by Geon, Bryan
Website: www.ci.wilsonville.or.us
ZIP Code: 97070
Post Office: Wilsonville Post Office, 29333 SW Town Center Loop E
Police Station: Wilsonville Station, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, 30000 SW Town Center Loop E, 503-682-1012 (non-emergency)
Emergency Hospital: Legacy Meridian Park Medical Center, 19300 SW 65th Ave, Tualatin, 503-692-1212, www.legacyhealth.org
Library: Wilsonville Public Library, 8200 SW Wilsonville Rd, 503-682-2744, www.wilsonvillelibrary.org
Parks: 12 parks, trails, and natural areas, including Memorial Park, Town Center Park, and Graham Oaks Natural Area
Community Publications: Wilsonville Spokesman, www.wilsonvillespokesman.com
Public Transportation: South Metro Area Regional Transit (SMART; 503-682-7790, www.ridesmart.com) runs several free bus lines within the city, and operates commuter buses to Portland, Tualatin, Canby, and Salem; rush-hour commuter rail service (WES) to Tualatin, Tigard, and Beaverton
Clackamas County—Southern Suburbs
North-central Clackamas County—the suburban expanse east of the Willamette River and south of the city of Portland—contains the county’s oldest communities and much of its existing population. This is one of the more affordable parts of the Portland area, but has more amenities than some other lower-cost suburbs.
Milwaukie
Boundaries: North: Southeast Portland; West: Willamette River; South: Oak Grove, Oatfield (unincorporated Clackamas County); East: Clackamas (unincorporated Clackamas County); Area: 4.8 square miles; Population: 20,700
Founded in 1847, Milwaukie—home of the Bing cherry, but billing itself as the Dogwood City of the West—was named after Milwaukee, Wisconsin (which later changed the spelling of its name, leaving its Oregon namesake with the original “ie” ending). For many years, Milwaukie was a fairly nondescript, under-the-radar suburb. Despite its proximity to Portland, Milwaukie did not experience the growth in population (and housing prices) that occurred in other area communities during the last two decades. However, due to its close-in location (and spillover from the adjoining popular Sellwood and Westmoreland neighborhoods in Portland), the city’s real estate market posted some of the largest gains in housing prices in the Portland area in the last years of the bubble, and housing prices fell hard in the ensuing crash. As of press time, Milwaukie housing prices are still well below their peak at the height of the bubble, and the median home price is one of the lowest in the metro area. At the same time, Milwaukie has good bones and plenty of community spirit; it is often overlooked as a relocation option, but it may be a smart choice for some newcomers. The city has a stock of single-family homes with large lots, and it has good road and transit connections to downtown Portland and the city’s entire East Side.
Milwaukie
A swath of railroad tracks and associated industrial facilities splits the city into two halves. (Noise from train whistles bothers some residents.) On the west side of the tracks, Milwaukie’s small downtown (www.celebratemilwaukie.com) is changing, as new shops and service businesses join the old-line establishments, and row houses and apartment buildings spring up near the cute red brick city hall and Scott Park, where outdoor concerts are held in the summer. Downtown Milwaukie is something of a mecca for comic book fans, thanks to the presence of Dark Horse Comics (www.darkhorse.com) in an unassuming building on Main Street. One of the most vibrant farmers’ markets in the Portland area takes place on Sundays during the summer (www.milwaukiefarmersmarket.com). Riverfront Park provides access to the Willamette, and hosts the Riverfest festival in July. The neighborhoods near downtown have a high concentration of older homes, with some apartment buildings and townhomes in the mix. The new Orange Line MAX light rail line will include stations at the north end and south end of downtown Milwaukie, and extensive commercial and residential development is likely to occur within walking distance of those stations.
Busy McLoughlin Boulevard cuts off downtown Milwaukie from the Willamette, but two nearby neighborhoods do border the river. To the north, large traditional-style homes—in some cases, bona fide mansions—line the narrow, winding streets around the private Waverly Country Club. Just south of downtown, the compact Island Station neighborhood features smaller, generally older homes that overlook (or are a short walk from) the river. Undeveloped Elk Rock Island is usually accessible by foot except during high water in winter and spring.
Milwaukie’s east side is largely given over to modest single-family homes, mostly ranches, Cape Cods, and older cottages, with a few newer two-story homes and 19th-century farmhouses to spice up the mix. There are a few small commercial areas, as well as some clusters of bungalows in neighborhoods where the old streetcar lines used to run. Some new infill development is occurring along the city’s far eastern fringe, where average lot sizes are larger. In addition, the northeastern portion of the city features popular North Clackamas Aquatic Park, a large indoor facility run by the local Parks & Recreation District (http://ncprd.com/aquatic-park). If you are considering property near Johnson Creek, be aware that the creek is subject to flooding. Some parts of Milwaukie have a relatively high property crime rate.
The new light rail line from downtown Portland to Milwaukie is scheduled to open in late 2015. In the meantime, bus service is decent to excellent throughout much of the city. Milwaukie is part of the North Clackamas School District (www.nclack.k12.or.us), the sixth largest in the state; the city has several elementary schools and its own middle and high schools. Several private schools, including the Portland Waldorf School, are also located here.
Website: www. milwaukieoregon.gov
ZIP Codes: 97222, 97267
Post Office: Milwaukie Post Office, 11222 SE Main St
Police Station: Milwaukie Police Department, 3200 SE Harrison St, 503-786-7400 (non-emergency)
Emergency Hospital: Providence Milwaukie Hospital, 10150 SE 32nd Ave, Milwaukie, 503-513-8300, www.providence.org
Library: Ledding Library, 10660 SE 21st St, 503-786-7580, www.milwaukieoregon.gov/library
Parks: Riverfront Park, Scott Park, and several other small parks maintained by the city; North Clackamas Central Park, Spring Park, and a few others are part of the North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District, www.ncprd.com
Community Publications: Clackamas Review, www.clackamasreview.com
Public Transportation: TriMet, 503-238-RIDE, www.trimet.org; multiple bus lines, with frequent service from Milwaukie Transit Center to Portland and Oregon City; MAX line under construction
Oak Grove, Jennings Lodge, and Oatfield
Boundaries: North: Milwaukie; West: Willamette River; South: Gladstone; East: Clackamas (unincorporated Clackamas County); Area: 10 square miles; Population: Approximately 38,000
McLoughlin Boulevard (Highway 99E) achieves full strip mall glory in the expanse of unincorporated Clackamas County between Milwaukie and Gladstone. As you tool down the highway, it’s easy to miss the quiet middle-class neighborhoods that extend to either side. To the west, between the highway and the Willamette River, lies the community of Oak Grove. Oak Grove developed along the trolley line that ran along what is now Arista Drive from 1893 until the 1950s, and the area contains a variety of homes of various ages, most on relatively large lots. The old trolley right-of-way has been converted into a six-mile bike and pedestrian trail.) River Road parallels McLoughlin to the west; the former is a much quieter and more pleasant thoroughfare than the latter, and is lined by homes and a few apartment buildings.
Oak Grove
The bulk of Oak Grove’s housing stock consists of fairly modest postwar Cape Cods, ranches, and related architectural styles, but some prewar homes survive near the trolley line, and larger contemporary and custom homes crop up near the Willamette River. A few homes on the river itself are lavish affairs, with boathouses and private docks, but on the whole Oak Grove lacks the outright mansions that line parts of the Willamette’s west bank. The neighborhood has lots of trees and several par
ks; there are few sidewalks, but there’s not much traffic off the main roads. Away from McLoughlin, there are relatively few commercial establishments. (The old commercial center of the community, on Oak Grove Boulevard, is mostly defunct.) Oak Grove will be the southern terminus of a new light rail line from downtown Portland, scheduled to open in the fall of 2015. Denser development, at least along McLoughlin (which the light rail line follows), seems likely, and some residents are afraid that the coming of the train will bring crime and alter the pleasant, quiet character of their neighborhood.
Oatfield
To the south, Jennings Lodge has a housing mix similar to Oak Grove, but with a greater proportion of bungalows and old farmhouses. River Road and McLoughlin begin to converge in Jennings Lodge, and the neighborhoods between become increasingly less insulated as one proceeds south.
East of McLoughlin Boulevard, the Oatfield neighborhood is draped over a ridge that runs parallel to the highway. (Oatfield was not named for any former agricultural land use, but rather for the Oatfields, a prominent pioneer family.) This area generally has newer and often larger homes than the neighborhoods west of McLoughlin; many homes along the ridge have views of the Willamette or the Cascades. East of Oatfield Road, some subdivisions feature split-levels and contemporary-style homes on winding culs-de-sac, a street feature not found in Oak Grove. Oatfield in general is somewhat more affluent than Oak Grove and Jennings Lodge, and housing prices are consequently slightly higher on average. The tiny enclave of Johnson City is an incorporated city composed entirely of a single mobile home park.
These neighborhoods have so far resisted periodic annexation attempts (we’re looking at you, Milwaukie and Gladstone) and homegrown incorporation efforts. For now, the county provides the services that do exist—the area is part of the North Clackamas Parks and Recreation District, for example—but these three communities have their own water utility, the Oak Lodge Water District (www.oaklodgewater.org). (Get it? Oak Lodge serves Oak Grove and Jennings Lodge.) Oak Grove and the northern part of Oatfield are part of the North Clackamas School District (www.nclack.k12.or.us), while Jennings Lodge and the southern part of Oatfield belong to the Oregon City School District (www.orecity.k12.or.us). Considering its low density and absence of much in the way of regional destinations, the area has relatively good transit service: buses between Oregon City and Milwaukie run along River Road and Oatfield Road, and there is frequent bus service along McLoughlin Boulevard to downtown Portland. Some of these bus lines will likely terminate at the MAX station once the light rail line to downtown Portland opens.
Website: www.clackamas.us
ZIP Codes: 97222, 97267
Post Office: Oak Grove Post Office, 3860 SE Naef St
Police Station: Oak Lodge Sub-Station, Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, 2930 SE Oak Grove Blvd, 503-655-8211 (non-emergency)
Emergency Hospitals: Providence Milwaukie Hospital, 10150 SE 32nd Ave, Milwaukie, 503-513-8300, www.providence.org; Providence Willamette Falls Hospital, 1500 Division St, Oregon City, 503-656-1631, www.providence.org
Library: Oak Lodge Library, 16201 SE McLoughlin Blvd, 503-655-8543, www.clackamas.us/lib/
Parks: North Clackamas Parks & Recreation District, www.ncprd.com
Community Publications: Clackamas Review, www.clackamasreview.com
Public Transportation: TriMet, 503-238-RIDE, www.trimet.org; light rail from Oak Grove to Milwaukie and Portland (beginning fall 2015); bus service to Portland, Milwaukie, and Oregon City
Gladstone
Boundaries: North: Jennings Lodge, Oatfield (unincorporated Clackamas County); West: Willamette River; South: Clackamas River; East: Clackamas River; Area: 2.5 square miles; Population: 12,200
Gladstone is well-known for the parade of car dealerships along McLoughlin Boulevard, but once you get away from the guys in bad ties asking what it would take to get you into a vehicle today, the city has a different vibe. Gladstone was founded at the strategic confluence of the Willamette and Clackamas rivers; surrounded by water on three sides, it has a languid, small-town ambiance. This area was a gathering place of the original native inhabitants; a large maple known as the Pow-Wow Tree, which still stands on West Clackamas Boulevard near the north bank of the Clackamas River, was ostensibly a meeting spot for local tribes. Today, the river banks are equally popular with local anglers; Meldrum Bar Park, on the Willamette just downstream from the mouth of the Clackamas, is an especially esteemed spot for fishing.
Gladstone’s extremely modest downtown, which manages to support a few stores and eateries and the beautifully restored Flying A Gasoline Station (which no longer sells gas), is laid out in a strict grid north of the Clackamas River. Gladstone developed early, thanks to its proximity to Oregon City and the existence of a streetcar line from Portland, and for many years the city was the site of a popular Chautauqua, a sort of educational entertainment one-two punch that was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. (Gladstone’s Chautauqua closed in 1927, but the city still holds a festival by that name each summer.) Older houses from the city’s early days perch on a bluff above the Clackamas River and line the streets for several blocks inland, mixed with opportunistically placed postwar homes. The riverfront area also has a few parks, including High Rocks Park (a favorite spot for swimming and notorious for occasional drownings).
Away from the river and north of downtown, a high ridge looms, and the city streets abandon the grid pattern as they wind uphill. Culs-de-sac lined with ranches, spacious split-levels and contemporaries occupy the slopes; near the top of the ridge, 1970s-era contemporary homes border the winding streets of Ridgegate and other woody, established neighborhoods. Some of these homes have expansive views of the Willamette and West Hills or of Mount Hood and the Cascades. Prices here are below the metro-area average, and on a per-square-foot basis represent some of the best values in the region.
Gladstone
Gladstone has its own school district (www.gladstone.k12.or.us), with one elementary, one middle, and one high school. Gladstone is not particularly close to major centers of employment, but neither is it ridiculously far away; various transportation options are available for northbound commuters, but only two road bridges cross the Clackamas River to the south and none cross the Willamette between Oregon City and the Sellwood Bridge in Portland. (Westbound commuters headed for Washington County or Wilsonville generally take Interstate 205, which runs through the eastern end of the city.)
Website: www.ci.gladstone.or.us
ZIP Code: 97027
Post Office: Gladstone Post Office, 605 Portland Ave
Police Station: Gladstone Police Department, 535 Portland Ave, 503-655-8211 (non-emergency)
Emergency Hospital: Providence Willamette Falls Hospital, 1500 Division St, Oregon City, 503-656-1631, www.providence.org
Library: Gladstone Public Library, 135 E Dartmouth St, 503-656-2411, www.gladstonepubliclibrary.wordpress.com
Parks: Eight parks, including Meldrum Bar Park, High Rocks Park, and Max Patterson Memorial Park
Community Publications: Oregon City News, www.oregoncitynewsonline.com
Public Transportation: TriMet, 503-238-RIDE, www.trimet.org; multiple bus lines, with service to Portland, Milwaukie, Oregon City, and Clackamas
Oregon City
Boundaries: North: Clackamas River; West: Willamette River; South: Unincorporated Clackamas County; East: Unincorporated Clackamas County; Area: 9.3 square miles; Population: 34,800
Historic Oregon City—the end of the Oregon Trail, first capital of the old Oregon Territory, oldest incorporated city in the western United States, home of the first American newspaper printed west of the Rockies (The Spectator), and terminus of America’s first long-distance electricity transmission line (1889)—fell on hard times in recent years and is trying mightily to rise again. Until recently, the city has had trouble funding basic services like police and fire protection, but the Oregon City’s old downtown is undergoing a remarkable renaissance and many neighb
orhoods are being spruced up. For people who are looking for an historic or quiet suburban community and don’t mind things being a bit rough around the edges, Oregon City might be a good choice. Home prices are rising here, but are still below the metro area average.
Oregon City
Oregon City’s downtown occupies a narrow strip of level land on the Willamette River just downstream from Willamette Falls. The area near the falls was an important fishing ground for Native Americans, and it became the site of Oregon’s first European settlement in 1829. By the 1840s, Oregon City had become a bustling town, and it was incorporated in 1844. When the Oregon Territory was created four years later, Oregon City became the capital. (That honor was transferred to Salem in 1852.) Willamette Falls fueled the city’s initial industrial growth—the falling water powered lumber mills and flour mills especially—and to this day Oregon City has a palpable industrial feel. The defunct Blue Heron paper mill still stands at the south end of town, just below the falls, and the overall scene is reminiscent of an old New England mill town.
