Does anyone have any info on Milwaukie?

[babycoleslaw]

Originally Posted by PDXmom

I've been hearing the Milwaukie line will be up and running in the next few years as long as I've lived in Portland... 18 years now. So I'm not holding my breath for the Milwaukie Max. But since Sellwood / Westmoreland/ Eastmoreland have increased in value so rapidly, it is trickling over into Milwaukie... slower than SE Portland but rising prices are coming to Milwaukie.

I know folks who can't afford to live in Westmoreland/ Sellwood but want all the amenities of Westmoreland / Sellwood so they pick Milwaukie & drive over to the shops ect of Westmoreland.

What about the supposed line from Wilsonville?? I've heard that one is next in line, true???

[None ya]

Originally Posted by babycoleslaw

My research has shown that Milwaukie was named in the top 50 best places to raise a family.
Any insiders know any pertinant info I should know?
Safety, culture, schools, etc....
Much appreciated!!!

Milwakie Oregon is the home of the original skin heads. It also has the noisiest train I have ever experienced. The stores are extremely difficult to access. There are dividers in the road.

If you happen to be at the crossing when the train comes; be prepared for a very long wait.

As a matter of fact, I would say that you may as well move into a industrial area. The train and the road dividers make it impossible to sleep or shop in the area.

[urbanlife78]

Originally Posted by None ya

Milwakie Oregon is the home of the original skin heads. It also has the noisiest train I have ever experienced. The stores are extremely difficult to access. There are dividers in the road.

If you happen to be at the crossing when the train comes; be prepared for a very long wait.

As a matter of fact, I would say that you may as well move into a industrial area. The train and the road dividers make it impossible to sleep or shop in the area.

Did you move into a place in Milwaukie next to the train tracks or something?

[crisw]

Originally Posted by None ya

Milwakie Oregon is the home of the original skin heads.

Actually, skinheads originated in Great Britain. And I can't find anything to suggest that Milwaukie (note the spelling) was their point of origin in the US. See, for example, this article from 1988- Neo-nazi Skinheads Throw Shadow Over Northwest - tribunedigital-chicagotribune The horrific 1988 murder of Mulugeta Seraw was committed by men who had ties to a group in Fallbrook, CA headed up by Tom Metzger. Metzger is usually regarded as the founder of racist skinhead activity in the US.

As an aside, growing up in San Diego, I remember all the news stories Metzger spawned, including his ties to Seraw's death. In 1980, he ran for- and won- the Democratic primary for the House of Representatives, causing the local Democrats to back the Republican candidate, who then won in a landslide...

[ormari]

^ I remember that event very well. That happened in SE Portland, Near 27th and Belmont (somehow Alder St. sticks out in my mind...), not Milwaukie. A few years later, I can remember looking at a house around 36th and Belmont where swastikas were carved into the woodwork. My point? Neighborhoods change, and that's evident in SE. I haven't heard anything until now about skinheads, nazi or otherwise, populating Milwaukie. But if they are there, they're not the "original skinheads."

[RipCityBassWorks]

I have lived in Milwaukie for the past 5 years, so here's what I got:

1. Milwaukie is a major stoner town, but with very few hard drugs
2. Milwaukie is a less affluent suburb of Portland, so naturally housing is cheaper and you won't find all the hipster shops that Portland has.
3. Very walkable/bikeable town
4. The Portland - Milwaukie light rail (orange line) will be completed summer 2015 for easy transit to Portland
5. Subsequent to the rail line, property values are projected to increase in a few years, so now is the time to buy
6. Though still not great, downtown is improving with a couple of new restaurants, the farmers market, and the almost complete rail line.
7. Lack of small business shopping options in Milwaukie (mostly large retailers: Hagans, Safeway, Walmart....), though just past Milwaukie on 82nd ave you have Clackamas Town Center Mall and the abundance of business around.
8. Milwaukie High School and Putnam High School are about average, but the technical center shared between Milwaukie, Putnam, and Clackamas is top 5 in the state.
9. Music scene and nightlife is nonexistent in Milwaukie (unless you like the tiny Irish pub Duffy's), go to Portland for that
10. Milwaukie has very little violent crime, but parts of it have a lot of theft (King Road area and some McLaughlin areas)
11. Overall I much prefer the Portland, but Milwaukie has a low cost of living so to me it's definitely worth living here.

[RipCityBassWorks]

Originally Posted by None ya

Milwakie Oregon is the home of the original skin heads. It also has the noisiest train I have ever experienced. The stores are extremely difficult to access. There are dividers in the road.

If you happen to be at the crossing when the train comes; be prepared for a very long wait.

As a matter of fact, I would say that you may as well move into a industrial area. The train and the road dividers make it impossible to sleep or shop in the area.

I've lived in Milwaukie 5 years now and I have seen 0 actual skinheads. Closest I have met are some fairly racist rednecks, but nothing that extreme.

[ccjarider]

For what it's worth, we purchased a home in Milwaukie 4 years ago. Moved here from Chicago suburbs for a new job. Home is close to my work. Neighborhood is quiet, neighbors are normal, mostly conservative, working class or retired folks. There are a few people here who "escaped" the stupidity and costs/fees of Portland. They are very happy with their decision to move.

The town has everything people need most of the time and is a convenient, cost effective place. If one wants to go watch Portland weird, it is 20 minutes away.