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Old 10-18-2010, 01:24 PM
 
Location: Corvallis, OR
43 posts, read 227,605 times
Reputation: 34

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OSU is right downtown, so if you want to live where everything is, you'll have to deal with the kids. But you could probably find something to rent within a few miles of downtown. If you decide to move down here, try to look for rentals right when college is ending. The property management firms line up new renters for the school year quickly.

There is a shuttle to the airport. Its 50$ one way, I think. 80$ round trip? Something like that.

Not too familiar with year round Portland weather, so I'll leave that to someone else.
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Old 10-18-2010, 01:35 PM
 
13 posts, read 40,810 times
Reputation: 12
Thanks again, Zombiestare. I see you're in Albany. Is that another place I should consider? Walkable? Trees? Airport shuttle? Maybe easier to find rentals?
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Old 10-18-2010, 01:45 PM
 
Location: Lakewood OH
21,695 posts, read 28,326,496 times
Reputation: 35862
Albany doesn't have an airport shuttle. When my friend who lives there wants to travel she either drives to the Portland airport or comes to Porland and stays with me the night before she has to leave.

Portland is completely car-free possible. I have done it for over 30 years. You have to choose the right neighborhoods that are near shopping, downtown and public transportation. Sometimes it's a trade-off but if you find a neighborhood like mine, Buckman, in the Hawthorne area you will have trees, supermarkets, tons of shopping, walkablilty and good bus service. The draw-back? The cost of living with the ever-increasing rents.
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Old 10-18-2010, 01:59 PM
 
Location: Corvallis, OR
43 posts, read 227,605 times
Reputation: 34
I should update my location. I was in Albany for awhile, now I'm in Corvallis. Albany isn't very walkable. Wider streets, fewer trees. The downtown is half abandoned, though cute. Definitely easier to find rentals though.

There is a bus that will take you between Albany & Corvallis. Its about 15 miles or so.

Some people on this forum do prefer Albany to Corvallis, so you might want to check it out, but from what you described its probably not what you want.
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Old 10-18-2010, 11:36 PM
 
758 posts, read 2,363,267 times
Reputation: 344
Another thing to consider when you DO need a car is Zipcar or similar.
Corvallis' climate is similar to Portland's with the exception that they don't get as much dry, cold east wind in winter or the occasional ice storms that come with that (ground frozen from east wind, warm rain over the top). When that happens (every few years) Portland shuts down - the whole city is an ice rink. I am also thinking you can take Amtrak to Portland, then hop on Max light rail to the airport. Max serves a fairly long/narrow area - Hillsboro on the west to the airport and Gresham to the east, North Portland to downtown, and later south to near Oregon City. There are a lot of places to live near those lines.
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Old 10-19-2010, 10:14 AM
i7pXFLbhE3gq
 
n/a posts
Quote:
Albany doesn't have an airport shuttle.
Actually it does. You just need to book in advance (because they won't stop unless there are reservations). I forget which hotel they stop at, but it's the same shuttle as the one that goes through Corvallis (which also makes a stop in Salem).

Corvallis is much more walkable/bike-friendly than Albany, and there are more trees and a much more lively downtown (Albany's is just sad). However, rentals can be hard to find and rates can be high.

I would not want to be in Salem without a car.
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Old 10-19-2010, 11:28 AM
 
Location: Portland, OR
1,657 posts, read 4,467,118 times
Reputation: 907
Rain Walking:

If you come from a small town, I don't think the Pearl would be a good choice unless you seek a whole 'nother lifestyle. However, Portland is all about different neighborhoods, and each has it's own 'vibe' and rhythms. Google: Moving to Portland.

Ah, just where will your job be located? That will make a difference.
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Old 10-19-2010, 11:35 AM
 
Location: Portland Metro
2,318 posts, read 4,604,679 times
Reputation: 2773
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiled View Post
Corvallis' climate is similar to Portland's with the exception that they don't get as much dry, cold east wind in winter or the occasional ice storms that come with that (ground frozen from east wind, warm rain over the top).
Just another weather observation--around this time of year Corvallis can be pretty socked in with fog that burns off in the late morning-early afternoon. Portland can have patchy fog but I think there's more air flow that keeps the widespread fog away.

Corvallis is very easy to walk/bike around. I've been gone for a couple of years, and I now realize that I should have taken advantage of that more when I lived there. I think the Corvallis Transit System is good if you're close to a stop and trying to get to a hub--downtown or the OSU campus--but not so good if you're trying to get from a NW neighborhood to, say, a SW neighborhood. But the city is so small you'd be better off biking anyway. Also, consider living within walking distance to a grocery store.

There are lots of non-car-owners in Portland. I think the Trimet zones (TriMet: Adult Fares and TriMet's Fare Zones) pretty well lay out how easy it is to live without a car. Zone 1 = pretty darn easy, whereas Zone 3 = pretty much need a car.
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Old 10-19-2010, 11:45 AM
 
Location: Portland, OR
1,657 posts, read 4,467,118 times
Reputation: 907
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smiled View Post
......and later south to near Oregon City.
I don't think light rail will make it to Oregon City. I truly think Milwaukie is as far south as the Orange line will make it. And then If, and only if, the new bridge actually gets built. South from Milwaukie is all Clackamas County, Multnomah County taxpayers ain't paying for MAX beyond Milwaukie when there is such a strong need for Light Rail along side of US-26 downtown all the way out to the far eastern edge of Multnomah County.
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Old 10-19-2010, 12:05 PM
 
13 posts, read 40,810 times
Reputation: 12
Thank you all for the further info.

Philwithbeard, yes, I am looking for a different lifestyle, though I'm not sure how different I'm prepared for. Corvallis sounds like less of a culture shock than Portland. Maybe if I could find the right neighborhood. I work online from home, so Internet access is all I need for my "commute."

I searched on "moving to Portland" a few weeks ago and found a couple of sites describing all the neighborhoods. Very helpful but a lot to digest. I really need to visit and feel the vibes in person.
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