Hollywood and other cute neighborhoods (Vancouver, Camas: apartments, home, school)

[craftbrewer]

wife and i have been tossing around the idea of moving back to the Portland, Or. area for quite some time, but never pulled the trigger because the cost of living on the east coast vs. the west coast was too great. My wife is now facing a situation where we might be forced to move for her job in the next couple weeks. (I know .. fast right!)

She will be working on Swan Island area, so we are thinking Vancouver would be best since its the northern part of Portland. We would like to know what areas like "Hollywood" are out there. We would want to be centrally located in an area with good restaurants/bars/brewery/shopping without having to venture into the Portland city proper. Also areas to stay out of would be a great help to. Thanks in advance for your time and consideration!

[texasdiver]

The only two places in the greater Vancouver area that would meet your requirements would be: (1) uptown Vancouver (the area just a few blocks north of downtown Vancouver centered on Main St and (2) downtown Camas. They both have their pros and cons.

Uptown Vancouver will be a lot closer to Swan Island. Quite close actually. And because you are adjacent to downtown Vancouver you'll have access to a fast-growing and increasingly vibrant urban area.

Downtown Camas has more of a small town feel but has its own upscale appeal. Lots of shops and restaurants and brewpubs. It is dominated by the papermill on the edge of downtown that is in it's last days or years. Thoughts are that the mill area will eventually be redeveloped into a waterfront area but that is probably a decade or decades away. Living in Camas will add about 10-15 min to your daily commute to Swan Island compared to uptown Vancouver.

Both have nice libraries, weekly farmers markets, and other amenities. Downtown Camas actually has a grocery store and hardware store which are both lacking in downtown/uptown Vancouver. So it is actually more self-sufficient as a place to live but doesn't have nearly the variety of restaurants and other destinations as uptown/downtown Vancouver. But you have lots of other nearby options in East Vancouver.

There are plenty of other areas to live in the greater Vancouver area and you'll find little pockets of neighborhoods that have appeal. But it is mostly more suburban and car-centric. Those are the two spots that are going to have the highest density of what you are looking for, and the only two that are reasonably walkable.

[StealthRabbit]

Originally Posted by craftbrewer

wife and i have been tossing around the idea of moving back to the Portland, Or. area for quite some time, but never pulled the trigger because the cost of living on the east coast vs. the west coast was too great. My wife is now facing a situation where we might be forced to move for her job in the next couple weeks. (I know .. fast right!)

She will be working on Swan Island area,...We would want to be centrally located in an area with good restaurants/bars/brewery/shopping without having to venture into the Portland city proper....

If working on Swan Island, and desiring 'walkable'... I would consider living near UP campus, and St Johns area.
Also North Mississippi has some upcoming commerce and apartments.

NE Prescott, Alameda, Concordia district / Kennedy School

If you have a financial need / incentive for living in WA (If significantly higher paid partner is employable in WA...) I would work out a 'hybrid' situation (rent a room near swan island in a home of elderly / seniors who travel or snowbird, join up a couple times / week and weekends and traveling in a WA home, and / or on trips.

As mentioned, Vancouver only has a couple 'walkable' areas.

Lower downtown (south of Mill Plain)

Upper downtown (near 4th Plain) (Walkable between the two)

Some areas on east Mill Plain (near Chkalov or 134th and a few spots on 164th (Ave)) would be walkable, but more suburban / strip malls, not trendy choices of venues).
My preference would be to get on the wait list for Vancouver National Trust properties. Groceries will be a challenge, but possible.

Make it easy on the commuter, spend less time on the road / bus and more good times together.

[KCalla]

In Uptown, New Seasons grocery store is planned for opening in the third quarter of 2023. On my way quick market and bakery is open https://www.omwuptownmarket.com/home