Back from Portland, loved it.

[PasadenaTrudy]

I think I spent more time outdoors and took more walks than I have in years in SoCal. It was about 20 degrees cooler and got a little bit of rain one day, Saturday I think it was. I spent time walking in Sellwood Park, Forest Park, and Willamette River Park. I walked around the Sellwood neighborhood, had a great sandwich at Grand Central Bakery on 13th. I was amazed at how patient drivers were during the construction slowdown on Sellwood bridge. People just turned their cars off and waited. Here in L.A., there would be road rage and honking horns, etc. Not much sense of a competitive rat race up there as compared to here. I would like to try spending a couple months in Portland someday, if I could find an affordable short term rental in a nice safe area. Rents aren't cheap, less than here, but still a bit high. Anyways, I'm glad I went, and I found the weather and pace agreeable. I love the bike paths and recycling too!

[gopiscrap]

1. I have always loved Portland

I am there right now as I type this. When I was 16 I was lucky enough to spend the summer there in the North End. I was on a team of 5 teenagers and worked with youth in three North Portland Lutheran Churches and it was one of the best times of my life. This town is really beautiful, progressive and has an absolutely terrific transit system!

[CherokeeDem]

2. One of my closest friends.....

lives in Portland... it is an amazing city and I would love to live there as well. Very laid back, congenial... they kind of get it there.

Glad you enjoyed your visit...

[PasadenaTrudy]

3. Thanks

It does seem like they get it. There are so many things there that make it seem more humane or something. I believe they are building a new bridge just for rail and peds and bikes, no cars. Imagine that!

[jeffrey_pdx]

31. its built but not open yet, the tillicum bridge or crossing I believe it will be called

At one point I read a letter in the Oregonian (our local newspaper) that they should name it after a local female. The Lisa Simpson bridge was suggested.

[PasadenaTrudy]

37. That's great! n/t

[jeffrey_pdx]

49. The Simpsons has Portland roots

Most of the characters names are named after streets. Lovejoy, Kearney, Terwilleger, etc. Matt Groening grew up not too far from where I grew up.

PS: Portland has a wonderful, well-laid out street system. Burnside divides the city from north to south. The river divides it from east to west. If you're east of the river and south of Burnside, you're in SE. North Portland is a little trickier, but still a great part of town.

[PasadenaTrudy]

50. Interesting

Jeez, I don't remember those characters on the Simpsons now, it's been so long since I've watched!

[jeffrey_pdx]

57. Its been awhile since I watched aswell.

Reverend Lovejoy, Side Show Bob, Kearney, (one of the bullies)

I lived in Pasadena for 3 years.

[PasadenaTrudy]

58. Now I remember

The Rev and Side Show Bob....

Where in Pasadena did you live? I live in the city of South Pasadena, but was born in Pasadena.

[jeffrey_pdx]

59. I went to CalTech

So right in that neighborhood.

[PasadenaTrudy]

60. Nice area!

I love walking around the campus. Had a boyfriend doing a PhD there once.

[jeffrey_pdx]

61. It really is a beautiful campus.

Did you ever go to the pumpkin drop?

For those who don't know, every year they drop a pumpkin frozen in liquid nitrogen off Millikann Library, which is a 10 story building.

[jeffrey_pdx]

62. The theory is since its frozen in liquid nitrogen , it glows as its falling

I just think people like to see it splatter when it hits the ground. Unrelated, but in a way related story, friends and I would roll pumpkins down this steep hill. No scientific purpose, we thought it was fun. Stupid, but ya know.

[grasswire]

4. I was just wondering if you were back from your trip

Grand Central Bakery is sure a treasure. Portland has amazing bakeries and patisseries.

Did you get to see the Columbia Gorge?

The best place to look for a short-term rental is on craigslist. There are always plenty of that kind of listing.

Sellwood is a terrific neighborhood. Hopefully we can stop the rapacious developers who are wanting to destroy neighborhoods like that by tearing down single dwellings to build condos.

[Maedhros]

6. Infill is an inevitable result of having an urban growth boundary.

Better to build condos in established neighborhoods in the city, than to pave over precious farmland on the outskirts.

[grasswire]

7. growth is not inevitable

Look to the example of Petaluma and Sonoma County for the model.

Growth that destroys neighborhoods will ultimately destroy the desirability and livabiity of the city itself. Everyone will lose except the rapacious developers.

Portland is starting to trend toward changes in zoning policies that will preserve the neighborhoods. 'Bout time.

[Maedhros]

11. I'm not familiar with what's happening in Petaluma/Sonoma County.

In a nutshell, can you explain what it is that they are doing (or provide a link)?

When you say "growth is not inevitable" - what do you mean? As long as Portland is a desirable destination our population will continue to grow, and more people will require more dwellings. I don't see any way around that.

[grasswire]

13. here's a good article from 2002 regarding Petaluma's limited growth.

Another twelve years have passed.

Basically in 1972, Petaluma limited new dwellings to 500. Developers took that limit all the way to the Supreme Court. Petaluma prevailed. And the plan has been flexible and successful. The larger Sonoma County has subsequently imposed growth limits. And the county is liveable and retains its charm and agricultural ties.

Growth that damages or transforms is not inevitable.

http://www.cp-dr.com/node/962

[Maedhros]

14. Doesn't this amount to managed gentrification? [n/t]

[grasswire]

16. gentrification is what has happened in Portland

unmanaged, largely, in the last thirty years or so.

And look at the effects on the minority community and lower income residents.

Older established neighborhoods have been flipped in the name of growth, driving those residents to cheap housing east of 82nd -- neighborhoods with inferior services.

[Maedhros]

17. No argument there.

But here's my line of reasoning: restricting the number of new dwellings to an arbitrary number will result in those dwellings being up-scale/high value, which will preclude the working poor from being able to afford housing in the controlled neighborhoods. Replacing single-family houses with multi-family structures should alleviate that somewhat.

[grasswire]

19. Petaluma addressed that...

...by changing the nature of the allowed new dwellings at will. Density needed? Allow multi units.

[PasadenaTrudy]

8. I noticed

a few very large houses being built on the small lots. Also saw a few yard signs saying keep large houses out of Sellwood. These new homes are very contemporary looking and don't fit with the character of the neighborhood.

[grasswire]

10. exactly

and the infill usually doesn't support parking, which is a nuisance for neighbors.

[PasadenaTrudy]

12. The same thing is happening here.

South Pasadena reminds me a lot of Sellwood/Mooreland, shady streets with little old houses, etc. We have a new mixed use project coming in with 91 apts! It is already too overbuilt and congested. Now they are adding more because growth!

[grasswire]

15. south meaning the other side of Lake Avenue?

I haven't been to Pasadena in many years although I did live in the area for a few years.

I assume that Colorado Blvd. and Lake Avenue are the dividing lines?

[PasadenaTrudy]

18. No

I'm actually in the city of South Pasadena pop. 24K or so. It's between Pasadena and Alhambra.

[grasswire]

20. ah

Lots of shady streets and bungalows in Pasadena proper, too, and also in Altadena if I remember correctly.

[PasadenaTrudy]

21. Yes! N/t

[jeffrey_pdx]

32. I lived in Sellwood for 5 years or so.

Right next to my apartment, they tore down a nice old house to build condos, ignoring the noise and being woken up by a construction worker pissing in the bushes outside my bedroom window, the condos didn't add anything to the neighborhood.

ETA: that sounds like I enjoyed the noise and the morning pisser. I didn't, but I meant besides my personal inconvenience, once it was done, I didn't see any positives from it.

[Trajan]

5. I've been here for nearly ten years now

Last edited Tue Oct 14, 2014, 12:25 PM - Edit history (1)

I cannot imagine going anywhere else ... only a windfall of unexpected wealth could dislodge me from this wonderful little town ...

Sellwood is a wonderful neighborhood, but it is only one of the incredible, livable neighborhoods that dot the metropolitan area ... I live near Washington Park, in the Nob Hill/Goose Hollow area ...

We think about picking up and moving on, but we realize, we can't do it ... we love our lives here ...

I could recommend so many places and experiences, but a person simply needs to come spend some time here and they will discover something new every day ...

[grasswire]

9. I grew up in Portland...

...and have lived here half of my adult life or so. Still, I am constantly finding the new.

[grasswire]

22. example from craigslist

Here's a nice short term rental in a very desirable area.

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/sub/4704225806.html

[PasadenaTrudy]

23. Yes, that looks nice!

Thank you! I'm hoping to find a place to myself, even though it will cost more. Me: 50 yrs old, introvert, noise sensitive, doesn't want to live with people except my boyfriend...and even that is a challenge

I'm also hoping Oregonians don't hate Californians. I know in the past, like the 1980s?, we were despised in OR and WA. I have PNW values, I really do!

[grasswire]

24. it's true that many "native" Oregonians regret the California influx.

The reason I have not mentioned that to you is because your reason for moving is to escape the SoCal heat. Having survived several summers in Arcadia with no AC, I am sympathetic to that!

But I expect that weather refugees will just swamp Oregon and Washington in not too many years. So many Californians have already sold their homes and come here where real estate is still cheaper and the vibe is calmer. Of course we resent that influence to some degree.

But don't worry too much about that. It is what it is.

[PasadenaTrudy]

25. Yeah...

I'm not sure I can move there permanently anyways. Northern NM is also on my list. It is sunny and warm, but not like here. ABQ and Santa Fe get all four seasons. My meager money would go a lot further in NM. So, we shall see, no big hurry In the mean time, I 'll keep taking short trips to Portland to explore the city.

[Shrike47]

51. I grew up in La Canada with no AC. La Canada is across the arroyo from Pasadena. Anyway,

we damn near froze when we moved to Oregon, but really love it.

[Arugula Latte]

26. Been here in Stumptown almost 20 years now and am still loving it.

My parents couldn't understand why I wouldn't move back to California, because they'd lived in colder climates (I was born in the Midwest) and they loved the dryness and sun, etc. But I really am more of a person who likes some moisture and greenery and plentiful rivers and lakes and big trees and moss, etc. Plus this has been a more affordable and more pleasant city to raise kids in. Also, we've been actually live in the city limits without "having" to move to a suburb for the schools or whatever.

[PasadenaTrudy]

27. I'm the same

I love the mossy misty forests. I remember visiting my brother in the 1970s when he lived in Arcata, I think that's where I fell in love with the climate. My parents moved to SoCal from Chicago in the 1950s to escape the snow. They loved the hot dry climate. Me, no way!

I need to find out about areas like Beaverton, that are farther out. Is Beaverton more of a suburb? I drove down to Milwaukie too when I was there. Not sure if that's a suburb or part of Portland proper. So much to learn!

[Arugula Latte]

28. Yes, Beaverton is a major suburb.

Milwaukie is a suburb too, although part of it really integrates with lower Southeast Portland.

Because Portland itself has been a popular place to live, it dodged a lot of the urban blight that happened to other cities, and the suburbs became more affordable than the city. Interestingly, Beaverton is more diverse than Portland itself (many Asian, Hispanic, Russian, etc. immigrants live in certain areas of Beaverton). Beaverton also has several very wealthy enclaves, as well as a great sweep of solidly middle class housing. Gresham is another major suburb, to the east of Portland, and it has struggled with poverty issues.

[grasswire]

29. but if Democratic political sensibility and cultural depth..

....are important, the suburbs will just not provide that. Nor will certain parts of Portland, true.

Beaverton and Gresham are both particularly off-putting to me. I have family in both of those. I don't even want to visit Beaverton, much less have to live there. Gresham has increasing gang presence; my cousin lives in a very nice condo community but hears gunshots regularly! And a particular problem: the East Wind in Gresham. Brrrrrr!

I grew up in the Alameda district in N.E. But S.E. Portland is just about perfect, IMO.

We should have had a meetup when Trudy was in town!

[PasadenaTrudy]

30. I'll be back

It would be fun to do a meetup.

[PasadenaTrudy]

36. Interesting.

First think I notice whenever I visit OR is how white it is. Even thought I'm white too, it's a little off-putting. I'm a native Angeleno and I feel weird without Mexicans, South and Central Americans around me. OR also doesn't feel as friendly as CA. Just different I suppose. It's so interesting to visit different states. I've lived in CA all of my 50 yrs and am now just really starting to travel around.

[jeffrey_pdx]

33. Glad you enjoyed Forest Park

I live in SE so I haven't been there in a while. Parking in NW is hard to find and expensive.

[jeffrey_pdx]

34. From my years of living in Portland

Rush hour trying to cross the river is horrible. Always will be, but eventually it's a part of your day and you deal with it.

[PasadenaTrudy]

35. I could tell

There was a lot of traffic from what I saw. I drove down Burnside from Forest Park and it was pretty congested. Not as bad as what I'm used to, but it wasn't good either.

[jeffrey_pdx]

38. The burnside bridge isn't too bad.

I usually take the Ross Island or the Sellwood. The Sellwood bridge has been really bad for the last few years since it's being replaced. It was in terrible shape so they're building a completely new bridge. Now if the voters in Clackamas County had just agreed to pay for some of it (they're half the people who use it).

[PasadenaTrudy]

39. I went over

the Sellwood bridge every day I was there. I was staying close to it. Man, long waits to get over it. It did look pretty old. I'll have to look up Clackamas Co. to see what are that is. I'm guessing East and South?

How is the Alberta Arts Dist. coming along? I visited that area about 4 yrs ago. It was the up and coming area then.

[jeffrey_pdx]

40. Clackamas county is east and south

Multnomah county is basically Portland. Washington county is to the west. Thats why the local public transportation is called TriMet.

Someone rates bridges on their safety. It's a scale of 1 to 100. 100 being perfectly safe. The Sellwood was rated at 1. We needed a new bridge. When funding to the new bridge was put to Clackamas county voters (who are half the users), they rejected it. $5increase for a set time in vehicle registration fees.

[PasadenaTrudy]

41. Idiots....n/t

[jeffrey_pdx]

42. There was a suggestion to make it a toll bridge

Free for people who resided in Multnomah county. $5 each way for everyone else until it was paid off. Unfortunately in my opinion, that never got much steam.

[davidpdx]

43. Did you make it to Koifusion??

[PasadenaTrudy]

44. No, I didn't...

Next time? I plan to return next year

[davidpdx]

47. Next July

I'll and show you around

I'm hoping my wife and I can go next year. She didn't get to go this time around, which I was bummed about. The only nice thing was I got to eat anything I wanted.

[PasadenaTrudy]

48. That's funny!

Summer would be a good time for me, to get out of this heat. August and Sept. are horrid in SoCal. If I go in August, my boyfriend might be able to come too. He has two teaching gigs, so it's hard for him to get a break.

[SoapBox]

45. Good you enjoyed...

Last edited Thu Oct 23, 2014, 10:53 PM - Edit history (1)

I grew up in Oregon City, went to OSU, lived in NW Portland for several years...and then left.

While there are some beautiful days, my health loves it in a sunny climate...SoCal has me for the rest of my life (and I will say I love it here.)

[PasadenaTrudy]

46. I'm ready for clouds and rain...

I suffer from photosensitivity so living in L.A. is a major drag. I only really go out at night or just to the grocery store. Sucks.

[Shrike47]

52. Move to Western Oregon. Or the coast, where the wind always blows and the sun never shines...

[fredamae]

53. Ohhh, you didn't make

it to the coast? I'm sorry
Glad you enjoyed your visit up here. Portland Is fun, fabulous full of great people...with patience
But then, so is the rest of Oregon.
I love it because one can catch dinner at the beach, head for the desert and on the way, stop for a quick trip on skis down a snowy slope, take some of the best scenic photos you will ever take....all in a day.

[PasadenaTrudy]

54. I hope to

make it out to the coast next time. Maybe I can stay at least a week next year

[fredamae]

56. You won't be sorry :)

The whole Oregon Coast is beautiful, from Astoria to Brookings...some of the best scenic views, wonderful food and great folks.
Hurry back!

[SheilaT]

55. My younger son currently lives in Portland, and I was there in August.

Stayed at the Marriott Waterfront, walked a lot around downtown, took a smidgeon of public transportation, spent time with son and other days being a standard tourist.

I have made my son promise that someday when he's rich and famous (although he only needs the rich part for this) he will buy me a home on the Oregon coast.