Downtown—Park Blocks
The revival of downtown started three decades ago and today projects such as the Waterfront Park, Pioneer Courthouse Square and the Multnomah Library have made Portland one of the healthiest and more vibrant downtowns in America.
The high demand for downtown properties resulted to the construction of buildings such as the brick-lined Museum Place, the ultra-modern Mosaic Condominiums and the Eliot Condominiums.
The people that live downtown get to enjoy an unmatched array of cultural attractions as a concert at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall or a Broadway show at the Keller Auditorium Other attractions to living downtown is access to five star hotels like the Heathman, the Hilton, the Governor the Fifth Avenue and the Benson, fine restaurants like Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse or the Portland City Grill.
Dunthorpe
It features prestigious mansions and estates west of Highway 43 and overlooks the Willamette River. What sets this neighborhood apart from others is that it boasts its own public school system-the Riverdale School district that serves more than 600 families that live in the area. Dunthorpe is just minutes to downtown, the OHSU hospital and it is one of the most desirable zip codes in Portland.
Hillsdale
It is north of the city center on Barbur Boulevard and it was settled in the early 1880s. Over the years it has become an important commute route, along with the Southwest Terwilliger Boulevard and Capitol Highway.
With its new Library, Parks and the numerous shopping and eating attractions it has been transformed from a farm land to an urban community.
John’s Landing
It is best known for its Waterfront views, Beautiful homes and a variety of condominiums. The Water Front Tower features more than twenty stores, great restaurants and courtyard cafes.
Multnomah Village
It is a quiet neighborhood with more than 100 different stores, restaurants and community destinations. It gives you the feel of small town although it is only 10 minutes to downtown. The Fat City Cafe, best known for its great breakfast and international interior decor is this community’s Landmark. The residents of Multnomah Village enjoy living in the heart of the city and are very active within their community.
NW 23rd
Northwest 23rd Avenue is an eclectic destination similar to New York’s Greenwich Village and West Hollywood in Los Angeles. Some of the city’s most upscale Shops and finest restaurants can be found here.
This trendy neighborhood also known as “Nob Hill” or the “Alphabet District” (for its alphabetized streets) offers an array of Historic Homes.
It is very easy to access from downtown Portland with the new Portland City Streetcar that moves along 10th and 11th Ave, to Lovejoy Street and back to downtown through the Pearl District.
Old Town / Chinatown
It is an area that has been dramatically revitalized but it has still managed to keep its vintage charm. It includes the nationally known Skidmore Historic District which is the host of Portland’s Saturday Market-an outdoor marketplace renowned for its assortment of locally made arts and crafts.
The Tom McCall Waterfront Park is best known for hosting the Bite of Portland and the Waterfront Blues festival on a yearly basis. Other landmarks in the area are the Japanese-American Historic Plaza and the Battleship Oregon Memorial. The twin lions on Fourth Avenue are the familiar markers of Chinatown which is also home to the Portland Chinese Classical Garden with a bridged lake and meticulous landscape.
Pearl District
Just a decade ago, the Pearl district was an industrial area and home to a brewery, auto body shops and run down warehouses. Today you can find upscale new condominiums and modern Loft projects developed to fit a variety of lifestyles. Here is a community where the hip young professionals and the Baby Boomers are trading the suburbs for the excitement of the urban living.
The Pearl District is Portland’s Mecca of culture and creativity. It is home to a rich variety of art galleries, specialty shops, home furnishing stores, fine restaurants and art schools. On the first Thursday evening of each month, art lovers visit the many art galleries such as the Mark Woolley Gallery and the cutting-edge photography at the Blue Sky Gallery. In close proximity to downtown, the Oregon Convention center and I-405 the Pearl district is a thriving neighborhood of creatives and visionaries.
The name “The Pearl” originated in the 1980s from the observation that Galleries and Lofts housed in its post-industrial building were like the Pearls hidden in oysters. Historic sites in the area include the restored Northwestern Ice and Cold Storage warehouse ( now the Wieden & Kennedy Building), the Water Tower, Hoyt Street Rail Yards and the 13th Avenue Historic District.
Portland Heights
Portland Heights is situated across the Vista Bridge from the well known Nob Hill Shopping area in NW 23rd avenue. It is walking distance to the Hoyt Arboretum and only few minutes drive to downtown. Washington Park with its 130 acres of hiking trails, recreation facilities, tennis courts and picnic areas, is one of Portland’s oldest parks.
The homes here feature an unmatched collection of architecture, are nestled into the hillside and share some of the most breathtaking views of Mount Hood, the Willamette River and the city’s cluster of Skyscrapers.
West Hills
The West Hills are known for their Luxurious homes, the spectacular views and their enviable access to the city’s greatest cultural attractions. This neighborhood is home to the infamous Pittock Mansion that was built by Portland’s most prominent pioneers Henry & Georgiana Pittock in the early 1900s and it symbolizes a portal to the city’s rich history.
Forest Park with more than 5,000 wooded acres is the largest forested city park in the United States and it offers hikers, bicyclists and runners nearly 70 miles of trails, including the 30+mile-long Wildwood Trail. Other attractions are the Japanese Garden, the International Rose Test Garden in Washington Park and the award-winning Oregon Zoo which is the oldest zoo west of the Mississippi River.
The West Hills are undoubtedly the most coveted neighborhood to live in Portland
