Coming to Salem/Dallas/Kiezer (Portland, Keizer: new home, dorm, find a job)

[Obreezes]

Hi all

My husband and I are seriously considering a move to Oregon next year and will be coming up to the Salem area a week from tomorrow. We were up there earlier this year and checked out Salem and a little bit of Kiezer. This time we want to check out Dallas, Silverton, Kiezer (in more depth) and some surrounding areas.

When we move up there (provided I can find a job), we will be coming with my 31 year old daughter and her 2 year old son who currently live with us (out of necessity for now). I have a few questions:

Are there less than desirable parts of Dallas, Silverton and Kiezer? If so, can you give me an approximate area for each? When we are looking around, I want to make sure we are aware of the areas we don't want to live in.

What, in your opinion, are the detriments of these areas?

Are there things for my daughter to do with her young son? Are there many parks in the areas?

We are looking for somewhere where the population is about the size of Salem or less. Salem is almost bigger than we want but we really like the area. My daughter will be in the medical field so we will need hospitals, dr offices, etc within commuting distance. I'm thinking I will probably have to work in Salem to get a decent job/salary so we need to be within commuting distance of that. My daughter isn't much of a partier, so she would like someplace where she can go and meet people without the party lifestyle. Schools will be important in a few years. Anyway, that's just a very brief picture of what we have in mind.

Thanks a bunch. I read this forum every day and really appreciate the input you all give.

[Steve Pickering]

Get a PM to me and I wil buy the coffee in Dallas. I think you will like it. It may be just what you are looking for. Only one "BAD" area in Dallas. It is an RV/Trailer Park on Ellendale Road, and we like it all in one place just like it is because we know where they are. Dallas is 15 minutes to the Salem Hospital and most of the area doctors are not much further. Several Clinics in the area too. Dallas has a hospital also. Lots for kids to do in the area. Does the youngster swim. We have a premier Aquatics Center in Dallas. We also have the Gilbert Center in Salem just as you cross the bridge, and there is the Air Museum and a huge indoor water Park just north 20 miles. Good safe Bike Trails around town and to the nearby towns. Even all the way to Salem. Several good to great city parks. Scouting and a plethoria of Churches. I would invite them to attend our church. I drive the church bus and my wife teaches Youth Sunday School.

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Get a PM to me and I wil buy the coffee in Dallas. I think you will like it. It may be just what you are looking for. Only one "BAD" area in Dallas. It is an RV/Trailer Park on Ellendale Road, and we like it all in one place just like it is because we know where they are. Dallas is 15 minutes to the Salem Hospital and most of the area doctors are not much further. Several Clinics in the area too. Dallas has a hospital also. Lots for kids to do in the area. Does the youngster swim. We have a premier Aquatics Center in Dallas. We also have the Gilbert Center in Salem just as you cross the bridge, and there is the Air Museum and a huge indoor water Park just north 20 miles. Good safe Bike Trails around town and to the nearby towns. Even all the way to Salem. Several good to great city parks. Scouting and a plethoria of Churches. I would invite them to attend our church. I drive the church bus and my wife teaches Youth Sunday School.

Steve, how are things in Monmouth-Independence? Don't get down to my alum as much as I'd like anymore. Last time there I saw some seedy types walking the streets near the college and it made me wonder. I read somewhere they have a Winco in Independence which sort of shocked me as I thought they were more a large city store.

Do they still have the Motor-Vu in Dallas? My hubby courted me there, in the front seat mind you. Besides, he was too busy eating their hamburgers, he calls them Moonburgers. Good times.

[Steve Pickering]

Going to the Motor-Vu tonight. Yes on the seedy types, but it is still one of the better towns in the valley to live in. Independence is largly latino now. Yep there is a Winco. The town has grown considerably with a lot of new homes.

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Going to the Motor-Vu tonight. Yes on the seedy types, but it is still one of the better towns in the valley to live in. Independence is largly latino now. Yep there is a Winco. The town has grown considerably with a lot of new homes.

I fell in love and fell in love with Monmouth. My hubby still uses a hammer he bought for $2 at Crider's Department Store for some school project of mine. We'd go to Food n Fixin's, J's, DQ.... anywhere to avoid dorm food. The only downside was the rain. I remember a prof saying they got some 70" a year. Hubby played football and his fingernails were always dirty. Other than the rain, it's a lovely, sleepy little town. Call us sentimental but now that we're retired we're kicking around the idea of moving down there. Portland's been home for so long, but the traffic and all that goes with it is a major pain for us old farts.

[Steve Pickering]

Well actually it is a Salem Bedroom community now.

[Priscilla Martin]

Originally Posted by Steve Pickering

Well actually it is a Salem Bedroom community now.

They should have stayed a dry town.

[Silverfall]

Less desirable depends on what you can afford, honestly. Generally speaking in Keizer, north of Lockhaven is considered the nicer part of Keizer, but Willamette Manor in SW Keizer is nice and the area around Verda is nice as well. There aren't any unsafe areas of Keizer from my perspective. It is more a matter of house size and general maintenance of the neighborhood.

Steve already commented on Dallas. Silverton also doesn't have any unsafe pockets from my perspective. There are a couple of pockets around town but they are just pockets.

[Steve Pickering]

Originally Posted by Priscilla Martin

They should have stayed a dry town.

It's not that wet. It did put an Independence business out on the streets though. And now there are not as many students getting busted for DUII sneaking out Hoffman Road back to the Campus after a night of $2.00 beers in Independence.

[Obreezes]

Just wanted to thank you all for your great input. We are looking forward to our trip and hope to find what we are looking for in this trip. I suspect we just might.

Thanks again!