Portland has 2nd Best Downtown

Exciting to have Frommers, Forbes and Livability consider Portland as one of the country's best downtowns. 

Excerpt from the Forbes document below.  or click here to read the article

When it comes to cities, Portland, Ore., is a unique urban playground of high-end culture, green living and DIY arts scenes. But for a taste of Portland’s best, natives point to the city’s downtown area. There’s independent live theater, beautiful parks, the largest independent and used bookstore in the country and some of the best doughnut shops on the Pacific Coast (not to mention a plethora of Portland’s celebrated food trucks).

Intel means $17 billion to Oregon economy

In 2009, it was estimated that the Hillsboro Intel presence has made an impressive $17 billion impact on the local area economy. 

D1X construction Oct 2011, from Synopsys

A report, produced by Eugene-based research firm ECONorthwest, shows that the chip-maker is responsible for nearly 26 percent of all economic activity in Washington County, almost 10 percent in the Portland area and 5.6 percent statewide. (This report was done well before the announcement that Intel was expanding D1X, adding $3 billion in spending thru 2013) 

Intel may hold its HQ in the San Francisco bay area, however, its largest concentration of employees is right here in the Hillsboro area.  Currently they employ over 15,000 employees over 6 campuses in the Washington County area, just 15 miles West of downtown Portland. 

These are the facts that many people already know.  The study was to show the impact that Intel has on the community.  Other than what's on the payroll and the income taxes spent, how far does Intel's reach span into the area's economy. 

1. Start with consumer spending.  Intel's employees average $117,000 annually.  More than twice the average income in the county.  Intel employees help local retail businesses.
2. Next, for every job created in Intel, another 3.1 jobs are created in another area of the state's economy.  That's just amazing.  Think about that.  If Intel announced, that D1X, the new Fab, will employ another 1000 jobs in the next few years, that's saying, another 3100 jobs, making a total 4,100 new jobs in the area.
3. Housing.  More than half of the Intel employees on the 6 campuses, live in the Beaverton, Hillsboro area.  That's a huge impact on the Washington county.  I'll bet that the other half lives in the 97229, Bethany to Forest Heights area.  Which is another huge affect on Washington County.

It's great news for the area to have such a partner.  But it's always scary to have one company make such an impact too.  Good thing we have Nike.

Portland Affluent Rankings

The Business Journals’ On Numbers blog this week is taking a week-long look at affluence, including data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey.

Oregon has just two communities with median household incomes above $100,000: Cedar Mill and Lake Oswego.

Cedar Mill placed 460th of all 14,214 communities with a median income of $109,340. Its per capita income, which reflects the average income per person, was $48,708.

Lake Oswego ranked No. 676 in median household income with $100,510 and had a per-capita income of $35,337.

The tiny Washington County community, located north of U.S. 26 but west of Portland’s city limits, ranks atop a pair of studies looking at affluence by geography.

The 2nd study looked at income concentration, Cedar Mill topped Oregon cities with nearly 32 percent of the population with income above $150,000, ranking 488th nationally.

But it still loses a teacher mid year, in its elementary school, due to needs at other schools.  Apparently, the taxes on such wealth are being spread around.  See, Occupy, there's nothing to protest about. 

Astoria Named #2 "Coolest Small Town"

As reported by Budget Travel this last September, Astoria has made their top list of Coolest Towns.  Scoring near the top at Number 2! 

Having lived in Portland for 20+ years, I can honestly say, I finally made a purposeful visit this summer, rather than the "drive through". And boy was I impressed.  The weather was pleasant.  The streets were full of farmers market vendors and thriving people shopping.  We stopped at a glass blowing shop and got to watch them make some gorgeous art.  Then we had our choice of 3 brew pubs within walking distance and we chose one right on the water with great beer and views.  I truly saw this as a young peoples town, and not the cutesy, "let's retire here" campy feel.  Although, it has that, because old people still like to feel young too!!!

Read the article below, or click here

Astoria has always been on the frontier, both the Lewis and Clark variety (they set up camp here in 1805) and the geographic (it sits both at the mouth of the Columbia River and in a teeming temperate rain forest). Sure, the place has prettied itself up nicely since those pioneer days with the addition of aging Victorians and craftsman-style bungalows, but the folks in sleepy coastal Astoria have never lost touch with their rough-and-tumble side.

Take, for example, the surfers off of Astoria's scenic beaches, where ocean temperatures rarely break 60 degrees until midsummer. "You really have to suit up," says Mark Taylor, owner of Cold Water Surf (1001 Commercial St.). "We're talking five-millimeter wet suits, gloves, and booties — but Astorians have always been a tough bunch!" Even the city's swankiest design hotel, the Commodore, embraces a decidedly masculine and nautical aesthetic (258 14th St., from $89). Reopened two years ago after being shuttered since 1966, the property pairs modern furnishings with sly nods to the city's history as a seaside cannery hub: thick braided ropes, nautical charts and fishing floats.

As afternoon rolls around, locals gather at the four-year-old Fort George Brewery + Public House for burgers made from local beef, as well as pints of the hoppy Vortex IPA, the Belgian-style Quick Wit ale, and as of this year, the 1811 Pre-Prohibition Lager, created in honor of Astoria's bicentennial (1483 Duane St., pints from $4.25). You didn't really think these former pioneers would celebrate with champagne, did you? — Beth Collins

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Steve Roesch
steve@pdxhomegroup.com