Working in Oregon City, living...???

[Nell Plotts]

If I could make it from downtown Portland to Oregon city during commute times in 30 minutes I would give you a great big hug.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

In response to the OP, my answer is that it depends:

-If you are younger, single, and looking to be closer to the city, my advice would be to go to Oregon City where I-205 and highway 99 meet, drive towards downtown along 99 for about 15 minutes, and then try to find a spot nearby. My guess is that you'll either end up close to the Milwaukie Town Center, or in the Eastmoreland area. If you make it to Eastmoreland (and you might - it is a reverse commute you would be making), that would be an outstanding option for a younger person seeking a hip area that's close in. Milwaukie is kind of in between.

-If you want to go upscale but with a city feel, then I would start at I-205 and Highway 43, and drive in to someplace near the Lake Oswego town center (shouldn't take more than 10-15 minutes). Definitely an older/family crowd here though.

-If you want the best bang for your buck within 15 minutes of Oregon City, head up I-205 to around Clackamas Town Center, and look for something near there (Happy Valley in particular). But this is probably a better bet if you want family suburban life at a good price. Happy Valley built a ton of nice homes in the past 5-7 years and then the housing crash hit them worse (most of the higher wage jobs are farther away from Happy Valley, either downtown or in Washington County), so lots of bargains there if that's what you are looking for.

Good luck with your decision!

[kander63]

I would suggest you look into the Sellwood and Westmoreland neighborhoods in Portland. They are as close as you can get to Oregon City while still being in portland, and are very lively - lots of shops, coffeehouses, restaurants, etc.

[The Cactus Leaguer]

Originally Posted by kander63

I would suggest you look into the Sellwood and Westmoreland neighborhoods in Portland. They are as close as you can get to Oregon City while still being in portland, and are very lively - lots of shops, coffeehouses, restaurants, etc.

Yes I agree, my bad for not mentioning, these are as good or better options as Eastmoreland for your situation, and about the same distance coming in along 99 from Oregon City.

[ParadiseFalls]

Thanks, everyone, for all the advice! I thought I had subscribed to email notifications for responses, but apparently not since I didn't get any emails.

After hours upon hours of Internet research/pro-con lists/etc., I decided to choose based primarily on the place itself rather than the location provided it was commutable without misery.

I settled on a house with three other people (I'm 22 and wanted to make sure I meet people, so living with others feels like the way to go) in the Roseway neighborhood. It seems to be close enough to Alberta not to be boring, but it's also close to the highway so I can get to work easily. Does that sound about right?

[Nell Plotts]

Makes very good sense to me. When I was your age I shared a townhouse, we never lacked for something to do on the weekends.

[Mclaurin]

Do the dog sitter.

I live in LO, it is great for families and old people. LO, West Linn, Oregon City, all the same in that regard.

LO is beautiful, as an established burb, but it's a burb. We go in to Portland for arts...etc. From the north end it's very close, closer than some that live in Ptld to get to downtown. Yet not for singles.


How about driving from downtown on Macadam to Oregon City. just to see. It does back up, but it's not a freeway and it is pretty. You might check out the bus situation if you did live in town. Many people who work in LO bus downtown if they live close to Macadam which is the road actually called a highway going from downtown Portland to Oregon City through LO and West Linn. Depending on where you are working in Oregon City might that work for you?

I like LO, because I like to garden big time. I do get bored here though now that kids are gone. Many do and many leave after kids. So for you, I just don't see it.

Look at SE Portland too. You could live in Sellwood or West Moreland and it wouldn't be that different from LO in terms of time.

That's my $0.02