Why all the "anti-Portland" posts lately? (Eugene, Bend: rent, costs)

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by 58rhodes

I question how desirable Portland really is to most of the nation. Dont get me wrong I think the city is beautiful(I was born here and grew up between Belmont and Stark) but Im not so sure its population growth alone that's fueling the high cost of living fire. Many many other cities are growing at an equal or higher rate than Portland and are still providing much more affordable housing solutions and offer better job opportunities. Something is not right in Rip City

Like what kind of affordable housing solutions?

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Portland is attempting to develop a dense, "green", and vibrant region. I suppose that's fine since we ultimately elected the politicians who are charting this course, but the side effects are that the policies will limit certain types of job growth and increase the cost of living compared to other metros with a more business friendly or lower cost environment.

While I don't agree with tone of those who say"don't like PDX? Then leave!!!"... At the same time there is morsel of truth in it. This is how we are set up, this is apparently what we want for better or for worse, so you can embrace it (warts and all), you can work to change it, or you can look for a better fit. I'd suggest Seattle, San Antonio, Raleigh, Cleveland, or Nashville as alternatives; they all share some characteristics of Portland but have significant and distinct differences too.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

Like what kind of affordable housing solutions?

there is a STUNNING amount of multi unit housing going up within the urban core and I am curious to see what impact that has on rents and on transportation policy (especially biking).

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

there is a STUNNING amount of multi unit housing going up within the urban core and I am curious to see what impact that has on rents and on transportation policy (especially biking).

That is what I am excited to see, as this metro grows, it is good to see it starting to go up rather than out.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

That is what I am excited to see, as this metro grows, it is good to see it starting to go up rather than out.

yes me too. At the same it takes a certain price point for that development to make sense. Utopia ain't cheap!

[58rhodes]

Originally Posted by urbanlife78

Like what kind of affordable housing solutions?

for starters more competition

[58rhodes]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

yes me too. At the same it takes a certain price point for that development to make sense. Utopia ain't cheap!

Portland is far from utopia, it may be better than Cincinnati or St Louis or whatever city you may not like


lets talk about 1/4 of the city on food stamps shall we?

[58rhodes]

Originally Posted by The Cactus Leaguer

there is a STUNNING amount of multi unit housing going up within the urban core and I am curious to see what impact that has on rents and on transportation policy (especially biking).

with a current unemployment of 5.4% I expect they will be lowering rents once the unemployment gets back to 8% or so within the next 18 months

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by 58rhodes

for starters more competition

In the form of what? What kind of competition are you talking about?

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by 58rhodes

with a current unemployment of 5.4% I expect they will be lowering rents once the unemployment gets back to 8% or so within the next 18 months

So what information do you have that shows Portland will see an increase of almost 3% unemployment over the course of the next year and a half? Is there something coming we should be aware of?