West Linn Neighborhoods: Variety is the Spice of Life
Jody McLeod March 28th, 2007
A Place to Call Home
When you think of a smaller community do images of Prairie Home Companion come to mind? You know what I mean. Old-timey homes donning American flags on the porch posts, friendly, smiling neighbors who wave to passers-by, and quaint shops hosted by gracious shop-keepers. Well, okay, West Linn may not be THAT drenched in the days of yester-year but we have become one of the most desirable places to live in the Portland metro area because of our home-town identity and the variety of neighborhoods we have to offer.
One neighborhood in particular, the Willamette District, closely resembles that picturesque and quaint image. It has older, turn-of-the-century homes, local shops doing buisiness in revitalized historic buildings, and is nestled close to one of West Linn’s many parks. The average sale price of single family homes sold in the Willamette neighborhood in the last 12 months is $346,898.
But West Linn is not stuck in the past; there has been quite a bit of growth and development in the past several years and now there are as many different kinds of neighborhoods as there are different types of people to fill them. Many of the neighborhoods have associations. Here is a link to a printable map of the neighborhood associations. I would love nothing more than to write a detailed description of each neighborhood, but that would take more space than will fit in this blog; so, instead, I will give you a quick overview.
Other Neighborhoods
In addition to the Willamette District, there are a couple of other neighborhoods in West Linn that offer quaint homes and close-knit neighborhoods. Two that come to mind are Sunset and Bolton. 
Yes, there are a few new homes that have been built on previously empty lots, but for the most part, the homes date from the turn-of-the-century through the 60’s and are smaller and cozier. Being at the top of a hill, I would imagine Sunset was named for its wonderful vantage point to do just that: watch the sun set. The Bolton area is one of the first neighborhoods to be built in the area and is located near the Willamette River, has a great community park and nearby shops, and easy freeway access. The average sale price of single family homes sold in the Sunset neighborhood is $247,850; for Bolton it was $298,928.
Don’t get me wrong. I don’t want you to get the idea that all the homes in West Linn are over 50 years old and that you need to know how to swing a hammer in order to live in one. Far from it. We have several neighborhoods that are predominately newer homes (Barrington Heights, Rosemont Summit, Parker Crest, Tanner Basin and Hidden Springs) and are typically located in the city’s hills. Did I mention we are known as the city of hills, trees and rivers? Yep, it’s our claim to fame. Barrington has stately homes and feels like a gated community and 
home here sold for an average price of $859,451. Rosemont (average price $742,683), Parker ($572,000 average), Tanner ($701,240 average) and Hidden Springs ($451,456 average) are mostly newer homes and are thoughtfully-designed communities that are pristine and welcoming.
We also have neighborhoods that are an eclectic mix of homes from the 1940’s and beyond (Marylhurst, Skyline Ridge, and Robinwood). When I drive through these areas I feel like I am in a wooded forest and then, suddenly, I happen upon another home. The streets meander and curve up and down the hillside and you never know what you might find down that tree-lined street to your right or left. In fact, it would be easy to pass by these neighborhoods from the main road if you didn’t know they were there. Many of the homes are hidden and private. Marylhurst’s average home price was $381,963 over the last year, with Skyline at $518,000 and Robinwood at $414,918.
Wide Open Spaces
If you desire to live in the country, then Stafford or Pete’s Mountain might be your pick. Many of the homes located on 
Pete’s Mountain are million dollar estates with large parcels of land, all the amenities you could desire, and LOTS of breathing room. Stafford also has some stately homes, but many homes in the area are still working farms; there are pumpkin patches, plant nurseries, and Christmas tree farms that are open to the public. The average price of Stafford area homes seems a bit skewed at a little over a million dollars. I would say this is due to the huge diversity of home types. The lowest sold price was $453,750, while the high was $1,800,000. I had to search eighteen months back to get data for Pete’s Mountain. There were two homes sold in the area over that time period averaging $1,579,500.
See what I mean? We really do have a lot of different things to offer: a variety of homes and neighborhoods, good-natured citizens, top-notch schools and a strong home-town identity. Yep, it could be something to consider. This city of hills, rivers and trees might be just the place to call home.
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