March 11, 2005
Weekend Apartment Research Thread
Seeking Thoughts On Building, Neighborhood
Earlier this afternoon, we went and looked at three units after reading this ad on Craigslist.
Known as Wellesley Court, and located at 15th and Belmont, using the PortlandMaps site you can see property details and an aerial view. Among other things, PortlandMaps informs us that it's almost directly comparable to where we live now in terms of, say, crime statistics.
So, we turn to you, our all-knowing and beneficent readership. What do you have to say about the neighborhood? Or, if you know the building and/or any of its tenants, what other words of wisdom do you have to offer?
Comments (12)
doretta on 11 Mar 2005
Only three blocks from the most excellent scones on the planet.
If you are used to thinking of scones as having roughly the same size and density profile as paperweights, go down to Zell's on 13th and Morrison and try the small, light and fluffy version.
I've known a couple of people who have lived in that neighborhood and they seemed happy there.
Bob R. on 11 Mar 2005
Just as a warning, you'd be just 3+ blocks from Rimsky's, which is close enough to make it a regular hangout which leads to severe weight gain and wallet thinning.
- Bob R.
Alan DeWitt on 11 Mar 2005
It's been a bit over 10 years, but I used to live on Yamhill near 12th. I liked the neighborhood fine at that time. If I were going to move back to Portland, I'd definitely look to live in that neighborhood again. Obviously the crime profile will have changed, but I had no problems back then.
The transportation by bus is really good from there, with major North/South and East/West bus routes crossing nearby. It's pleasantly isolated from the hubub of Downtown, Hawthorne, and the upscale bits of Belmont, yet convenient to all three by foot. I'm not sure what the bike lane situation is near there... I don't recall it being good, though.
Doretta is absolutely right about Zell's... I have occasionally driven up from Salem just to get those scones. There's also the Rimsky-Korsakoffee house on 12th, which is worth a visit. (Although I can scarcely imagine that you haven't already tried it.) I seem to recall that there are a number of small taverns and other restaurants, but I have no idea if they are currently any good. (The bars I never frequented, although last I saw they had great continuity. The restaurant space at 12th and Belmont regularly changes cuisine, though... bad location apparently.)
Local groceries aren't that great as I recall, although there's the old Kienow's property right near there... maybe it's a grocery still/again. There's also the Belmont Dairy block with its upscale grocery not so far away, if you can afford to shop there, and a Safeway (?) at 39th.
You'd also be located very close to Marion County elections, which might come in handy someday. :-)
Anonymous Atthemoment on 11 Mar 2005
Have you considered the Eaton building, adjacent to the Galleria? I live there, and the apartments are very nice, the rent is quite reasonable, the neighbors are always decent as usually quite quiet, the rental company (TMT Development) seems like it *ought* to be scary -- I have some issues with them, politically, but they've actually been very fair to me as a tenant -- and the location is beyond convenient. 1 block from the Streetcar, and half a block from the Max; I sold my car when I moved here, and have never looked back. Sound-proofing between the apartments is the only issue of any consequence. Anyhow, I thought I should mention it. I'm not sure if there are any units available right now, but if you're interested, stop by the Rice Junkies on 9th between Alder and Morrison, and see if there are any flyers to the right of its door.
The One True b!X on 12 Mar 2005
You'd also be located very close to Marion County elections...
This apartment is in Salem?! ;)
Kevin on 12 Mar 2005
You know, I lived in that neighborhood for two years, and I still haven't been to Zell's. But other neighborhood features to check out include the Three Friends Cafe, The Basement Pub, Video Underground, and, of course, Colonel Sanders Park. Groceries include the Nature's on Burnside at 28th, an asian grocery on Belmont near 37th, a European Market on Hawthorne near 17th, and there may be a produce tent hidden on Hawthorne around 22nd. What I expect Alan describes as "the old Kienow's property" (it was SuBee's while I was there) has just been re-built, but I don't know what's going in its place.
There will be some folks there who come by on trash day and make sure that bottle bill refund doesn't go uncollected for any recycling you set out, but if that don't bother you, I think it a fine sort of neighborhood.
Alan DeWitt on 12 Mar 2005
Oh, bother. I've been in Salem so long it's more natural to think Marion than Multnomah. Or maybe I'm just senile already?
allehseya on 12 Mar 2005
heh.
You'd be my neighbor. I think our homeless community (St Francis and other shelters walking distance from Three Friends, etc) is one of the best in Portland -- but I'm new here and dont know what other communities are doing. During the summer -- there's a cookout and baseball ballgame for the homeless that a number of churches host with their younger activists and that was a blast. There's also an open dodgeball event every month at the same park that the Zoo Bombers organize --- just by showing up and waiting until enough passers-by want to play (they recruit you). The waiting list for our community garden, however, is really long.
John Ray on 12 Mar 2005
Chris:
I used to live on 14th from 2000-2002. I loved the neighborhood. Close enough to walk downtown - great access to transportation. The Basement Pub on 12th is growing (and has wireless), you have Hawthorne and Belmont nearby and all both streets have to offer - and I concur with the Zells recommendation. I see no downsides here except sometimes the neighborhood gets hit by petty vandalism (car tires, graffiti), but who doesn't. Good luck.
Eric Berg on 13 Mar 2005
I rented the upper story of an old house at SE 16th and Washington for about five years in the 1990s. I loved it and living in the neighborhood. Well, except for the like clockwork, early morning noise of t.v. news helicopters giving traffic reports on nearby I-5 and 1-84.
The area is within the Buckman Neighborhood Association boundry. If one were to listen to some BNA leaders, one would believe the area is (my paraphrase to follow) a city-sanctioned dumping ground for undesirable low-income housing, social services and the citizens who need them. I think the socio-economic diversity of the neigborhood is a plus and should be expected in such as close-in area.
If home prices weren't so high, my wife and I would have loved to have bought a house in the neighborhood. Instead, we got about twice the house for about half the price in the Roseway neighborhood (roughly just north and just south of NE Sandy between 72nd and 82nd).
Some of the Buckman neighborhood's best-kept secrets: the community pool and pick-up ultimate frisbee at Buckman Elementary School; pick-up soccer with mostly immigrant players at the former Washington High School.
allehseya on 13 Mar 2005
I think the socio-economic diversity of the neigborhood is a plus
I second that in 2005.
The One True b!X on 14 Mar 2005
Application is in. Now I wait.