asking for advice on moving to the portland area

[verdant hero]

so i've been seriously considering moving down that way for a while after i get somethings in order. so, i dont know the area at all. i've been to portland 4 times all of which were con related. so i dont know... anything other than houseing is quite a bit cheaper down there.

assistance needed!

[DancingTofu]

The Willamette river splits the city east-west; Alder splits the city North-South.  Trimet's cheap and bikes are sexy.  Anything else you need to know?

Oh, and none of that sales tax crap.

[kylite]

you forgot to mention starbucks on every corner!

[tofutakeout]

you must go to voodoo doughnuts and saturday market. that's more of a pleasurable thing. I'm not really sure on housing since I've never really lived in portland. I live in milwaukie. there are always a lot of people looking for roomies here. oh you could try craiglist to find a palce to live and what not if you haven't tried that yet.

[DancingTofu]

you forgot to mention starbucks on every corner!

I think that applies to everywhere on the West Coast though. . .

[dakiro]

The Willamette river splits the city east-west; Alder splits the city North-South.  Trimet's cheap and bikes are sexy.  Anything else you need to know?

Oh, and none of that sales tax crap.

isn't it Burnside 0.o

[laurifer]

you forgot to mention starbucks on every corner!

I think that applies to everywhere on the West Coast though. . .

Thank god they're closing a bunch of 'em.


...apartments downtown are expensive. Or so I heard.

[DancingTofu]

The Willamette river splits the city east-west; Alder splits the city North-South.  Trimet's cheap and bikes are sexy.  Anything else you need to know?

Oh, and none of that sales tax crap.

isn't it Burnside 0.o

Yeah, in practice.  But it's North Burnside and NW Ash not Burnside and SW Ash IIRC, so the city planners don't think so.

It's supposed to be alphabetical north-south and numerical east-west, but a number of things screwed that grand idea up, like the presidential district and Broadway.

[tofutakeout]

you forgot to mention starbucks on every corner!

I think that applies to everywhere on the West Coast though. . .

Thank god they're closing a bunch of 'em.


...apartments downtown are expensive. Or so I heard.

I know right. I'm so happy for it agian. you will never plauge me again with your never ending ness! lol

[DancingTofu]

The housing market in central Portland is more expensive than Vancouver, WA; but it's not nearly as expensive as Seattle.  SE Portland has some great small 1- or 2-bedroom houses that can quickly become homes, but it's not really cheap.  There are a lot of good apartments and townhouses in Hillsboro/Beaverton, but that can be a little out of the way if you're working a downtown or Gresham job.  There are a lot of pleasant little apartments and condos just west of I-5 in the northwest quadrant, especially along Everett and Davis.  (the "Alphabet" district)

And if you want a yard, just get a place near Park or a really nice job. (AKA 9th)  No lawn to mow.

There's a building (kind of X-shaped) near PSU that has 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and Studio apartments; my dad lived there for a couple years when I was in Middle School and I think they ran pretty cheap for a downtown apartment (around $400-$600 a month?)

I can't remember the name of the building, but if you want me to check it out for you, I'd be happy to.

[superjaz]

our uwajimaya isnt as big as your but it does have more of a homey feel, and the restarant hakatamon has the best ginger pork in the state