Moving to Portland, Or.

[Lathum]

So my family is on the move again. This time to Portland. Having lived in Seattle and gone to school at UW I'm excited to be back in the PNW. Wife was offered a VP job with a major company and the opportunity is too big to pass up. Financially it will put us so far ahead and my company is transferring me out there. Anyone ever been or lived in the area? We are looking at either West Linn or Lake Oswego to buy a house. Will be coming in middle of June to house hunt them moving in August in time for my oldest to start kindergarten.

[cartman]

One of my good friends used to live in Lake Oswego, and they liked the area.

[chinaski]

Lived here since 89. Lake Oswego / West Linn is the super yuppie uppity part of Oregon, so if thats your sorta thing, you'll love it

[thesloppy]

Here since '75. Ditto what chinaski said. West Linn and Lake Oswego are the least "Portland" parts of Portland, for better or worse. Not much different than living in any other upper-middle-class suburb anywhere else in the country. Strip malls of Whole Foods, PF Chang's and Bed, Bath and Beyonds. My mom's lived in Lake Oswego for the last 15 years and loves it, whereas I've still never found any reason to be in the area, other than to see my ma.

If I personally had a ton of cash and were looking for a house, I'd be looking in the Eastmoreland and/or Irvington neighborhoods, but I'm East Side or Die. Likewise, I prefer the SW Hills/Council Crest neighborhoods on the west side, compared to West Linn or Lake Oswego, as those are old neighborhoods with lots of character and beautiful old homes, whereas West Linn and Lake Oswego are relatively full of lots of bland, more modern developments.

[Lathum]

We prefer bland modern developments with great school districts .

[thesloppy]

...dola just to add that the public school system within Portland proper sucks ass, and likely always will, so I can certainly understand if that's what's pushing you towards the 'burbs.

[thesloppy]

Hah...I was just a little too late.

[Lathum]

How is traffic there?

[thesloppy]

..another less-than-positive that doesn't often get discussed regarding the Portland area, considering its liberal reputation: it's the whitest, least-diverse major city in America. It's also still, long rife with crime, unemployment, and piss-poor education, for any white supremacists/seperatists keeping track. Lake Oswego in particular is notoriously white (91% according to the 2010 census), for whatever that's worth.

Not to say it's like a klan meeting up here or anything (though, it used to be, back in the skinhead '80s)....if anything the lack of diversity leads Portland & Portlanders being less segregated, and more likely to ignore race issues, rather than issues of supremacy. I absolutely love the area, and would honestly recommend it to anyone, but the lack of diversity is one of Portland's ugly little secrets that isn't necessarily obvious (if you're white).

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by Lathum

How is traffic there?

Horrible. Not Seattle bad, but if you're wanting to move on the freeway, better get going by 2pm. 2-6ish is infuriating.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Lathum

How is traffic there?

I'm not necessarily the right guy to ask, as I drive very, very little these days, as the city allows for biking and walking almost everywhere.

People who've lived here forever say that traffic is getting bad, yet I'd say it's probably par for the course for a city this size, but approaching a bubble. It's probably decidedly worse for anyone living outside the city proper, as PDX metro has an urban growth boundary that has kept the metro area within very strict, and conservative bounds, to combat sprawl. As a result the metro is relatively small, but dense, and as a result traffic can be similarly dense but since drives are relatively short, it usually works out to a wash.

Living in the suburbs adds another wrinkle, in that there are only so many roads in/out of town thanks to all the hills & rivers, and everybody's on them at the same time, so if you have to make the 9-5 commute on one of the major routes you'll probably think traffic sucks.

Bonus: lowest speed limit in the country, and you can't pump your own gas. Folks from other states tend to think Oregon drivers are pretty awful, but I think they're just slow and overly polite.

[chinaski]

Originally Posted by Lathum

We prefer bland modern developments with great school districts .

The areas you are looking at will be a good fit for you then! Also, there are some nicer parts of Beaverton you might like.

[Lathum]

Thanks for the info. I don't think the Portland traffic will be too bad, and West Linn is pretty close to where our offices will be. I endure Seattle traffic which is horrid and grew up in NJ, so I think it will be OK. We thought about Vancouver,WA but thought the commute would suck.

I am excited about the food scene as Cincinnati is pretty generic and franchise.

How are the winters? Pretty similar to Seattle?

[thesloppy]

Seattle is maybe a little more temperate, in both summer and winter. Generally, something like a handful of days in the 90-100 range in July or August, and then maybe a similar week with a dusting of snow or freezing rain in the winter.

The food is great. Not much upscale, and there's still only a handful of "known" chefs in the area, but tons of ethnic food (you like Thai food, right?! You really better like Thai food) and weird fusion, similar to Seattle. The food truck genesis arguably started here, and they're still off the charts. Don't ever buy a voodoo doughnut. At some point I can almost guarantee that you will be convinced that you should really probably try a voodoo doughnut, for some reason or another. Don't do it.

[saldana]

i also heard they dont serve miller light in the entire Portland metropolitan area

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by saldana

i also heard they dont serve miller light in the entire Portland metropolitan area

good, then I can claim I drink an import

[Subby]

Congrats - I'm jealous. Portland is pretty awesome for cyclists.

[Qwikshot]

Cannot state much on the city, though I love Portlandia.

I am writing to wish you and the family the best.

[britrock88]

In my one visit, I had some killer Peruvian and the best falafel I've ever tasted. You should be alright for food.

[I. J. Reilly]

Lathum, if you're looking for good family towns you can't go wrong with either West Linn or Lake Oswego. I'm partial to LO, but that's only because I grew up there (lived right next to Lakeridge HS if you are familiar with the area.) I haven't lived in the area for 10 years or so but my nieces and nephew are in the LO school district and from what my sister says it's as strong as ever.

You might also want to look at Tualatin; it at least used to have a good reputation for schools and the commute shouldn't be bad to the West Linn area.

[stevew]

Portland or ?

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

My mom's lived in Lake Oswego for the last 15 years and loves it, whereas I've still never found any reason to be in the area, other than to see my ma.

Only reason I ever visit Lake Oswego too.

[DanGarion]

Hey, we moved to Salem, OR in April. We LOVE it here. I'll catch up and read what others said...

[DanGarion]

If you need to find a Real Estate agent I can give you my agents info, she lives in Portland.

[dawgfan]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

Seattle is maybe a little more temperate, in both summer and winter. Generally, something like a handful of days in the 90-100 range in July or August, and then maybe a similar week with a dusting of snow or freezing rain in the winter.

I had an aunt that lived in Portland, and I can confirm this - Portland weather is similar to Seattle, but a touch less temperate. So you'll be a little more likely to get snow in the winter, and the hot days in the summer will be a little hotter.

Also, if you thought Seattle drivers didn't do well in the snow, wait until you see Portland drivers...

[Lathum]

Originally Posted by DanGarion

If you need to find a Real Estate agent I can give you my agents info, she lives in Portland.

Thanks, we have one already and are coming out in a few weeks to house hunt.

[thesloppy]

Originally Posted by Honolulu_Blue

Only reason I ever visit Lake Oswego too.

NoooooooOOOOooooo!

[Honolulu_Blue]

Originally Posted by thesloppy

NoooooooOOOOooooo!