Too bad St.Johns has gone shitty...Lots of cool car stuff there. Radke's, the restored Signal gas station, and lots of cool old architecture....
I was born and raised in the south bay. Grandparents had a house in down town Oakland. Worked all over the bay area. The hood here is like maybe 10th of what you would find down there. Just my oppion. I moved here in 96 and havent looked back. Ya it rains, but it just gives your more time in the garage to get stuff done. Check out www.employment.oregon.gov/EMPLOY/ES/JOB/index.shtml and look at jobs. There is all kinds. Good luck.......Danny
I'm from Portland and would return in a second if the right job opportunity existed. But no one in Portland does what I do, so I'm stuck in Seattle. Or LA or Chicago. I'll stay in (okay, near) Seattle because I love the Northwest. If you've read the above comments about Portland you have a pretty good picture of the city. I would not have said to avoid the east side, but I haven't lived there in almost 20 years. I'd avoid what's called "North Portland" if I were moving back. My mother-in-law lives there so I see the area often. Its not gotten better in the years since I left. I would not live in Portland itself. East, west, south or north of Portland all offer nice areas. Oregon tax laws have adversly impacted the school system. If you have or plan to have kids, think twice about Oregon.
I lived in St Johns 40 years ago. It didn't seem bad then, but it was all I knew. I went to Sitten (sp?) elementry school and lived across the street from Pier Park. Haven't shopped at Radkes in almost forever, but I know exactly where they are. While its not too nice today, I've seen pictures that were taken 100 years ago, and I think it was a nice place back then. My grandparents bought a house a block away from the University of Portland campus in 1924. When grandma sold it in 1984 it was past time to leave the neighborhood. I know people who live there now, and recently one of them told me why he hasn't left-- His house is hardly worth enough to buy a cardboard box...
Not a lot to add here. I was born and raised in Oregon...lived about 15 years in the Portland area. I'd stay away from the "Speed Alley" area of 39th and Belmont and surrounding neighborhood. At least it was bad when I lived there. I know, I lived right on 39th street and got fucked with on occasion with stolen stereos, broken car windows etc....speed freaks looking for anything to sell in your car. North Portland has historically been a good place to get your ass kicked or shot off. I like to stay the hell outa North Portland unless I'm looking for a cheap caddy to buy. Ilived in S.E. Portland and surrounding area. I too lived in Sherwood but it was back in the 70's when sherwood was a wide spot in the hiway with a few fruit stands. Very nice and scenic all around the Portland area. A motorsickle ride over "the mountain" on hiway 26 on a sunny summer day and then down to Hood River, on down the Columbia River Gorge will bring tears to your eyes. Tears of joy because you actually live in all this beauty! I miss it terribly but I damn sure don't miss the flaky job scene there at all! Here in Omaha I can work year 'round, everyday If I wanted to. Good jobs are tough to find in Portland anymore.... Great car scene tho!
That's the truth, always been a tough blue collar area. Don't remember getting any grief there though, was hell in the Villa though.
Blue collar, yes...Always shitty? I'm not sure I agree with that. I remember going to Radkes in high school, (15 years ago) and not being a bit worried. I was over there about three weekends ago, and someone threw a rock at my windshield from the grandstands at Roosevelt High....I think St. Johns has DEFINITELY gotten worse.....
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