Most desireable neighborhood in Portland proper?

#NEPFoLife

 

Uhh I don't think that means, what you think it means. It sounds like nothing you want is within walking distance.

 

I feel like there is a stereotype there related to your mom knowing employees at Ocean City.

 

Hahahahah. My parents pushed us, but she wasn't a tiger mom.

 

I meant of course where I currently live everything is within walking distance (which to me is about 2 miles or so).

Not necessarily when carrying a 10-lb sack of cat food, however!

 

Look up the rates, homie. More little crimes happen in cities than the 'burbs. Generally, a higher percentage of the occurences are reported in the 'burbs, too, and it's a bigger deal because it's the 'burbs. Not knocking living in the city, but it's what I learned studying criminal justice and law in school. I've lived in the 'burbs for most of my life and never had my car or house touched, and that's with leaving doors unlocked, valuables in view. Living in "Portland proper", I'd lock shit up and still had people break into my car even with nothing in it (not even the face to my stereo, yet they jacked the rest of my stereo - WTF??). More people = more crime. It's a general trend. I don't recall ever seeing people stand on the corner of West Linn slangin' that sack. But I could be wrong.

Like I said, not knocking the city. But don't tell me it's safer. There are some 'burbs I wouldn't touch, though.

Overgeneralize much?

 

As I said, to each his own. I just don't like people telling me that I'm living in the 'burbs because I can't afford to live in the city. I like a quieter lifestyle. If I can afford a 5000 square foot home in West Linn (which let's be honest, is one of the more expensive 'burbs), I'm pretty sure I could live in a pretty nice area of "Portland proper". That's just not me. It's not my desire. A lot of people make that same choice.

You're always going to have talented, bright kids in every school. I think some of the brightest students come from "lesser schools" (I don't mean to make them sound like they're lesser, but "graduation rates" and testing and such make them sound like "lesser"). I think you get more top-rated and more low-rated students at the in-city schools, and you get a high amount of good students in the 'burbs, but fewer outstanding and lower-tier students. But rates are rates. Look up educational and graduation rates. You can point out your examples and who went to what schools, but studies indicate that many suburbian schools test better and have higher graduation rates. I don't know why someone takes that as a diss, I'm just going off the information that is presented.

 

Is she a cougar then?

 

I think we're mostly in agreement, that its a personal choice as to what you (in general, not you personally) value. I was just stating that in my list of ideal living situations, space is fairly low in the pecking order. It's probably why I currently live in a studio apartment in downtown, so we can walk to almost everything we need (including work for my wife). Once the mall we live right by gets an organic grocery store (next month), we'll never have to take our car out of the garage.

About the schools, my point mainly was that people unfairly bash city schools all the time for their overall performance records. But schools like Grant and Lincoln have great programs that are available to students who put forth the effort (and have parents that make them take advantage of the programs). Sure, my class' graduation rate was probably not all that great, but students who applied themselves (as I'm sure yours children would be, given your focus on a good education) were very successful.

Hell, I just googled Oregon School Rank and according to whatever method USNEWS uses (probably the typical AP%/Grad rate/SAT), Grant is #6, Lincoln is #7 and Wilson is #10. Yes, LO and West Linn rank ahead of them, but it's not like you're going to get some shit education just because you stay in the city.

 

In no way am I saying the 'burbs are better, just FYI. They're better for me. Statistics show what they show. I wouldn't live in any suburb, believe me. West Linn, Wilsonville, and LO are about the only suburbs I'd live in. That's it. Beyond those three, I'd sacrifice space for a house in Portland proper (I'd have to find a VERY quiet street, something that isn't the closest walk to stores/restaurants, but obviously, I'd still be within walking distance because that's just Portland for you). I wasn't trying to diss Portland proper. That's home for me. But the space, quietness, and schools meant enough to me that I could put up with, and even love, West Linn/LO/Wilsonville.

 

Translation: I only want to live around white people. :MARIS61:

 

If that's what it is, that's what it is. They're the nicest suburbs in the Metro area. LO and West Linn are the most expensive suburbs in the area. If you have the money to buy in those areas and want to live in the 'burbs, why wouldn't you live in those areas? Why would I go to Beaverton where I'd be far from work and traffic sucks?

The problem with me wanting to live only near white people is I share a roof and bed with a Japanese woman.

 

asians count as whites.

 

It's true. they're like whiteA

 

Wouldn't they be more like whiteB.

I'm not racist - my best friend is black! :MARIS61:

This was meant as a joke - it's what every whitey says. But this time, it's actually true.

 

I'm on board with you blazinggiants. I've lived in an apartment in West Linn for awhile before I bought my first house. I could walk around and be a jackass at 3am and felt the most safe I have ever felt in my entire life.

Having lived in Portland, Gresham and Corvallis, I can't necessarily say that about any of those places (well, maybe Corvallis, but definitely not even close to as safe as West Linn).

I'm actually in the process of saving up to buy my second house in West Linn, Happy Valley, Troutdale or Tualatin depending on if i get a promotion soon and where I'd have to commute to.

I'd rather spend less getting a much larger (and in most cases, newer) home than buy a smaller home in the city where I'm close to a million people.

 

I hear you JFR. As I've said a few times, to each his own. We all have different things that float our boats.

My house and locale isn't for everyone, but I wouldn't trade it (unless I were trading for a bigger house in the same area). But barring unforeseen circumstances, I could live in this house another 20 years.

 

Sure, I may be from Lake Oswego and have kept a home there for the past two decades, but part of me laughs when I hear about inner city Portland being dangerous or crime-ridden. The worst parts of Portland would be considered middle class in most other cities.

 

I don't think anyone here called Portland crime-ridden. Portland is one of the safer metro areas. It's also one of the smaller big metro areas, which I'm assuming plays a part. But that doesn't mean there aren't safer areas within the metro area.

 

You can go to smaller cities, and most have areas worse than the worst part of Portland.