What do you folks think of Bethany NW Portland ? (Beaverton: homes, unemployed)

[Discovery1]

How do you compare between Bethany Vs Beaverton or Hillsboro in general?
What do you think the future of Bethany will be say 5-10 years down the road ?
Many thanks

[Nell Plotts]

Beaverton is an older community than Bethany. I don't really understand your question about Bethany's future?

[christiner81]

to me, Bethany is soccer moms and cookie cutter suburbia, moreso than beaverton. They have some of the better schools in beaverton and some of the newest homes. Personally, I like established older neighborhoods and homes that have a little more space between them. There is something about brand new construction of homes with tiny yards right next to rolling farmland that bothers me a bit. I can understand why people would want that, but it isn't preferable to me.

beaverton and hillsboro are much bigger and have more variety, i'm not really sure they're comparable to a small community area like Bethany. 5-10 years down the road i think bethany will still be a desireable place to live because the schools are good. The proximity to the PCC campus there is really nice too.

[hamellr]

Bethany is the nasty suburbs that everyone loves to hate. That entire area was farmland just twenty years ago. Now it's nothing but cookie cutter neighborhood after neighborhood.

I have nothing to back this up, must my gut feeling is that most people in that area are Intel employees. Many of whom are transitionary and will be moving on eventually.

My biggest problem with the entire area though is that it's not convenient to much. It takes time along over crowded roads to get to the highway. Stores and shopping are a few miles away. Few of the roads were built pedestrian or bike friendly. Even typical needs such as parks, churches and doctors can be miles away.

In your time frame, I don't think it's going to change much. Intel will still likely be the biggest employer and the population will tend to be short timers and technical. The prospect of infilling with commercial spaces is not possible in most places, so walkability and livability are going to remain low.

[Nell Plotts]

Actually there is a lot of park space along the electrical transmission line right of way, running trails, children's playground and the like

[asubram3]

Originally Posted by hamellr

I have nothing to back this up, must my gut feeling is that most people in that area are Intel employees. Many of whom are transitionary and will be moving on eventually.

Why do you say Intel employees are transitionary? The pay is pretty good.

[christiner81]

Originally Posted by asubram3

Why do you say Intel employees are transitionary? The pay is pretty good.

i've heard that intel is known for being a high-stress workplace where people don't tend to last long. they also bring in people from all over the world who may not want to reside in the US forever.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by asubram3

Why do you say Intel employees are transitionary? The pay is pretty good.

I don't remember the exact percentage, but Intel is #1 or #2 company with the most H1 Visas in the Country. (Microsoft is the other.) Most of those are Indians who only work here for two to five years.

On top of that, Intel relies heavily on contractors, 12 months on, six months off. Most of those are lower paying jobs, in the $20/hour range for specific projects. Most of the people I know who work those contracts do two or three, then get tired of being unemployed for six months at a time. With their skill sets that means moving to Austin, SF or Seattle for a full time non-contract job.

[Discovery1]

Cookie cutter neighborhoods ? Umm ... Now i don't understand why on earth zipcode 97229 is second or third most expendsive in Portland metro.
Maybe those who currently live there can explain the reason why.

Originally Posted by hamellr

Bethany is the nasty suburbs that everyone loves to hate. That entire area was farmland just twenty years ago. Now it's nothing but cookie cutter neighborhood after neighborhood.

I have nothing to back this up, must my gut feeling is that most people in that area are Intel employees. Many of whom are transitionary and will be moving on eventually.

My biggest problem with the entire area though is that it's not convenient to much. It takes time along over crowded roads to get to the highway. Stores and shopping are a few miles away. Few of the roads were built pedestrian or bike friendly. Even typical needs such as parks, churches and doctors can be miles away.

In your time frame, I don't think it's going to change much. Intel will still likely be the biggest employer and the population will tend to be short timers and technical. The prospect of infilling with commercial spaces is not possible in most places, so walkability and livability are going to remain low.

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by Discovery1

Cookie cutter neighborhoods ? Umm ... Now i don't understand why on earth zipcode 97229 is second or third most expendsive in Portland metro.
Maybe those who currently live there can explain the reason why.

Because it's close to all the Intel plants.