Cedar Hills, OR: it's an icon of post-WWII boom times that's also a modern suburb. Construction started out here in 1946, right after the war ended. When construction wrapped up on the original neighborhood in 1961, it was the largest single-tract construction project in the Western United States.
The census-designated place of Cedar Hills has changed boundaries over the years
Cedar Hills, OR: it's an icon of post-WWII boom times that's also a modern suburb. Construction started out here in 1946, right after the war ended. When construction wrapped up on the original neighborhood in 1961, it was the largest single-tract construction project in the Western United States.
The census-designated place of Cedar Hills has changed boundaries over the years. Part of the original area has been annexed by the city of Beaverton, and part still falls under a Portland address. So it's literally all over the place. The Sunset Highway (U.S. 26) formed the north boundary, while the other edges were less defined. These days, Cedar Mills on the north side of 26 is also thought of as part of the same community by many. The north-south Highway 217 goes through the middle. Since its inception, Cedar Hills has been seen as a highly desired place to live, and prices on house rentals reflect that. The nearby areas have filled in somewhat, and the population has grown, but the entire region remains committed to green space and environmental protection. Think of it as Portlandia meets American Suburbia -- some of that great "weird" vibe stirred in with what is understood to be classic suburban life.
If you are renting a moving van to get here, try to reserve it ahead of time. They can be tough to come by, especially in the summertime.
The desirability of Cedar Hills is also reflected in the real estate market and rental apartments in the area. As soon as you know you want to live here, start searching -- and make a plan. Create a list of the places you'd most like to live in and get house hunting! Don't expect to land a quality pad here without a good credit report, and have first month's rent, last month's rent, and a deposit on hand for when you sign the dotted line on the lease.
Cedar Hills is roughly divided into four separate sections. Check out the below neighborhoods of Cedar Hills before deciding which one is right for you.
West Slope: The part of Cedar Hills east of Highway 217 is on, well, a slope on the westside of Portland. It's primarily older single-family homes with some small complexes mixed in that are great places to find a one-bedroom apartment for rent. SW Canyon Road goes along the south part of the neighborhood and is line with several car dealerships like Ron Tonkin Acura, Infiniti of Beaverton, and MIni of Portland, in case you need a new ride.
Walker Road: This road is a major east-west connector through town that provides easy freeway access. It's lined with residential developments, retail space, commercial and light industrial buildings. Just after it passes Murray Boulevard, and Walker road forms the north boundary of the Nike Campus (new sneakers, anyone?).
Park Way/Butner Road: This is another major through road that was part of the original area. Its east end is at the Cedar Hills shopping center, the first in the master planned community. There is a sky bridge over the freeway that goes to the Sunset Transit Center. From there, the light rail system known as the MAX can get you over to the Portland area. There is a DMV office in the shopping center, where you can get your Oregon driver's license. Grab a great cup of joe at Coffee Renaissance while waiting.
Cedar Mill North: Across the freeway, find this section of the community that has some of the newest construction. Large complexes mean more apartments rentals are here. Down the road from the Transit Center is the Providence St. Vincent Medical Center, in case you have an unfortunate accident hauling that big dresser of yours into your new home.
Congrats, you are moving to a great area that is part of the metro area around one of America's coolest cities. You can ride the MAX down to Powell's Books for a good read, then sample a bacon-wrapped maple bar at Voodoo Donuts. Cedar Hills is next to Tualatin Hills Nature Park and has other parks and green space to enjoy. Head west on Highway 26 and be at the Oregon Coast in just over an hour, or stay home and sample some of the stellar restaurants. One downside is the traffic -- 26 into Portland is one of the worst commutes in the region. If you can, take the MAX!
