Concerts/Independent bands/ local venues?
Are they in Old Town?

[Supernova7]

Originally Posted by nancy thereader

I would be looking for a condo in the $350k range. I am not a young person and would rather be with people who are a little older than twenty -somethings. Is there a place for me?

Hi Nancy,

We're in the same boat in many ways. I'm not "young" either....lol
(just in heart) I'm going back to school for a career change.

I'm sure there is an area that would fit you good, it just depends on what it is that you're looking for, the type of community/area you seek, your interests, passions, leisure activities etc., There IS without question a home for you in Portland