Quite possibly moving to Portland... a few questions... (Beaverton, Tualatin: apartments, for rent)

[psulions2007]

Hi everyone! So I'm being flown up to Portland next week for the last step of the interview process for a job, and I'm really excited! I'm really hoping to get this position, and I'm pretty sure that unless I completely fumble this last step, I have the job.

Anyways, so I'm probably moving to Portland in early July and I have a few questions. For reference, my job would be located just north of Downtown in I suppose is what is technically the Pearl District.

My first question is where do you guys think is the best place for me to live is? I'm heavily leaning towards somewhere on the US 26 corridor in Washington County... Beaverton preferred, but I could live further out if necessary. Ideally, I want a 2 or 3 bedroom townhome that is dog-friendly (I have a neutered Siberian Husky who was always 43-44 pounds but in his last appointment finally jumped to 47 pounds) with good access to shopping, the freeways, and light rail. (I'm sure you've heard this a billion times). I absolutely do not want to live east of the Willamette (no offense to those who do... it's just that I've had my fair share of bridge-crossing commutes and Mount Hood makes me mildly nervous).

This brings up my second question.... what is the percentage of homes for rent that have AC? That is an absolute requirement for me as I'm a cold-oriented person and my dog obviously cannot tolerate heat. When I look online, however, I see a lot of mentions of "central heat" which is also quite prevalent in newer construction. Do people just generally think of central heat/AC as the same and forget to put it in there? Or do people just not use AC at all? Do you guys have any advice for searching for places with AC?

My last question is with respect to my visit next week. My interview is in the Pearl District, and I'm staying a few blocks away in NW Portland. Does anyone have any dining recommendations? For lunch at least I'd want something not messy or smelly hah. Dinner I can be much more adventurous . Also, I'd like to stop by a local brewery and have a beer before I go to sleep that night.... so any recommendations on that would be great too!


Thanks so much!

[Steve Pickering]

Oregon is not big on Air Conditioning. We mostly just get a window unit for the bedroom. We just don't need them. We do often need heat in the summer though.

As to the Beer at night, get a place within walking distance as Oregon frowns on drinking and driving.

Portland has a lot of bridges and living east of the Willamette is no big deal. Now North is a real issue.

[EnricoV]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

I absolutely do not want to live east of the Willamette (no offense to those who do... it's just that I've had my fair share of bridge-crossing commutes and Mount Hood makes me mildly nervous).

Oh my! Mt. Hood? Seriously? As in erupting?

If this were seriously a concern (and it's not), you wouldn't want to live on the mountain, or on the banks of the Sandy or Columbia Rivers (near the mountain). The rest of the east bank of the Willamette? Not even slightly a concern.

The bridges are a slight issue, but there are a lot of them. Keep in mind, since you're thinking of living west of the Tualatin Mountains, those present a commute issue to downtown Portland. There are only so many decent routes over the mountain ... fewer, in fact, than there are ways to cross the Willamette.

[oregonwoodsmoke]

You won't find many places with a straight air conditioner. Some places will have a heat pump, which can be used as an air conditioner in the summer.

Heat pumps are more common in single family houses than in town houses or apartments, because of the noise factor.

[the12ronin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Oregon is not big on Air Conditioning. We mostly just get a window unit for the bedroom. We just don't need them. We do often need heat in the summer though.

As to the Beer at night, get a place within walking distance as Oregon frowns on drinking and driving.

Portland has a lot of bridges and living east of the Willamette is no big deal. Now North is a real issue.

Friendly people here 'ey OP?


rofl..

[Minervah]

With a dog of the size of yours, the wish for three bedrooms and your need for central AC, I would seriously consider renting a house. A two bedroom town house wouldn't be difficult but the other two wants will be difficult to find.

[oldtintype]

I see you live in Indiana...the heat here is nothing like the heat there and we don't get really high temps very often. When it does get hot the evenings cool down and so no, not many places have central air conditioning because it's not needed. People do indeed mostly use window air conditioners or portable air conditioners. Out of everyone I know, I have two friends with central air. No one else has it.

Not sure what your fear is about the east side, but if you're working in the Pearl I'd really fear the commute from the areas you're mentioning more than any issues with Mt. Hood. The bridges here are also not like regular bridges. I'm originally from San Francisco and yes, crossing the Bay Bridge or Golden Gate Bridge can be a nightmare. Here the bridges are free, they are numerous and there isn't a specific issue to crossing them. If the streets are crowded the bridges are too. If they're not, they aren't. Traffic isn't specific to the bridges as there are no tolls. Anyway, if you plan to take Max and the streetcar your commute from Beaverton will be OK but if you're driving...and you have the option to live somewhere closer in I'd go for it. You'll save a lot on time and gas. If you're looking for a more suburban feel there are areas of outer SW and NW that are more like that but you don't have to take 26 to get to the Pearl. Quite frankly if it was me, I'd live somewhere off the streetcar or a bus line that goes to the Pearl because parking will cost you a fortune too (in addition to the gas and time for the commute). Portland is dog friendly and there is for example a dog park at Wallace, which is in the upper part of NW that has a lot of condos, etc. that take dogs. You can be in the city and not be IN the city if that makes sense. Many of the neighborhoods are more suburban in feel and have lots of dog friendly options but would make your commute more livable.

[oldtintype]

Bridgeport Brewery has a restaurant and is a good lunch (or dinner) option. It's right off the streetcar and walking distance from most of NW (or the Pearl). That would solve your food and your beer issue There are also tons of restaurants all over NW and downtown so it won't be hard to find something, even if you're just wandering around.

[sayulita]

I had central air put in when I bought my house because I hate really hot weather. I knew I would only be using it maybe 15-20 days out of the whole year, but it was still worth it to me. Before that, I had a window unit in my bedroom and just sort of lived in there until the heat wave passed. So if you can put up with that (living in one room with forays out for food and the bathroom) for a few days a year, just get a window unit for wherever you end up renting.

Good luck on your interview!

[hamellr]

Originally Posted by psulions2007

My last question is with respect to my visit next week. My interview is in the Pearl District, and I'm staying a few blocks away in NW Portland. Does anyone have any dining recommendations? For lunch at least I'd want something not messy or smelly hah. Dinner I can be much more adventurous . Also, I'd like to stop by a local brewery and have a beer before I go to sleep that night.... so any recommendations on that would be great too!


Thanks so much!

Lunch: Hawaiian Time, Little Big Burger, Deschutes Brewery, Rogue Brewery, or just about any Food Cart.

Dinner: Oba!, Andina, Blue Olive, Smokehouse 21, Urban Fondue, Papa Haydn, Beau Thai, Caffe Mingo, Swagat, Bamboo Sushi, Dorio, Mio Shushi, Irving Street Kitchen, Paragon, Fratelli, Park Kitchen, Silk, Clyde Common, Eleni's Philoxenia, Sauce Box, Gilt Club, Little Bird, Portland City Grill (do happy hour,) Luc Luc, Red Star Tavern, Departure (top of the Nines Hotel,) and about a hundred other good choices.

Breweries: Deschutes, Rogue, Tug Boat, and in a pinch, any of the four McMenamins that are in that area or walking distance.