The Civic

Concierge staff will help with dog, package, and dry cleaning logistics(even jumping your car, as I saw someone being helped this morning). Beautiful building, with solid build quality. In-unit washer/dryer, walk-in closet, stainless appliances, exposed concrete walls and duct work, huge windows, etc. About a 15 second walk to the Max (light rail). You'll have to pay extra for a gym (Planet Granite in the Pearl is so much fun, though). No common area space for grilling, chilling, or studying. Juliette balconies on many units prevent personal outdoor space, too. Hardwood floors (real wood, actually) create a bit more vertical noise transfer than I'd like, but not bad. Overall, it's been a great place to spend three years, but it's not quite to that "to die for" level. Ground floor has a tap room, great (but expensive) gym, several good restaurants, and the soccer stadium just across the street.

Wonderful building, very safe, high-end finishes (only wish there weren't wood floors over the bedroom, since the upstairs neighbors can be heard walking sometimes). Amazing to have access to a concierge 24hrs a day. Love not having to deal with an apartment management company. You get better quality for basically no hassle. We use the gym downstairs (muv training), which is not included in our base rent. That being said, it's the best one I've ever been to - highly recommend! Great location for groceries, hiking, restaurants (3 in the ground floor of the building alone), shopping, soccer at the stadium next door, etc. Burnside gets a bit "eclectic" at times, but that's life in Portland. The biggest issue living here, and may not bug people used to concrete living, is the lack of community space and outdoor areas. We don't have a common room other than the lobby, and don't have a deck on our particular unit. If a Juliette balcony is all you desire, you don't aspire to grill or suntan at home, and don't need to wash bikes or dogs, then you will have no complaints! Those things are all quirks that we have put up with because everything else rocks! But if the right place came along...