Sunnyside neighborhood (Portland, Beaverton, Milwaukie: condos, houses, landscaping)

[farside098]

What can anyone tell me about the Sunnyside neighborhood in Belmont? I am moving there in May and am really excited. It seems to be a great area, but just wanted to get opinions from people who live out there. Is the MAX in walking distance? I will be on Alder Ct. which is only a few blocks from Belmont St. Any info. would be appreciated! thanks!

[hymalaia]

well for MAX you are looking at maybe a mile, 1.5 mile walk. Not that convenient. There is regular bus service along Belmont Street however. Plus you are very close to Laurelhurst Park (small but nicely landscaped, Olmstead style). Belmont St. is pretty happening, particularly in the mid-30's avenues. Hawthorne Blvd is very happening and that's within walking distance. If you can ride a bike your car-free transportation options expand dramatically. Mt Tabor is a great city park and a fun workout to ride to the top.

[farside098]

Yes, the first thing I plan to do when I get into town is get a bike, as I will be selling my car when I leave Fla. Although my husband will still have his, but I'm sure being a one car family will be just fine located there. We are actually at 31st Ave & Alder so it seems like everthing will be right there in walking distance. 1.5 mile walk to the MAX isn't too bad as long as it's not for work, otherwise for work (when I get a job!) then I could always have my husband drop me off at the MAX station...thanks for the informative info!

[oldtintype]

The 15 runs right on Belmont, goes downtown, and runs every 15 minutes. Or you can walk to SE 39th and catch the 75 right to the Hollywood MAX station. Belmont is an area with a lot of shops, walkable, etc. There's a library on 39th between Hawthorne and Belmont and you can take advantage of Hawthorne as well being so close. It's also a nice area for biking leisurely to your destination.

[EnricoV]

I live on the fringe of the Sunnyside neighborhood, but spend a lot of time in your new neighborhood. I love the area. It's fairly diverse, which I like. So you'll have lots of socio-economic sorts tossed in there together. Everyone's right - you've got lots of services right at hand. Zupans (an upscalish Trader Joe's-type market) is at 33rd & Belmont, and restaurants/shops/pubs are clustered around it. There are several new condos going in along Belmont, and with them are coming street-level shops.

I love the houses in the area. Mostly early 1900s cottage/quasi-Victorians, with great (old) landscaping. And while Stark & Belmont are fairly heavily traveled streets, once you turn off them, there's a nice, neighborhood feel to the streets.

You've got great bus service all around you. Belmont/Morrison is a direct route to downtown. Stark, to the north, also has a bus running down it - probably a little less frequently. 39th is the commercial street. Several good restaurants, plus the library mentioned, a Fred Meyer (department/grocery store) at Hawthorne, a 24-hour Walgrens at 39th & Belmont. 28th, north of Stark is a trendy little area with lots of great bistros, coffee shops, and a Whole Foods market. There's a Plaid Pantry (the local version of 7-11) at 30th & Belmont that's open 24 hours.

5 blocks south of you, I think at Salmon Street (I could be one off) is a "bike friendly" designated street, though it doesn't have a bike lane. That means, you don't have stop signs every other corner, like the other side-streets do, so you don't have to break the law and blow through the stop signs that Portland bikers seem to think is their right. It'll take you down to the river. Belmont has bike lanes, but not all the way out to 39th. Maybe to 20th?

Between Sunnyside & the river is a more transitory area. More homeless services, etc., which isn't great for petty crime, but has never caused me any concern for my safety.

Have you been to Google and used the Street View to walk the neighborhood? It's great for giving you a feel of the area.

My biggest complaint about our neighborhood is the lack of "major" shopping in reasonable driving distance. Lloyd Center is the closest shopping center, but there are no K-mart/Target/Sears/Toys R Us type stores around. You have to go out east of 82nd, south to Milwaukie, west to Beaverton, or north to Jantzen Beach to find those. It helps retain the "town" feel of the area, but when you want to hit a Toys R Us, it's a pain to have to drive half-way across town. Personally, I find going north to Jantzen Beach the easiest. It's a fairly straight-shot on the freeway, where the others are either further, or require twists and turns. But downtown has the Nordstroms/Macys/Saks type shopping, and it's quick and easy to hop a bus down there.

If you're into movies, there's a neighborhood movie theater (2nd run) at 28th & Burnside, or it's again, a ride to downtown, where you've got almost 20 screens to choose from. Or up to Lloyd Center (but my choice would be to go downtown!)

If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.

[farside098]

wow Enrico...I think you've covered just about everything, thanks so much...it's really helped! Yes, I have used the google vitrual to "walk around" it's a great tool! My husband & I have also been out there to visit a few times, as our son live in Portland so we are somewhat familiar with the areas. I have heard that the cost of groceries is pretty high in Portland, is that true? We're used to shopping at the Super Targets or Super Walmarts here in Fla, even though they are a nightmare at times, you can't beat the prices. But I know how everyone there is against the building of walmarts so I'm assuming that we will have to drive to Vancouver which I believe is the nearest Super Walmart.,,,unless there's something closer???

[EnricoV]

I'm not sure how the food prices here compare to elsewhere.

The nearest Walmart is out on 82nd, but I'm not familiar enough with them to know whether it's a "Super" or not. Who knew there was a difference? We do have Costco, which is the warehouse shopping. Again, the closest is either out by the airport, or out in Clackamas. But out along the I-205 corridor (either on 102nd or 82nd) there are places like Best Buy, and other bargain grocery shopping choices. But the shopping close to home is going to be more expensive.

Realistically, you're very close to the I-84 freeway entrance (at 39th), so it's a pretty quick to hop on there and get out to the burbs (if you can afford the gas). You might want to do that for your big shopping trips, and use the neighborhood for the fresh foods, last minute things, etc. Of course, there are a number of great farmer markets around from spring to fall that will be easy to get to. But their prices, and their quality, will likely be the highest.

[tantajo]

Portland itself doesn't have any super walmarts, the closest ones are in vancouver and troutdale (both about 12 miles from sunyside). Food is above average I believe, but a good place to shop is Winco, they have lower prices than super walmart anyway. Albertsons, fred meyer and especially safeway have high prices. Food 4 less is like a skankier version of winco (which can also be skanky).

Don't expect any superwalmarts any time soon, liberal portlanders have a pathological obsession about hating walmart. They hate it because it oppresses the working poor, but then they also are disgusted by the working poor who shop and work there. I know in other places everyone shops at walmart but in portland better off people don't seem to as much.

Close to home you're really only going to find fred meyer, which isn't too bad really for food shopping. Portland is a little different from other places in that the heavy retail areas are pretty seperated from the residential areas for the most part.

[farside098]

thanks to you both! I didn't know there was a Costco close by....the airpost isn't very far, at least not for me since here in Fla I am used to commuting 60 miles per day just to get to work! & to everywhere else for that matter! I was at a Winco last year when I was visiting and it didn't seem to clean...it was the one up around 102nd Ave. Looks like it will be Costco & the Super Walmart in the couve for me!

[esya]

Portland does not have any walmart's? That is one of the nicest things I have heard about it yet.