Move to Portland Now or Later? (Gresham, Beaverton: ski resorts, best neighborhood, rent)

[bunny1975]

We just moved to an awesome 2500 square foot loft space in Chicago in June. There was a shooting this past weekend at 7pm in front of our building a 16 year old was shot in the crossfire while riding his bike. Our neighbor just informed us that around this time continuing through fall there is a lot of gang activity. It is a really diverse neighborhood in Chicago and before today we felt safe during daylight hours. We have a 2 year old son and I worry about us taking our daily walks to the park and coffee shop. Is it worth being hermits in our own neighborhood for fear of being in the crossfire? I feel very uneasy (that sick feeling in my stomach), foolish and ashamed that we ever moved to this neighborhood with our son.

We were going to move to Portland, OR in June 2010. Should i chill out and stick with the June 2010 plan or get out of this place and move to Oregon right away. Would you move asap? We do realize that all cities have crime and will be looking for a safer suburb or neighborhood in or near Portland.
A job won't be a problem since we are self employed and can pretty much live anywhere.
We are looking into Lake Oswego, Oregon City or West Linn. Any other recommendations would be appreciated.

[Sign]

BUNNY1975.........

Sounds like a really scary situation where your at right now and I'm glad to hear your OK.
Personally, if what happened to you.....happened to me and my family (I have 2 kids myself).......I WOULD likely bail out of THAT neighborhood pretty fast and especially, if I knew I could afford to.
I know this type of thing can happen about anywhere, but when something like that occurs right outside your door.....yeah, it would be too freaky and way too close for comfort and I doubt I would ever really feel safe again there. It would just cause ME........to lose sleep and increase my stess and worry level. But, that's me.
SO.......IF money isn't an object, MY attitude on life has ALWAYS been......"NO time like the present....let's GO!"
Portland IS a gorgeous city and probably FAR SAFER than the Chicago area EVER was.
If and when you decide on a move to the area......just AVOID Portland's North and Eastside and probably, Gresham too.
The SW and Western suburbs ARE the best and safest.....except for theft issues, which are EVERYWHERE.
Wilsonville, Beaverton, Tualatin, Sherwood, Hillsboro and some far western neighborhoods in Portland (Rock Creek or Bethany).....are very nice and generally,very safe.
Also....I'm NOT too keen on Oregon City and there is likely a bit more crime here. West Linn is pretty good (next to Oregon City) and so too is Lake Oswego. L.O. is the "higher rent district"....so-to-speak, but it's very nice and generally, safe. West Linn and Wilsonville are in the same school district which is highly rated in Oregon too. LOTS of big, beautiful homes in the area and the Charboneau neighborhood just south and across the Willamette River from Wilsonville is also NICE.....but likely, more retirees.
Good luck on your decision to leave the Windy City far behind and, IMHO.....why put off to later, what you could do now?!
Hope this helps.

[philwithbeard]

Ah, just to add a light hearted comment to such a dreadful depressing thread....

Can you stand another cold, freezing cold, Chicago Winter, or would you rather have a rainy damp winter with occasional freezing rains? At least in Chicago, when the winter temperature is below -1 degrees F, the sun is usually shinning bright. Or was that the winter moon shining bright.

[Lilly12103]

Originally Posted by Sign

If and when you decide on a move to the area......just AVOID Portland's North and Eastside and probably, Gresham too.
The SW and Western suburbs ARE the best and safest.....except for theft issues, which are EVERYWHERE.
Wilsonville, Beaverton, Tualatin, Sherwood, Hillsboro and some far western neighborhoods in Portland (Rock Creek or Bethany).....are very nice and generally,very safe.

After getting past the gratuitous elipses use to actually read the posting, I respectfully disagree with your suggestions. If the OP wanted generic suburbs the midwest and Chicago are chock full of them. Why move across the country to eat at Red Robin and the Olive Garden when you can do it in Schaumburg just as easily? To "AVOID" the entire east and north side of Portland not only reeks of elitism but would rob you of seeing some of Portland's most architecturaly interesting and thriving neighborhoods.

To SIGN, I live in (gasp) North Portland and I love my neighborhood and all my colorful neighbors. Safety is important, but so is accessible public transportation, established neighborhoods, no Wal-Mart to pollute my local economy, a sense of community, an abundance of parks... I think you should come visit North and the east Portland neighborhoods, it just might suprise you.

[LeftCoastee]

Originally Posted by Lilly12103

Why move across the country to eat at Red Robin and the Olive Garden when you can do it in Schaumburg just as easily?

Because you can get downtown in 15 minutes. Because you can get to the coast in under two hours. Because you can get to ski resorts in an hour or so. Because you have easy access to some great outdoor activities right in your back yard. Because you are not among a population of 9.5 million people.

I'm from Chicago originally. I now live in Tualatin. I've lived in cities proper. I get too claustrophobic and need space. Believe me....getting downtown in Portland is much easier than it would be to get downtown from Schaumburg.

[ehbrah]

Sign or anyone else, what are your thoughts on the Happy Valley/Clackamas side of town as far as safety goes? Thanks

[roneb]

If you are able to move to a different neighborhood in Chicago that would feel safer and then keep your 2010 timeline for Portland, that might be the best. It would allow you to keep your current jobs and provide time to line up work here in Portland (the job market still sucks here).

As far as avoiding certain neighborhoods, don't listen to blanket statements about the North or Eastsides. Just like Chicago, Portland has many different neighborhoods with varying levels of "safety." In general, is Portland safer than Chicago? Sure. But there are areas of Chicago I wouldn't hesitate to live in; and areas of PDX I would nevere choose to live in. It needs to be judged individually.

[meltinjohn]

Originally Posted by Lilly12103

After getting past the gratuitous elipses use to actually read the posting, I respectfully disagree with your suggestions. If the OP wanted generic suburbs the midwest and Chicago are chock full of them. Why move across the country to eat at Red Robin and the Olive Garden when you can do it in Schaumburg just as easily? To "AVOID" the entire east and north side of Portland not only reeks of elitism but would rob you of seeing some of Portland's most architecturaly interesting and thriving neighborhoods.

To SIGN, I live in (gasp) North Portland and I love my neighborhood and all my colorful neighbors. Safety is important, but so is accessible public transportation, established neighborhoods, no Wal-Mart to pollute my local economy, a sense of community, an abundance of parks... I think you should come visit North and the east Portland neighborhoods, it just might suprise you.

Hey I just want to make a quick comment here.

I didnt visit NoPo but I stayed in a hotel in NE 82nd area in Portland (the Comfort Inn off 84) and it wasnt as dangerous as they said it was. Yea there were hoodlums, but I thought there were some nice white people who lived down there too, although a high vietnamese area, but I could see myself living there if I had to and it was easy access to all parts of Portland from 42nd and Hollywood to Hawthorne to Downtown. I could care less if I lived there.

[Sign]

LILY123.......

I do apologize to you and any others who took any offense to my opinion of N Portland, but the ONLY reason I mentioned that it might be best to avoid that area....is ONLY because of what I have read and heard of it in the local media.
So, with this said, it was just MY opinion and NO.....I have no personal experience with living in that area.
Again, my apologies and I'm NO elitist.
I'm actually....just the opposite and STRUGGLING like many others, I'm sure. I was mainly thinking of metro crime stats.

[mxpl]

If my child was in danger of being shot, I would move RIGHT NOW! And really, when making a life-changing decision, such as where to live and raise your children, it is time to ignore political correctness and find the safest, best neighborhood. A "few hoodlums" just doesn't cut it. "Colorful neighborhood" is code for bums and crazies and poor people.
I am also planning to move to Portland in a few years and I would like know which neighborhoods or suburbs are the best. For me that means: low crime, average house prices, some public transportation. I don't mind driving to work or making special trip to downtown for entertainment, restaurants, etc. What can you recommend?