Westlake
Zip Code: 97035
Having written over 1200 posts about Portland and Lake Oswego real estate, it occurred to me I have never written about my own neighborhood of Westlake where I not only live but work and where my Re/Max office is located.
Area Information
Westlake sits at the northwest corner of Lake Oswego at the intersection of Kruse Way, I-5, Fosberg, and Melrose. Westlake is part of the award-winning Lake Oswego School system and parts of this neighborhood go to Oak Creek Elementary and others go to Lakewood Elementary. The entire neighborhood is serviced by Lake Oswego Junior High School and Lake Oswego Senior High.
Westlake Once Farmland And Forest
When I moved here, there was a barrier at Highway 217 at I-5. Kruse Way didn’t exist. Where Kruse Way stands today it was mostly forest and farmland. Parkview Drive also had a barrier and didn’t continue to Carmen Drive as it does today nor did the Lake Bible Church exist. That entire area was farmland and people used to go hunt for mushrooms there as many local residents remember.
I imagine where my house sits must have also been farmland once because during the first few years after my house was built, I had 8-10 swallow nests under my roof eaves yearly and the barn swallows probably felt they were returning to their home. An airplane strip was once close-by and it no longer exists either.
On my daily walks, I would always see Mr. Kruse on his tractor plowing his farm on the corner of Carmen, Meadows and Kruse Way. I have written about him before in my photo blog, he would always stop to give me a tomato or flowers. His tractor was old and rusty and I would repeatedly ask him why he didn’t buy a new one. He told me not only was his tractor more reliable than many women he knew, but he said it was the developers of Westlake who had all the money and not him.
Westlake Amenities
Of course over time, everything changes. Westlake originally wasn’t as popular of an area as it is today. Its easy access just blocks to I-5 and Highway 217, the addition of corporate business parks such as Kruse Oaks Corporate Park and Centerpointe, Westlake’s mini-shopping complex, the many walking trails, green spaces, wetlands, proximity to Westlake Park, the schools and shopping, have all combined to make this a popular area.
- Westlake Park has 12 acres of active park space, with three lighted baseball/softball fields with bleachers, two lighted soccer fields, lighted tennis courts, full court basketball, a covered playground area plus a covered picnic area.
- Summer concerts are held in Westlake Park during the month of August.
- There are miles of walking paths and bike trails to enjoy.
- In addition, there’s a small neighborhood complex of stores, offices and eateries within only 2 blocks of this neighborhood in Westlake Village that include: Bean Street, Pizza Schmizza, Salon LaVonne, Westlake Massage Therapy, Westlake Gifts, Lake Oswego Executive Suites, Moore Property Management, Big Box Storage, Sunset Carpet Cleaning, and a dry cleaners among others. All along Kruse Way there are many more eating establishments and retail stores.
Westlake Convenient Location To Everywhere
The other great thing about living in Westlake is its driving times. Nothing is far away and everything is close to Westlake such as downtown Portland, Lake Oswego, Bridgeport Village shopping and Washington Square shopping mall. Here are some of the driving times:
- Portland City Center: 15 minutes
- Ocean Beaches: 1.5 hours
- Mt: Hood Skiing: 1.25 hours
- River Sailing: 15 minutes
- Portland Airport: 30 minutes
Westlake HOA
Here is the link to the Westlake Homeowner’s Association.
ALL ABOUT…..Lake Oswego Real Estate. © Copyright 2008-2012. Betty Jung. All Rights Reserved. Use of this article, photos and images without permission is a violation of federal copyright laws.
