Life in the NW District (Portland: apartments, neighborhood, college)

[grlintheworld]

What's it like living in the NW district?

I've walked around so I know that there are all sorts of cute shops, restaurants, etc., but sometimes even though some place looks great to an outsider, living there can be a totally different story...

Likes? Dislikes?

[Nell Plotts]

I grew up in NW, after college & marriage raised my family in NW. BUT housing has gotten more expensive, relative, over the years.

Urban NW (aka The Flats) is high density living. A car is a detriment.

With that exception of the above it is a great community.

[grlintheworld]

Nell Plotts, which parts of NW are considered The Flats?

[Nell Plotts]

NW Portland is bounded on the west by a hill. If you go to Google maps and click on terrain you will see what I mean. Basically east of NW 25th if you are looking at apartments. There are some apartments on 29th and west of 25th on Thurman, however.

Vaughn is a very busy through street, I wouldn't live there or on any apartment building that abuts it even if it doesn't have a Vaughn address. It's not dangerous, just a quality of living thing.

[grlintheworld]

In the more urban part, does it get very loud? Busy? Are people always out and about? What sort of people? Coming from NYC I'm looking for something way more peaceful, but without sacrificing the feeling that people live there, you know? Best of both worlds?

[Nell Plotts]

Not particularly loud, of course some areas are quieter than others. A sports bar can be noisey, for example. Freeways always have a hum about them, avoid areas where there is a grade as truck engines & brakes can be particularly annoying (imho freeway noise floats goes up, not down). I would avoid aerials, generally, if noise is a factor. Areas of a building where the garbage truck loads could be problematic. The usual urban living issues.

[Rob Allen]

The NW, especially around 21st-22nd Aves, feels more like NYC to me than any other part of Portland.

[UrbanAdventurer]

Originally Posted by grlintheworld

In the more urban part, does it get very loud? Busy? Are people always out and about? What sort of people? Coming from NYC I'm looking for something way more peaceful, but without sacrificing the feeling that people live there, you know? Best of both worlds?

They have neighborhood noise ordinances with bars and club along NW 21st and 23rd which I believe means they have to shut down earlier than most places. But yeah that's one of the busier foot traffic areas because of the density, and is definitely and urban area. Parking is generally a chore...all street and there really aren't any high density parking structures like in downtown/SW, except for maybe the hospital.

[grlintheworld]

Rob Allen, where would you say feels the LEAST like NYC to you?

[Rob Allen]

The least like NYC... that's a question I've never pondered before. Maybe Forest Heights, or the West Hills area in general. Streets that meander around the sides of hills instead of in a grid.