24 year old moving to Portland; need help finding environmentalist, young neighborhoods (Eugene: apartment complex, rentals)

[ridicter]

Hey all,

I'm moving to Portland over the summer. I will be working in a telecommuting job in web development, which allows me to live anywhere. I would like to try out Portland.

It seems that the consensus is that NW Portland is for young professionals. I guess I would fit the bill of a "young professional," but I don't know if that fits me personality-wise. Though I will have a full time job, I'm not the type who dresses up in a suit from 9 to 5. Also, it seems like NW Portland is mostly full of older, more established people.

I'm most concerned about meeting people at my point in life. I'm moving to Portland without knowing anyone.

I would like to be around other young people (recent college graduates and the like) who are progressive/environmentally minded. I'm interested in gardening, permaculture, and nature in general. I have a feeling like I'm less likely to find that quality in a higher cost NW Portland. So here are some ideal qualities where I'd move:

• Young people/outlets to meet young people
• Active environmentalist communities (permaculture, urban gardening, and the like)
• public transportation, though I will have my own car
• close by to trails/nature

I'm willing to settle for only a few of these. Any ideas? Thanks

[Nell Plotts]

Originally Posted by ridicter;23760439Also, it seems like NW Portland is mostly full of older, more established people.

I'm most concerned about meeting people at my point in life. I'm moving to Portland without knowing anyone.

I would like to be around other young people (recent college graduates and the like) who are progressive/environmentally minded. I'm interested in gardening, permaculture, and nature in general. I have a feeling like I'm less likely to find that quality in a higher cost NW Portland. So here are some ideal qualities where I'd move:[LIST

[*]Young people/outlets to meet young people[*]Active environmentalist communities (permaculture, urban gardening, and the like)[*]public transportation, though I will have my own car[*]close by to trails/nature[/list]I'm willing to settle for only a few of these. Any ideas? Thanks

You can find all of these in almost any close in neighborhood that has a lot of condos/townhouses.

NW Portland has a lot of sub-cultures. In that area, as well as all neighborhoods in Portland, single family dwellings are usually occupied by families.

NW District
I don't think that any of the units on NW Naito Parkway will meet your needs, likewise 'Old Town". The Pearl is ideal but relatively expensive, particularly for parking but that is where the "yuppie" action is. Were I you I would start out there for a year and as your familiarity with Portland increases find your niche. Urban gardens are 'sign up' in nature and are sprinkled throughout the city. I think the City Park Bureau manages those.

[ridicter]

So you recommend the Pearl District?

• pearl district - 1

Just worried about whether I'll meet people in my age range....(laid back recent college grad types)... But I haven't even been to Portland, so I have no idea.

Thanks.

[Nell Plotts]

Ah, you have never experienced 'Thurst Thursday' in the Pearl.

Before you actually move I suggest you visit and experience the Pearl and the NW District, have coffee and pastry at St. Honore, watch the activities in Wallace Park on a weekend. Judge for yourself.

Read the Willamette Week online.

[davemess10]

I agree with your original assessment. You should probably avoid the NW and look to the SE (or NE). There are a lot more backyard chickens and urban gardeners there. Hook yourself up with something like a volunteer gig at Zenger Farms (which would be a great way to meet people that are interested in agriculture).

Personally, I really don't think the Pearl is going to fit your desires. There are some younger people there, but it's almost exclusively condo's and apartments (ie. people that most times specifically do not want a yard/garden). It definitely draws a certain type of person. In my experience, that's usually someone who kind of wishes Portland was a bigger city (like NYC) because they want the "city lifestyle" experience. I also wouldn't classify the area as "laid back".

[ridicter]

Thanks for your input.

It seems that there are no street cars/light rail stations in the inner SE. Is this true?

• Pearl District - 1
• SE - 1
• NE - 1

[davemess10]

Well the east side street car is almost complete. The inner SE is not very serviced by street car/MAX, but it's also really close so many there just bike or walk to get around. I'm sure Minervah will tell you all about the buses in that area.

So you've never been to Portland, why do you want to move here? And where are you from?

[Nell Plotts]

One of the reasons why answering questions like 'laid back' is so difficult is that we don't know the writer's culture. All of Portland is 'laid back' to someone from NY or CHI but not if you are from many southern communities. Context is everything.

[Minervah]

Originally Posted by davemess10

Well the east side street car is almost complete. The inner SE is not very serviced by street car/MAX, but it's also really close so many there just bike or walk to get around. I'm sure Minerva will tell you all about the buses in that area.

So you've never been to Portland, why do you want to move here? And where are you from?

Yes, Minerva will.

OP, if you can afford the close-in or inner SE side you will find some good bus lines but no light rails. The type of people you are looking for definitely live here.

I live off Hawthorne in what is called the "Buckman" area but also borders "Hosford-Abernathy" across the street and "Sunnyside" about a half mile to the East.

Within this area are two major bus lines; the #15 Belmont and the #14 Hawthorne. Both are frequent runs which, according to Trimet anyway, is every 15 minutes "or better."

The neighborhoods are definitely walkable with several supermarkets including two local ones that have mostly organic items and various types of stores and restaurants. There is also a large community garden on 20th and Salmon or thereabouts.

The rentals are more expensive the closer to downtown with not many vacancies appearing. You kind of have to be walking down the street to see the good stuff. For example my apartment complex of 11 apartment has a large back yard with a small space for gardening. The yard is big but the garden space is not large enough for all the tenants because it is shared by two buildings. I think my landlord assigns space to whoever asks first until space is gone. Like most landlords around here, with the exception of large rental management companies he puts out a "For Rent" sign and within days, sometimes hours the apartment is rented.

The trouble is, so many empty lots that were once used by the tenants living nearby or on private land for gardens have been converted into areas for apartment buildings. The demand for housing here is high. Even the community gardens have waiting lists. I looked up Portland community gardens and discovered those that are being accepted for waiting lists are pretty far out from the main part of the city.

There is also the neighborhoods that run along SE Division St and SE Powell Blvd. I don't know the names of the neighborhoods there but they are similar to the area I just described but less expensive. Then there is Lents (Davemess 10 can tell you about that one) and Montavilla which are farther out but also less expensive. Both have areas that have been much improved within the last five years or so and I believe are relatively more reasonable in rents.

It's really kind of tough to envision. You will be better off visiting the areas you think might suit you to see for yourself. It's easy to get around and won't take long to get from one place to another if you are driving. If you are taking public transportation it will take longer and you have to really plan ahead.

I would like to echo the question "Why Portland?" Just because I am curious as to why people chose a place to live. For me it was a job transfer 30 plus years ago but I had been to the city a couple of times so I knew what I was getting into.

[ridicter]

I'm in Austin, which is a great great city.

I'm moving to change the scene. Also, with family here in Austin, there's a good chance I'll be back. Being young and have a super flexible job, I want to taste test and see what's out there.

I'm fascinated by intentional communities, permaculture, urban homesteading, community gardening, urban planning, bike culture, etc which Portland is a well known paragon of. Portland was top of the list of cities my friends and I wanted to eventually visit/live in. (Along with Boulder, Austin, San Fran, etc.)

I think I'll probably spend a week or two or so in hostels checking out Eugene and Portland before deciding where to live.

Part of me wants to be around the driven folks of NW Portland; part of me wants to be around the community/permaculture/gardening types of SE Portland.