Nestled along its namesake roadway, West Side Highway is truly the gateway to the entire Oregon and Washington region.
Named after Highway 411, "The West Side Highway," this commuter's community of 5,500 residents is a well-known landmark for travelers far and wide
Nestled along its namesake roadway, West Side Highway is truly the gateway to the entire Oregon and Washington region.
Named after Highway 411, "The West Side Highway," this commuter's community of 5,500 residents is a well-known landmark for travelers far and wide. Though it sits smack dab in the middle of Seattle and Portland, and right next door to the cities of Kelso and Longview, West Side Highway has been remarkably successful at preserving its small town ambience. Having avoided the haphazard sprawl common to so many western suburbs, it nestles compactly in a bend of the Cowlitz River, leaving plenty of room for scenic greenery throughout the city limits. It's a good place to find house rentals with a view.
The Northern Outpost
Though it's a healthy jaunt to find population centers to the north, it's a trip of mere minutes to the Longview/Kelso metropolitan area. With a combined population of more than 50,000 these two cities provide for all of the amenities and retail concerns local residents might have.
A Tight Rental Market Means Search Early
The cost of zoning laws that have preserved the nearby greenery from suburban sprawl can quickly become apparent when setting out to rent an apartment. Though there are always plenty of options available on the market, the city is known to go through periods of very tight access to vacancies. Commuters working in the Longview/Kelso Metropolitan Area are always interested in West Side Highway and its environs, so it's a near guarantee that any rental property you've got your eye on has already seen plenty of other eyes pass through. Accordingly, it's important to start the rental search as soon as possible to make sure you've got a leg up on the competition. Local Real Estate Brokers are a great place to start, but with so many private home owners and landlords in the area, it's well-advised to spend time scouring local classified listings. Spending a few weekends driving the streets with an eye peeled for real estate signs would not go amiss, either. There's always a decent chance that the "Duplex For Rent" sign you just spotted hasn't been posted anywhere else.
Paperwork, Paperwork, Paperwork
As is true for all competitive rental markets, keeping your paperwork in order is of the utmost importance. When there's a good chance that dozens--if not hundreds--of prospects and potential prospects have been considering a rental, nothing will get you shoved to the bottom of the list like presenting documentation that isn't up to snuff. Credit histories, income statements, and landlord testimonials should all be neatly organized and made readily available to any prospective landlords.
West Side Highway is roughly divided up into two main sections, though even these are subjective considering its unique sprawling nature. The biggest draws will be the privacy and views of these two neighborhoods, so make sure to tour as many places as you can if you are planning on settling in this pocket of rural suburbia.
Lexington: Bordered by Lexington Bridge to the south and Riverside County Park to the north, this is the neighborhood most likely to provide unobstructed views of the Cowlitz River and the rolling green landscape on the other side of its banks. Scenery isn't the only thing this neighborhood has to offer, as the city's (admittedly brief) stretch of restaurants and food establishments runs through here on Highway 411. Lexi's Pizza Pub is a favorite for families looking to avoid another night at the stove, while Ernesto's Espresso & Deli is practically a required stop for commuters heading out every morning. Rental options in this neighborhood are almost exclusively detached single homes, but several apartment complexes do exist within its boundaries.
West Side Highway: Here lies the city proper, a compact and well-ordered collection of residential blocks marching towards the nearby hills. Though most of the town's limited retail options are a quick drive away in the Lexington neighborhood, the West Side Highway neighborhood is home to most of the city's church and small business establishments, usually nestled discreetly amongst the residences. For prospective tenants looking to make the most of the nearby forests, Garden Street and Aaron Street are great places to try and find a private property hideaway, as you're guaranteed to be surrounded by sprawling greenery on all sides. Housing options in this neighborhood are heavy on single-unit homes, but this is the densest part of the city, and so it's also the neighborhood you're most likely to find nice premier apartments or serviced apartments.
A Recreationist's Dream
The Pacific Northwest is famous for its abundant opportunities to experience the great, green outdoors, and West Side Highway is no exception. With five large national and state parks an hour or less away, camping, hiking, and hunting are predictably favored local activities. The tributary Cowlitz River that borders the city feeds into the Columbia River just south of Longview, making fishing, floating, and rafting readily available for weekends spent outdoors. With so many young nature lovers in the area, it's not surprising that the city sees a healthy market for apartments for rent all year long.
The Commuter's Community
Retail and commerce options within the city limits are pretty sparse, and though a handful of convenience and other road-side stores exist, larger grocery and retail shopping will have to be done in Longview or Kelso.
Though it may not have a bustling downtown district or strips of big box stores, West Side Highway suits its purpose as a gateway to surrounding communities to a tee. With Portland and Seattle/Tacoma both about an hour away, and the cities of Longview and Kelso right next door, West Side Highway has become a favored haven for commuters across the region.
