Moving to the Portland area, need recommendations!!! (Tigard, Lake Oswego: apartment, rentals)

[CrypticKnave85]

I recently was promoted and it requires me to move to our corporate offices near Marshall Park in Portland. I have had lots of help in figuring things out about the area, but would like local suggestions for a neighborhood which is good for apartment rentals as well as community features and low crime rates as I have no first-hand knowledge of the area. Any suggestions are welcomed, so far Ive become most familiar with Tigard but would appreciate a local perspective. Monthly rental looking for anything between 750-900/month. Commuting is not a problem.


Thanks,

[Nell Plotts]

I recommend asking your question in the Portland section of the forum. The term "Marshall Park" isn't familiar to me. You may want to pick a park name that is in the vicinity or other landmark as a description.

[hamellr]

Marshal Park is in the area Burlingame and Terwillger Curves. I had to look it up too.

[Nell Plotts]

There are no crime issues in the neighborhoods surrounding your place of employment. There is no need to travel to Tualitan to find afordable housing. The price will depend on the size and amenities of the apartment you are seeking. Some on the Portland forum have suggested the PadMaper website, give it a spin.

[zilfondel]

Hi! I don't post much, but have lived in the Portland area for 8 years.

ANYWHERE near that park will be a good location. In general, there are no crime issues in the SW Portland/Tigard/Lake Oswego areas. Average apartment rates right now in the Metro area for a 1-bedroom are around $900/mo, but you can find cheaper ones too. That will rent you a pretty decent place.

Since you are working near a park, you could even live within walking distance of work. I'd avoid living too far away, since there wouldn't be much point to commute long distances unless you want to waste more time stuck in traffic. There isn't very convenient mass transit in that area. Tryon Creek state park is just to the south, and is very beautiful with many jogging and hiking trails through it.

Lake Oswegon and the land near the river tends to be pretty pricey, but immediately around that area is pretty leafy & green. Lots of smaller homes from ~ 1940s. It is VERY hilly, so bike commuting would be tough, unless you are really in shape, and most of the streets in SW don't have bike lanes either.

You could also live in downtown and do a reverse-commute. What I wouldn't do is to live on the east side of the river and drive over. The Sellwood bridge is going to get torn down soon, its a bridge that is structurally unsound (I refuse to drive on it actually) and ready to collapse. Many of Portland's bridges are highly congested, constant construction and improvements can raise havoc with your cross-river commute. The Ross Island bridge and the freeway bridges are always jammed up during rush hour.

Hope that helps. I'd just try to live as close to work as possible. SW Portland near John's Landing (near the river, between that park and downtown) is a nice little neighborhood, with some neat neighborhood retail along Macadam, plus the river and its parks - major amenities.