The Katniss

The Katniss is a bourgie new building. Most of the people in the building seem friendly enough, but there is no sense of community whatsoever. The apartments are pretty small for Portland, and they're pretty expensive for Portland too. You will not feel good about yourself for living in a pricey four-story box in the middle of an adorable neighborhood of bungalows and Arts & Crafts-style houses. There are some nice design touches (floor to ceiling windows, ample cabinet space), but the overall look of the apartments is a bit anesthetic.

That said: for one of these newfangled constructions, it's not the ugliest, and it is not the most disruptive given that it's on a main drag (SE 13th). The location is, simply put, perfect. Sellwood is a beautiful, cozy neighborhood with basically everything you need within walking or biking distance. I never see cops in the neighborhood, which is nice. Public transit options are plentiful. Bars and restaurants and coffee shops, two big groceries, a bike shop, a pharmacy, a low-key gym, a couple urgent care centers... you get the idea.

The apartments are small, but the studios / junior one-bedrooms (depends on where you're from... in New York, these would be called 1BRs) are fine for someone living alone. If you furnish carefully, it'll feel like a luxe dormroom. I had to buy a standalone storage cabinet because the closet space is pretty limited. The in-unit washer/dryer and dishwasher are lifesavers.

Last note: the property managers are wonderful, competent, and very responsive. Any problem I've had, they've taken care of very quickly.