Pearl District - cool or grotesque? (Portland, Hillsboro: apartments, condos, crimes)

[iPwn]

Recently the light industrial zone north of downtown Portland has been changed into a residential and commercial zone, and a Chinatown.

I think the area is pretty cool, I can't tell much of a difference from downtown except the lack of skyscrapers.

[PNW-type-gal]

Originally Posted by MimzyMusic

Recently the light industrial zone north of downtown Portland has been changed into a residential and commercial zone, and a Chinatown.

I think the area is pretty cool, I can't tell much of a difference from downtown except the lack of skyscrapers.

Not exactly, Chinatown was there prior. The Pearl is pretty much the Park Blocks west to the 405, and from Burnside to the point where 405 curves east.

It's okay, if a little too upscale and trendified for my tastes. Powell's is still the star to me, and it was there pre-"Pearlification."

[backdrifter]

I think it's a bit grotesque simply because it's been yuppified, but minus the yuppies it is a very neat area. The Bohemians have been priced out and forced into SE, which is a pretty neat area too despite lack of MAX lines in that quadrant for the time being.

[meltinjohn]

Pearl would be neat if not for the yuppies and hipsters who think their better.
Powells is cool, the city is frikken cool but those ones do not make it any more appealing. I liked the older parts of the city with more punk rockers and **** along with musicians who don't have lots of money but not exactly homeless.

[5chevin5]

Long live the Lowbrow!!!
well at least before the westside kids found it!!!

5

[Bluesmama]

This year was my first time for Art In the Pearl, and when afterwards I walked around some of the Pearl blocks for a little while. I found it interesting, too spendy for my pocketbook. The event did appear to get people out in the Pearl, like I did. There's nothing grotesque about it, other than the exhorbitantly high prices.

Powell's is one of my biggest Portland prides. Love the place, and once in awhile I bus it down from Hillsboro just to spend a few hours there. I also like the old diner just a block over from them ~ Fuller's.

I would like to see more added to Chinatown but I definitely understand why it isn't growing. With more Chinese stores, that is. The history is there but it isn't today's "real" Chinatown in spite of the efforts.

[meltinjohn]

Bluesbabe, its like Portlands chinatown has become a wannabe. I was down there and I didnt think it was as impressive as some made it to be and didnt see asians everywhere around there like youd think.

[Bluesmama]

Originally Posted by meltinjohn

Bluesbabe, its like Portlands chinatown has become a wannabe. I was down there and I didnt think it was as impressive as some made it to be and didnt see asians everywhere around there like youd think.

No, there aren't.

I think it was in the Portland Tribune where I read this, but there was an attempt to lure in Chinese families/retirees to buy into one of the new condos to re-develop the Chinatown community. It didn't work. It failed miserably because of the high prices. And, really, THE Chinatown now is in the SE.

One of the restaurants there is supposed to serve very good dim sum. I think it's House of Louie.

That interesting elephant statue parked at the Pearl's Park should be situated in Chinatown, but perhaps there's no good place for it yet.

[Minervah]

I remember when the Pearl was being developed the city could get government money by declaring a portion of what was built as low-income housing. That's how my retired friend who is on a fixed income got to live in one of the first new buildings. This is under HAP housing (Housing Authority of Portland).
The area was supposed to have large vertical apartment buildings which is not the usual in Portland and was aimed at low-middle income people, empty-nesters and young people with good salaries without families. Other than the low-income exception, it was never meant to be cheap.
It has become very yuppieized but I wouldn't fault it for that. It has great restaraunts, lots of interesting (albiet high-priced shops), night spots and bustles like a big city neighborhood.
The biggest problem I think they have experienced is that some people are trying to turn it into a family friendly area with parks for the kiddies and new schools. The school issue is kind of a sore subject for those folks in other PDX neighborhoods whose already established schools could use a finiancial boost.
I think it's an interesting area still evolving.

[subsound]

Pearl District isn't too bad, definitely a more upscale area. It's kind of retro chic, with upscale apartments and shops in the bases of buildings and high priced apartments (2k+ apartments with no parking) above them. I kind of like it, but can't afford the living and have a car.

I can see why no one would want to pay a bunch to be a pioneer in China-town. It contains a number of homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and agencies for the poor as well as union train station and the greyhound station. It's pretty much where the bums go at night if they don't want to be downtown, and where the people who can't afford planes or their own vehicle come into Portland. I feel kind of bad for the development between union station and the river, it looks new and expensive but talking with a few of the people there (we considered it) there's lots of crimes (thefts, murders, robberies) and bums sleeping on any flat surface.

We live in the Lloyd area of town, which is much cheaper then pearl or downtown by at least 50% but and easy commute if you want to go. I wouldn't call it exactly nice, it's got weird types going to the mall and late night spots there (bangers and teenys who wanna be like them), but it's more for families the farther north you get from Broadway and 84. No real high rises, lots of places to eat, and a couple parks.