Interview in Portland (Beaverton, Cedar Mill, Cedar Hills: apartment complexes, rent, hotel)

[melgirl30]

Hi -

I am heading to Portland in June for an interview at Providence St. Vincent's Medical Center, will be staying at the Courtyard Marriot in Beaverton. I will have a full day to explore and want find out about potential neighborhoods that I could check out for the heck of it.

About Me:

-30 y/o female
-Budget $600-$800
-Looking for a walkable neighborhood with shops, grocery stores, bars, restaurants close by
-Don't mind apartment complexes or something that's part of a house
-I will have a car but maybe I could use public transit to work

My boyfriend will be joining me once his visa is approved, hopefully Dec/Jan. He's a java developer, is there a good software industry there?

Also, I am cool with Portland weather but how is the rest of the state's climate. Can you drive like an hour and be in a different type of climate?

Very excited to go there! Looks so beautiful.

[Rob Allen]

St. Vincent's is not really in a walkable neighborhood, but it does have transit connections. The #20 bus stops at the front door, and the MAX light rail and a few other bus routes stop at the Sunset Transit Center, which is nearby. Check the local transit agency's website - TriMet: Public Transportation for the Portland, Oregon, Metro Area - for details about where the buses and trains can take you.

The hospital is on the northeast side of Beaverton, and the Courtyard Marriott is on the southeast side. So the obvious thing to do is explore Beaverton in between. There's a highway (Route 217) between the hotel and the hospital; take that if time is of the essence - you don't want to be late for your interview! But when you can, take the local streets instead. From the hotel, take Hall Blvd. to Cedar Hills Blvd. to Barnes Road, where the hospital is. That will give you a good look at central Beaverton. If you're there on a Saturday, or a Wednesday starting June 20, definitely stop at the Farmers Market - Beaverton Farmers Market.

Then try driving the routes of some of the buses & trains that stop at the Sunset Transit Center. Several of them serve residential neighborhoods close to the hospital; others go across Portland. Follow the #20 bus route east on Barnes into Portland - once you reach the more urban-looking section, turn left and explore the 23rd St./Nob Hill area.

For a more suburban experience, drive west on Barnes until it meets Cornell Road; that area's called Cedar Mill. Turn left on Cornell and drive thru the Tanasbourne area that stretches from 158th past 185th.

There is definitely a software industry here. My employer has an opening or two for a java developer right now. Check with me again when he gets here.

The climate is pretty similar on the west side of the Cascade Mountains; it's wet and green. The coast is a little wetter than the Willamette Valley. The Cascades have snow year-round, and the east side is much drier. It's more than an hour to get to a distinctly drier climate, but still an easy day trip.

[Minervah]

Rob's information is great. I can only add to it that Providence Hospital groups have a reputation as being very good to work for. Good luck with your interview.

[hamellr]

Java developers specifically are in high demand. If he's got any Ruby skills or IOS skills too he'll have a job with not problem. Unfortunately for most, those seem to be about the only jobs that are in high demand for people right now.

[Nell Plotts]

The only thing I can add is that the hospital has a shuttle to the MAX station so you don't need to wait for the #20 bus.

FYI, your rent budget is unrealistically low. $800/mo maybe, $600/mo no chance.

[melgirl30]

Originally Posted by Rob Allen

St. Vincent's is not really in a walkable neighborhood, but it does have transit connections. The #20 bus stops at the front door, and the MAX light rail and a few other bus routes stop at the Sunset Transit Center, which is nearby. Check the local transit agency's website - TriMet: Public Transportation for the Portland, Oregon, Metro Area - for details about where the buses and trains can take you.

The hospital is on the northeast side of Beaverton, and the Courtyard Marriott is on the southeast side. So the obvious thing to do is explore Beaverton in between. There's a highway (Route 217) between the hotel and the hospital; take that if time is of the essence - you don't want to be late for your interview! But when you can, take the local streets instead. From the hotel, take Hall Blvd. to Cedar Hills Blvd. to Barnes Road, where the hospital is. That will give you a good look at central Beaverton. If you're there on a Saturday, or a Wednesday starting June 20, definitely stop at the Farmers Market - Beaverton Farmers Market.

Then try driving the routes of some of the buses & trains that stop at the Sunset Transit Center. Several of them serve residential neighborhoods close to the hospital; others go across Portland. Follow the #20 bus route east on Barnes into Portland - once you reach the more urban-looking section, turn left and explore the 23rd St./Nob Hill area.

For a more suburban experience, drive west on Barnes until it meets Cornell Road; that area's called Cedar Mill. Turn left on Cornell and drive thru the Tanasbourne area that stretches from 158th past 185th.

There is definitely a software industry here. My employer has an opening or two for a java developer right now. Check with me again when he gets here.

The climate is pretty similar on the west side of the Cascade Mountains; it's wet and green. The coast is a little wetter than the Willamette Valley. The Cascades have snow year-round, and the east side is much drier. It's more than an hour to get to a distinctly drier climate, but still an easy day trip.

Thank you!

[Daisy32673]

Originally Posted by Nell Plotts

The only thing I can add is that the hospital has a shuttle to the MAX station so you don't need to wait for the #20 bus.

FYI, your rent budget is unrealistically low. $800/mo maybe, $600/mo no chance.

Agreed. Is this monthly budget for a one or two BR place? Like Nell said, no wa will you pay $600/mo for either a 1 or 2 BR. Especially if you want to be somewhere within walking to shops/restaurants/bars.

[melgirl30]

$800 or so is fine but not higher than $1,000 a month. I would want a one bedroom, if I found a two bedroom that would be cool too but I won't push my luck!