Expatriot returning - Everything is so different! - Where to live? (Portland: apartment, rental)

[malachai23]

I am a bit embarrassed to be posting this, because I am originally FROM Portland! But Portland has changed a LOT since I’ve been “in the loop” (all those posts about how much Portland has changed recently are CORRECT!!).

For instance, I’ve never been to the Alberta Arts or Mississippi Street or Kenton “Districts”. The last time I drove through those areas it was with car doors locked and they were not “Districts”. Those were fairly scary areas and there were definitely no cute little shops or pubs or pizza joints! Far SE Portland was never “hip”, but it was also not the highest crime area of the city. Young people did not flock to N/NE Portland in droves. The Pearl District didn’t exist. I have a beautiful memory of sitting on a loading dock of an old warehouse down there during my lunch break and hearing the faint sound of traffic far off in the distance (Burnside) and watching the wind blow a few leaves down the deserted sidewalk. And back then you could still park a car with ease around NW 23rd. Inner SE was super cheap. The ‘Couv wasn’t even an option. SO much has changed.

So anyhow, I will be moving back to Portland in the very near future. I’m hoping that some of you current Portlanders can help me out with narrowing my somewhat long-distance apartment search to a couple few general areas in or around Portland that would fit my lifestyle. Yes, I will be signing for the rental in person, but I will only have a day or two to do it… thus, the initial long-distance research! I’m hoping when I say what I’ll be looking for, some complex/community/area will come to mind, or maybe you live somewhere or have lived somewhere recently that sounds like what I’m about to describe. I would appreciate any suggestions.

MUSTS –
1) Will accept a cat.
2) Ample parking for a full-size truck.
3) Rent for 1bd up to $750
4) Washer & Dryer (or at the very least, hookups) in unit.

WISH LIST –
1) Walking distance to pub/coffee shop(s)
2) Community with 30-50 something single professionals (as opposed to 20-something partiers, older/elderly folks, or families with children… nothing against those demographics but I just don’t fall into them at this point in my life!)
3) Close to a freeway/highway (I will be commuting regularly to Troutdale and Salem)
4) Preferably an area that is quiet, clean, modern (or at least well kept up), mid to upper income bracket

I’m currently considering Lake Oswego, Multnomah Village, Hillsdale/Raleigh Hills. Back in the “day”, those areas would fit the bill. But do they still? What about Vancouver nowadays? I see some nice new buildings downtown there on Google Maps. What about this new “Fairview Village”? Any other areas that come to mind?

Thanks so much everyone!

PS - and yes, I have been looking at all the rental sites and craigslist, etc. But they often do not reveal the parking situation, or the items on my "wish list", and I would like to get this narrowed down ASAP! Thanks!

[Nell Plotts]

I wouldn't put Vancouver on my list as your will be commuting to Oregon. There are plans to replace the I-5 interstate bridge which will make traffic even worse during the process.

If you will be driving to Salem and Troutdale regularly you should look along your future commute route for neighborhoods within a mile of a freeway exit.

Your need to park a large pick-up truck but be close to coffee shop(s) may conflict.

[figmalt]

You should look at the Tanasbourne area, it won't have that nice 'downtown' feel to it, but it has a lot of youngish professionals, plenty of parking, Tansbourne shopping center and coffee shops within walking distance. The only drawback is that it is so much more suburban. Orenco Station is another option, with a lot of those amenities you requested. They're also more mid-way between Troutdale and Salem.

[Élan vital]

Originally Posted by malachai23

I am a bit embarrassed to be posting this, because I am originally FROM Portland! But Portland has changed a LOT since I’ve been “in the loop” (all those posts about how much Portland has changed recently are CORRECT!!).

For instance, I’ve never been to the Alberta Arts or Mississippi Street or Kenton “Districts”. The last time I drove through those areas it was with car doors locked and they were not “Districts”. Those were fairly scary areas and there were definitely no cute little shops or pubs or pizza joints! Far SE Portland was never “hip”, but it was also not the highest crime area of the city. Young people did not flock to N/NE Portland in droves. The Pearl District didn’t exist. I have a beautiful memory of sitting on a loading dock of an old warehouse down there during my lunch break and hearing the faint sound of traffic far off in the distance (Burnside) and watching the wind blow a few leaves down the deserted sidewalk. And back then you could still park a car with ease around NW 23rd. Inner SE was super cheap. The ‘Couv wasn’t even an option. SO much has changed.

So anyhow, I will be moving back to Portland in the very near future. I’m hoping that some of you current Portlanders can help me out with narrowing my somewhat long-distance apartment search to a couple few general areas in or around Portland that would fit my lifestyle. Yes, I will be signing for the rental in person, but I will only have a day or two to do it… thus, the initial long-distance research! I’m hoping when I say what I’ll be looking for, some complex/community/area will come to mind, or maybe you live somewhere or have lived somewhere recently that sounds like what I’m about to describe. I would appreciate any suggestions.

MUSTS –
1) Will accept a cat.
2) Ample parking for a full-size truck.
3) Rent for 1bd up to $750
4) Washer & Dryer (or at the very least, hookups) in unit.

WISH LIST –
1) Walking distance to pub/coffee shop(s)
2) Community with 30-50 something single professionals (as opposed to 20-something partiers, older/elderly folks, or families with children… nothing against those demographics but I just don’t fall into them at this point in my life!)
3) Close to a freeway/highway (I will be commuting regularly to Troutdale and Salem)
4) Preferably an area that is quiet, clean, modern (or at least well kept up), mid to upper income bracket

I’m currently considering Lake Oswego, Multnomah Village, Hillsdale/Raleigh Hills. Back in the “day”, those areas would fit the bill. But do they still? What about Vancouver nowadays? I see some nice new buildings downtown there on Google Maps. What about this new “Fairview Village”? Any other areas that come to mind?

Thanks so much everyone!

PS - and yes, I have been looking at all the rental sites and craigslist, etc. But they often do not reveal the parking situation, or the items on my "wish list", and I would like to get this narrowed down ASAP! Thanks!

why is your font so small?? I can barely read it.

anyway...I hope you make the transition back just fine. No expectations lead to no disappointment.

[malachai23]

I have no idea why the font is so small... I cut and pasted from Word and that was the result - plus a bunch of html looking jargon that I had to go back in and delete! Ugh. Sorry about that. I would like to blame it on Vista but it's probably user-error.

Anyhow - thanks for the suggestions everyone. I have never considered Tanasbourne before, just because it is so far west, and I will be commuting daily to Troutdale (and probably 1-2 days per week to Salem). But perhaps I will give it a looksee.

I can already tell that this big truck is going to be a pain in my side. Unfortunately, I'm not able to "downsize" at the moment.

Well, if anyone else can think of any other location or maybe even a specific rental community/complex that might fit my needs please let me know! Thanks so much everyone!