Why are condos in Saint Johns so cheap? (city hall, for rent)

[CPF]

Originally Posted by TheSecondHalf

It seems too good to be true.

St. Johns is off the freeways, squeezed in on a peninsula, and more difficult to access than the rest of the city. Thus the lower prices. Getting downtown or anywhere really requires a car or taxi and some patience. Whether that is good or bad for you is a question of lifestyle.

[TheSecondHalf]

Thanks, for all the feedback, everyone. I have a lot more insight now.

[DonnaInfopro]

St John's is going through tremendous change. It has been slowed by the recession but what has only increased is the interest on the part of residents to actually work on improving things. This includes the many new residents who are coming here.

One big change is with an important street running through the heart of SJ and which previously split SJ in two - with one side being considered "bad". This street was used by long-haul truckers as a short cut through Portland up until Feb 2013. Because of strong community organization we got the trucks rerouted onto the actual truck route and off this important street. In addition, we have just been funded for a series of pedestrian crossing and traffic calming improvements on this corridor. The change to this street is going to affect the whole of SJ - no longer will there be two St John's. People will be moving freely about the neighborhood and more businesses will be coming here.

This area is a diamond in the rough. In ten years it will be amazing.

[Squidlo]

Originally Posted by DonnaInfopro

St John's is going through tremendous change. It has been slowed by the recession but what has only increased is the interest on the part of residents to actually work on improving things. This includes the many new residents who are coming here.

One big change is with an important street running through the heart of SJ and which previously split SJ in two - with one side being considered "bad". This street was used by long-haul truckers as a short cut through Portland up until Feb 2013. Because of strong community organization we got the trucks rerouted onto the actual truck route and off this important street. In addition, we have just been funded for a series of pedestrian crossing and traffic calming improvements on this corridor. The change to this street is going to affect the whole of SJ - no longer will there be two St John's. People will be moving freely about the neighborhood and more businesses will be coming here.

This area is a diamond in the rough. In ten years it will be amazing.

Donna why are you not naming the street? I was born and raised in the area. I remember log trucks roaring down Lombard and Fessenden as a kid.

Please define "traffic calming".

The the traffic of Lombard does not "divide St Johns". The quality of the homes and neighborhood does. Willamette Blvd would be the "nicer" area and moving south you will see the changes as you get closer to Columbia Blvd.
The old rule of "stay south of Lombard" is a no brainer for someone who does not know the area intimately.

For the record I lived north of Lombard.

[bler144]

Originally Posted by Squidlo

Donna why are you not naming the street? I was born and raised in the area. I remember log trucks roaring down Lombard and Fessenden as a kid.

Please define "traffic calming".

The the traffic of Lombard does not "divide St Johns". The quality of the homes and neighborhood does. Willamette Blvd would be the "nicer" area and moving south you will see the changes as you get closer to Columbia Blvd.
The old rule of "stay south of Lombard" is a no brainer for someone who does not know the area intimately.

For the record I lived north of Lombard.

It's gentrified quite a bit - my perception is that the current north/south divider is St. Louis/Fessenden.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by Squidlo

Donna why are you not naming the street? I was born and raised in the area. I remember log trucks roaring down Lombard and Fessenden as a kid.

Please define "traffic calming".

The the traffic of Lombard does not "divide St Johns". The quality of the homes and neighborhood does. Willamette Blvd would be the "nicer" area and moving south you will see the changes as you get closer to Columbia Blvd.
The old rule of "stay south of Lombard" is a no brainer for someone who does not know the area intimately.

For the record I lived north of Lombard.

Traffic calming devices are all over Portland. Ladd's Addition has some beautiful ones with georgous roses. My neighborhood has smaller ones. Here's some examples of what they look like in various places.

https://www.google.com/search?q=traf...w=1280&bih=904

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by DonnaInfopro

St John's is going through tremendous change. It has been slowed by the recession but what has only increased is the interest on the part of residents to actually work on improving things. This includes the many new residents who are coming here.

One big change is with an important street running through the heart of SJ and which previously split SJ in two - with one side being considered "bad". This street was used by long-haul truckers as a short cut through Portland up until Feb 2013. Because of strong community organization we got the trucks rerouted onto the actual truck route and off this important street. In addition, we have just been funded for a series of pedestrian crossing and traffic calming improvements on this corridor. The change to this street is going to affect the whole of SJ - no longer will there be two St John's. People will be moving freely about the neighborhood and more businesses will be coming here.

This area is a diamond in the rough. In ten years it will be amazing.

Which street in St Johns are you referring to?

[eric351982]

I live near St. Johns and really like it. You are close to the University of Portland and everything you need is here: Dollar Tree, Grocery Outlet, Safeway, post office, movie theater, Mcmenamins, Burgerville. I like it. Only 10 minute drive to downtown with no traffic.

[oldtintype]

I like St. Johns too, but the 'no traffic' part is the issue, as is trying to get around via bus. Still, 10 minutes even with no traffic seems too short. I worked there for a while and it seems like it took at least 20 min even at night.....I would take the bridge to 30....

[urbanlife78]

St Johns is one of those places that is weirdly connected and isolated at the same time. I don't know much about the area, but I do have some good friends that live up there and swear by the area. Who know, when we move back that might be our target area for buying a home seeing that it is one of the areas in the city that still very reasonable on the prices. Though Portland overall leveled out to where prices should be after the housing bubble burst in 2009.