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Goose
Hollow - Northwest District -
Pearl District
Guide to Neighborhoods in Downtown
Portland
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 This
is where it started in 1845 when the two owners of the town site, Asa Lovejoy
and Francis Pettygrove, christened it "Portland", hired a surveyor (Thomas
Brown) and lay out a grid of 16 blocks. This original subdivided area
extended from the river to Second Avenue and from Washington to Jefferson
streets.
Brown's survey work was now as easy task since the area
was an evergreen forest full of native Douglas Fir toweling 60 plus feet
high. As the firs were cleared for development, stumps were left.
Hence one of the many nicknames for Portland, "Stumptown."
Philadelphia Plan - Street Names
Portland, like many USA cities, followed the Philadelphia
plan of street naming. The Philadelphia idea migrated with the pioneers
- across the Allegheny Mountains, along the Ohio Valley, and down the Mississippi.
Most towns were built on the bank of a river, because transportation by
water was important, and the riverfront was the natural starting point for
the sequence of streets beginning with "First." Later, as towns grew
up along the spreading railroad system, the railroad track itself was the
base line for staring the numbered series.
Street Names Follow Pattern of Presidents, Tree, etc.
 Street
labeling in Portland thus took the schemes of names, without order, one
way and numbers the other way. The Portland street names follow the
pattern of presidents, pioneer Portlanders, trees, etc. Similar to
Philadelphia.
Hats off to Douglas Taylor, superintendent of streets when
Portland, East Portland, and Albina consolidated in 1891. Because
of the street name duplication between the three areas, Mayor W. S. Mason
referred the matter to the City Council "Streets Committee" which passed
the problem off to Superintendent Taylor. Taylor and his staff recommended
to the "Streets Committee" a street naming pattern in the Couch (pronounced
Coo-ch) subdivision (Northwest District and Pearl District) that is easy
to remember; numbers in one direction and letters in alphabetical sequence
in the other. Thus we have going from south to north: Burnside (the
street that divides southwest from northwest), Couch, Davis, Everett, Flanders,
Glisan, Hoyt, Irving, Johnson, and so forth. The numbers are also
in sequence of course. Taylor must have been a pretty good politician
- he gave the "Streets Committee" a list of alternative names for most streets
and he let them pick and choose.
Neighborhoods in the Downtown Area
We consider the Portland "Downtown Area" as those neighborhoods
where you can walk downtown within 15-20 minutes. All on the west
side of the Willamette River. This includes the neighborhoods of
Downtown, Northwest District, Old Town/Chinatown, Pearl District, and Goose
Hollow. The Northwest District and Goose Hollow are the only neighborhoods
with detached single family homes. The type of housing in all the
other neighborhoods in the downtown area are condos and rowhouses.
Downtown Condos
Downtown has a ever increasing number of condos with the
most units in the Pearl District. Visit the
Portland Business
Alliance Web site for information about downtown housing. The
site lists all the available condos projects for sale as well as apartments
buildings that offer rentals. Here is a
map of some
of the apartments and condos available in the downtown area.
Visit my Web page, Downtown
Condos for a summary of all the new downtown condo projects under construction.
Portland Monthly Magazine Neighborhood Guide
 The
Portland Monthly
magazine features neighborhoods in their April issue every year. It has
a ton of information about neighborhoods to include their pick of the 20
best neighborhoods for the year.
To help those in the housing market, the magazine combines
all the data from about 120 neighborhoods and communities in the Portland
metro area. Include in the document are housing prices, school ratings,
demographics, crime statistics, parks, commuting information, and services.
Click
here (PDF format) to download the document.
Public Art Walking Tour of Downtown Portland
 The
Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) along with the Portland Oregon Visitors
Association have a Public Art Walking Tour map/brochure – a colorful guide
to nearly 100 public art pieces in downtown Portland and the near eastside.
This free brochure is available at Portland-area visitor centers, or by
calling RACC at (503) 823-5111. You can also obtain an electronic copy at
www.racc.org/walkingtour.
Search for Homes in Downtown Portland
 To
search for homes in downtown Portland, go to
Search Downtown. You can use over 100 search parameters and then select
a specific area off a neighborhood map by drawing a box around that area.
Alternatively, you can just specify the criteria and obtain all the current
listings in the downtown area.
Comparing Condos CondoCompare is a website that focuses solely
on the condo market. The website populates its live listing data from the
Regional Market Listing Service (RMLS). The format allow you to compare
units and buildings in two different ways. First, you can compare any building
to other buildings in both the same market as well as buildings in other
markets. Secondly, you can compare units in the same building as well as
units in other buildings. CondoCompare also allows you to sort units and
buildings side-by-side so you can compare them in one place. CondoCompare
has its only real estate agents but we think their idea of comparing condos
is so important, we are willing to point the site out to you.
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Goose Hollow
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The Goose Hollow Foothills League Neighborhood Association is host
to five historic residential communities. These consist of an uptown
area of older brick apartment houses and residential hotels, mixed with
commercial and light industrial activities that we have called the
Lownsdale area; an area called Kings Hill that once hosted the
residences of Portland's turn of the century wealthier merchants, now partly
infilled with higher density apartments and offices;
Goose Hollow itself, an outskirt of downtown that mixed commercial,
residential, industrial, and highway commercial activities in an area that
had been family farms and Portland suburbs before the automobile.
Gander Ridge and Vista Ridge are at the foot of Portland
Heights and at the edge of the bowl that makes downtown Portland and Goose
Hollow.
While the neighborhood has now less than
half the housing stock it had thirty years ago, it remains one of the most
densely populated parts of the City. Its attractiveness as a place to live
has much to do with this association's insistence on maintaining a pedestrian
environment and rebuilding a community focus lost in a period of dislocation
and changing patterns of urbanization accompanying the development of urban
freeways. Recent trends are toward rebuilding the neighborhood's housing
stock with new units exceeding demolitions in the 1990's.
Goose Hollow is host to a number of community
and regional institutions. Three of these neighborhood landmarks are highly
visible: Lincoln
High School, Multnomah
Athletic Club, and
PGE Park.
The Westside MAX public art program added
the vision of over 20 artists to the planning and design of the light-rail
system, resulting in the installation of over 100 art elements along the
Westside line. Here in
Goose Hollow many residents, students and businesses contributed to the
art found at the Civic Stadium, Kings Hill and Goose Hollow stations.
View the art at the
MAX
Train Web site.
Money Magazine: Goose Hollow is one of the Best Places
to Retire
The
October 2007 issue of
Money Magazine named the Goose Hollow neighborhood as one of the best
places to retire. The article states that, "Goose Hollow is walking
distance to Washington Park, which is home to the Japanese Garden, the International
Test Rose Garden and the Hoyt Arboretum. As one of the original residential
areas in Portland, Goose Hollow is marked by turn-of-the-century homes,
local institutions like the Goose Hollow Inn and Leaky Roof pub."
New Condo Developments in Goose Hollow
 January
2007 A number of condo developments are under construction in
Goose Hollow to include: Allegro, The Civic, Clay Street Condos (conversion),
The Jefferson, Manhattan Tower, and Shannon (conversion). These projects
will add over 500 living units when completed in 2007-2009. See
Goose Hollow Condo Projects for details.
Origin of Name
Goose Hollow was named after the migrating geese who used
to stop there to gather. Conflicts over the free-ranging geese were
called Goose Wars.
More About Goose Hollow
Neighborhood Association Web Site
Goose
Hollow Foothills League.
Location West of downtown. When you cross I-205, you
are in Goose Hollow. The streets are all "Southwest" and if they say
"Northwest", you are in the Northwest District neighborhood.
1Drive
Time to Downtown Five to six minutes.
Topography Flat with mature trees in yards and parks.
A slight rise in elevation going from east to west.
Sidewalks and Streets Goose Hollow has sidewalks for walking
except for some winding roads in the south part of the neighborhood. Most
of the streets have parked cars lining them.
2005 Livability Study 90.5% of Goose Hollow residents rated
their neighborhood "good" or "very good." See
Livability Study.
Public Transportation TriMet
has eight bus routes in Goose Hollow. The MAX light rail line rolls
right through the center of the neighborhood (three stops). No streetcars
in Goose Hollow.
22000
Demographics Population: 5,433. Area size: 288 acres.
Average population density: 1.43 persons per acre (includes vacant spaces).
Number of households: 3,792. Percent of home owners: 14. Percent
of renters: 86. Diversity: 16% non-Caucasian.
3Crime
Stats for 2007 9 violent crimes, 17 residential burglaries, and
147 auto thefts. Total crimes per 1,000 residents was 76.
4Shopping
and Services Number of supermarkets: 1. Number of health
clubs: 1. Number of coffee shops: 6.
These numbers are somewhat misleading as residents have access to numerous
food markets just across West Burnside to include Zupan's, Trader Joe's
on NW Glisan, Whole Foods closer to downtown, and City Market on NW 21st
Avenue.
Eating Out Most residents hike across Burnside to the Northwest
District or downtown. If you want food in Goose Hollow you can get
the best Reuben sandwich on the West Coast at the Goose Hollow Inn located
at 1927 SW Jefferson Street. The inn is owned by former mayor Bud
Clark. The
Hotel deLuxe
has a restaurant — called Gracie’s after comedian Gracie Allen — and serves
breakfast, lunch and dinner. It is located at 729 SW 15th Avenue.
Walking Score Goose Hollow is a walker's paradise except for
addresses on the south end as recorded by
Walk Score.
Community Centers and Health Clubs The
Multnomah Club is a
private health and social club.
Parks The neighborhood has 15 acres of parks within its boundaries.
Washington Park (200 plus acres to include the International Rose Garden)
is located on the west edge of Goose Hollow.
Public Library It is just a few blocks (801 SW 10th Avenue)
to the Multnomah County
Central Library in downtown Portland.
Who Lives in Goose Hollow Students from Portland State University
who rent, young folks who want to be close to downtown, and empty nesters
who like condo living. About two-thirds of the residents are under 40 years
of age.
What They Drive in Goose Hollow SUVs and luxury autos at the
detached single-family homes and a mix of autos at apartments and condos.
Many Portland State University students bike to class.
Schools Elementary schools:
Chapman and
Ainsworth. Middle school:
West Sylvan MS. High school:
Lincoln HS.
School Report Card Grades Elementary schools: A/B. Middle school:
A. High school: A. Click
here for report card details.
Housing Types and Styles Apartment buildings, condos, townhomes,
and detached single family homes. The west side has some beautiful historic
large homes. Numerous apartment buildings with over 80 percent of the residents
residing in an apartment and this number is increasing. The 2000 census:
67.1% of the households have one person per household.
5Goose Hollow 2007 Home Prices
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Average price for homes sold in the Goose
Hollow neighborhood in 2007: $353,609.
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Median price for homes sold in the Goose Hollow neighborhood
in 2007: $279,300.
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2007 price appreciation in the Goose Hollow neighborhood:
-5%.
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5-year price appreciation in the Goose Hollow neighborhood:
-2%.
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2007 metro area home prices: The average price
was $342,900 (6.3% appreciation from 2006) and the median price was
$290,000 (7.2% appreciation from 2006).
Please be aware that the above figures are
subject to error and are intended as guidelines only.
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View
Goose Hollow Homes
for Sale
Goose Hollow Homes for Sale
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Goose Hollow Boundaries
North: West Burnside Street.
East: I-405
South: Going from east to west, SW Cardinell Drive to SW Jackson Street
to SW Vista Avenue.
West: Washington Park.
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Maps of
Goose Hollow Neighborhood
Click to Enlarge
Map Showing Goose Hollow Boundaries
Goose Hollow
Google Maps
Goose Hollow
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Learn More
About
the
Goose Hollow Neighborhood
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Goose Hollow
Transit Map
Click to enlarge
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Northwest District
(aka Nob Hill)
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 Some
of the locals call it "Trendy-third Avenue." But most Portlanders
simply call the area "Northwest." Another name commonly used for the area
is Nob Hill after the San Francisco area. Portland trendiest shopping is
on ten blocks of Northwest 23rd Avenue between Burnside and NW Northrup
streets.
Twenty-third is the place to go if you want to walk and
people-watch and browse through a lot of shops. NW 21st Avenue is
edgier. Wooden utility poles there have held so many concert posters that
the rusty staples may be all that hold them up.
This is the neighborhood Bill Walton lived when he played
for the Blazers in the 70s. He was the star when the Blazers won the
NBA championship in 1976-77. Bill was (and still is) a popular guy
in Portland.
Northwest 23rd Shopping and Dining
A popular commercial area exists on Northwest 23rd Street
(and to a lesser extend on 21st Street) running 10-12 blocks.
Some of the Portland's best dining spots are located along these two streets.
23rd is a browsers paradise with numerous shops ranging from clothing boutiques
to book stores. West Burnside is solid businesses from auto dealerships
(Volvo and Jag) to mini-malls.
Portland's new
streetcar
line that began in July 2001, connects the Northwest District with downtown.
Its route is circulator - a transit service that moves people through the
Central City.
Northwest is an Entertainment Center! This is where the
"characters" hang out because they come to the Fred Meyer Stadium Branch
Supermarket (the locals called it Freddy's) and unload their soda cans and
bottles (Oregon Bottle Bill), collect their money, and then shop.
I once asked a check-out person at the stadium branch if she ever got bored
working at Freddy's. "Yes," she replied, "when I worked at a Fred
Meyer store in the suburbs."
Slabtown
 This
area of the Northwest District — historically known as Slabtown, more recently
dubbed NoLo (north of Lovejoy) by real estate agents — is an area of approximately
50 square blocks. In the 1880s, the poor, working-class residents
in part of Northwest Portland used slabs of cheap wood from sawmills as
fuel for their fireplaces. Slabtown became a semi-derogatory term for the
area by the rich, who could afford cordwood that was cut to size.
St. Patrick’s Church, 1623 NW 19th Avenue, was in the middle
of the poor neighborhood, while the rich lived closer to West Burnside Street,
around 15th and 16th Avenues. So says Richard Engeman, staff historian at
the Oregon Historical Society. Today, the prominent 'Slabtown' sign at the
corner of Northwest Lovejoy Street and 15th Avenue, a relic from the 1970s,
is one of the only reminders of the term. The sign was the inspiration for
the bar and music lounge of the same name, Slabtown, located at 1033 NW
16th Avenue and is famously known as the birthplace of the Portland band
the Dandy Warhols.
Slabtown is labeled the “transition area” in city documents.
It is changing, adding dozens of town houses and condominiums. Town houses
and condos are replacing old industrial plants. A 25-town house development
opened in May 2006 on Northwest 20th Avenue and Pettygrove Street, with
units priced around $500,000. The historic Lane-Miles Standish building,
for 85 years home to a printing business at Northwest 19th Avenue and Raleigh
Street, has been converted to a mix of office space and five levels of residences.
Vaux Swifts at Chapman School
 In
early September you can sit on the lawn at Chapman School and watch the
spectacular aerial display of thousands of Vaux's Swifts as they gather
and spiral into the school's chimney to roost. The swifts begin gathering
in the sky above the Chapman School neighborhood in large numbers 40 to
60 minutes before sunset. Closer to sunset the swifts begin circling directly
above the school chimney in a large flock – this is a dramatic sight and
ideally you will be there before it begins. They begin to enter the chimney
within 10 to 30 minutes after sunset. Portland Audubon volunteers are always
on hand nightly to answer questions and offer views through spotting scopes.
More About Northwest District
Neighborhood Association Web Site
Northwest
District Neighborhood Association.
Neighborhood Weblog
Northwest District Weblog.
Location West of downtown. When you cross I-205, you
are in the Northwest District. The streets are all "NW . . ." and
if they say "SW . . .", you are in the Goose Hollow neighborhood.
1Drive
Time to Downtown Four minutes.
Topography Mature trees in yards and parks. Hilly with winding roads
along on the west border of the neighborhood bordering Forest Park.
Sidewalks and Streets There are many cars in this neighborhood
so streets are full of cars, especially east of NW 25th. Sidewalks
everywhere in the neighborhood and wide enough for 2-3 people to walk together.
2005 Livability Study 90.3% of Northwest District residents
rated their neighborhood "good" or "very good." See
Livability Study.
Public Transportation
TriMet has six bus
routes in Northwest. The
streetcar
line travels to the neighborhood from the Pearl District via NW Northrup
Street, goes a couple blocks up NW 23rd Avenue and heads back east on NW
Lovejoy Street.
22000
Demographics Population: 11,455. Area size: 849 acres.
Average population density: 13 persons per acre (includes vacant spaces).
Number of households: 7,567. Percent of home owners: 13%. Percent
of renters: 85%. Diversity: 12.7% non-Caucasian.
3Crime
Stats for 2007 29 violent crimes, 56 residential burglaries,
and 354 auto thefts. Total crimes per 1,000 people was 117.
4Shopping
and Services Number of supermarkets/food stores: 4. Number
of health clubs: 3. Number of coffee shops: 16.
The Northwest District has a large supermarket (Fred Meyers) along with
numerous specialty shops. Besides the large food markets such as Zupan's
and Fred Meyers, Northwest residents have access to Trader Joe's on NW Glisan
Street, City Market on NW 21st Avenue, Food Front Coop on NW Thurman and
24th, and Elephant's Delicatessen just off West Burnside. It also
has a couple of bakeries along with a meat market.
Eating Out Restaurants cover the complete range from "Gourmet
Magazine Top 100" to shops serving a slice of pizza. These make everyone's
list of best restaurants in the Northwest District: Balvo, Bewon,
Cafe Mino, Carlyle, Ken's Artisan Bakery, Paley's Place, and Wildwood.
Walking Score A walker's paradise as recorded by
Walk Score.
This means you can get by without a car as everything you need is a short
walk from your home.
Community Centers and Health Clubs The
Mavericks
Sports Club at NW 20th Avenue and NW Overton. The
Friendly House
at NW 26th Avenue and NW Savier.
Parks Northwest District residents have two parks within their
borders and access to the 5,000 plus acre Forest Park as well as the 129
acre Washington Park.
Wallace Park (5.39 acres) is located at NW 25th Avenue and NW Raleigh
Street adjacent to the Chapman Elementary School.
Couch Park at NW 19th Avenue and NW Glisan Street only has .28 acres
and includes an outdoor basketball court, park restroom, dog off-leash area,
and playground.
Public Library A branch of the
Multnomah County Library
system is located on 2300 NW Thurman Street.
Who Lives in the Northwest District Young singles who want
to be close to the action. Other than young children, people of all
ages live in the Northwest District.
What They Drive in Nob Hill Hondas, Nissans, and Toyotas.
Limited number of SUVs. Because of the large number of apartments
and restaurants, parking is a problem no matter what kind of car you own.
Schools Elementary school:
Chapman Middle school:
West Sylvan MS High school:
Lincoln HS.
School Report Card Grades Elementary school: B. Middle school:
A. High school: A. Click
here for report card details.
Housing Types and Styles Condos, townhomes, and slowly disappearing
detached single family homes. Apartments on every block with over
75-80 percent of the residents residing in an apartment. This area
is changing rapidly as developers buy a couple of older homes, remove them,
and build 6-8 new townhomes. Or they buy a run-down commercial building,
demolish it, and erect a new condominium in its place.
5Northwest District 2007 Home Prices
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Average price for homes sold in the Northwest
District neighborhood in 2007: $368,9938.
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Median price for homes sold in the Northwest District
neighborhood in 2007: $289,950.
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2007 price appreciation in the Northwest District
neighborhood: 3%.
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5-year price appreciation in the Northwest District
neighborhood: -5%.
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2007 metro area home prices: The average price
was $342,900 (6.3% appreciation from 2006) and the median price was
$290,000 (7.2% appreciation from 2006).
Please be aware that the above figures are subject to error
and are intended as guidelines only.
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View
Northwest District
Homes for Sale
Northwest District Homes for Sale
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Northwest District
Boundaries
West
Burnside on the South side and the I-405 freeway to the East. North:
Northwest District extends to NW Front Avenue, NW Nicolai Street and St.
Helens Road. West: defined by the east boundaries of Forest
and Macleay Parks, and a line running 600 feet west and parallel to Cornell
and Westover Roads.
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Maps of
Northwest District Neighborhood
Click to enlarge
Map Showing Northwest District Boundaries
Northwest
District
Google Maps
Northwest District
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Learn More
About the
Northwest District Neighborhood
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Map of
Streetcar Line
Click to View
Route Map
The streetcar
line travels to the Northwest District neighborhood from the Pearl District
via NW Northrup Street, goes a couple blocks up NW 23rd Avenue and heads
back east on NW Lovejoy Street.
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Pearl District
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 Located
on the north edge of downtown, the Pearl District is now the liveliest area
in Portland. Walk to work, eat out frequently, take walks along the
river, and jump on a streetcar that loops the downtown areas of the city.
Up until a few years ago, the Pearl District was just another
grimy, downtown neighborhood that was showing its years. Today it is transitioning
from an industrial warehousing area to one of the most desirable locations
in the city. Renovations and adaptive use of historical and other
structures have led to loft housing, row houses, condos, new restaurants,
art and ceramic galleries, and a burst of new retail activity. A flurry
of important new urban creative-commerce entrepreneurs, ranging from small
internet firms to world-class advertising and multi-media companies, are
staking out territory here.
Brewery Blocks and Lovejoy Blocks
 In
2000, another large-scale redevelopment project in the Pearl District began
on the site of a former five-block brewery, called the
Brewery Blocks.
Gerding/Edlen Development Company bought the historic brew houses, which
are being converted into approximately 1.7 million square feet of retail
and office space, and new residential buildings. Both the historic
and new buildings are incorporating environmentally friendly techniques
that will provide long-term savings as well as conserve energy. For instance,
during the construction phase of the Brewery Blocks, a recycling program
diverted 96 percent of construction waste from going to landfills. The latest
green energy technology, including windows, lighting, insulation, and solar
power are projected to save between 20 and 30 percent of energy costs per
year. It is projected that after three years, the extra expenses to buy
the “green” materials will be offset by the savings in energy.
The Lovejoy Blocks, bounded by Northwest Lovejoy and Marshall
streets and Northwest 12th and 14th avenues, are designed to include a nine-story
grocery and office building and a 16-story retail and apartment building.
In Block One, a Safeway store would occupy the full block at ground level,
and a partial second level would house back-of-store operations. Three levels
of parking and three levels of office space would top the store. Block Two
would include retail space at the ground floor, parking on the ground through
third floors and residential apartments on the fourth through 16th floors.
Sierra Club Names Pearl District 'One of USA's Best Developments'
In 2005, the
Sierra Club named the Pearl District as one of America's best new development.
The Sierra Club considered a wide range of projects, from cities large and
small, to suburbs, to small towns in each corner of the nation. Here is
a quote from the report: "In urban planning circles, Portland has emerged
as a model city, at the forefront of creating a vibrant, quality urban environment,
and the Pearl District only bolsters its reputation."
Money Magazine: Pearl District is one of the Best Places
to Retire
The
October 2007 issue of
Money Magazine named the Pearl District one of the best places to retire.
Here is an excerpt from the article, "When Joyce Edwards visited friends
in Portland a couple of years ago, she wasn't in the market for a new hometown.
But she immediately realized that this Northwest city was the place for
her. "I subscribe to two magazines: the New Yorker and Sierra," says Edwards,
60. There aren't many places, she says, that appeal to her interests in
both culture and the great outdoors."
The Pearl and Pets
 Hannah
is a yellow Lab, a citizen of the city. She rides the elevator with
her owner. She goes between her 4th floor condo in the Pearl and the street-level
merchants who greet her sweet demeanor with fellowship and a biscuit.
Hannah is an emerging generation of condo dogs who, in order to live indoors,
must be tested and certified as good citizens in terms of qualities.
This good-citizen mandate stands in bylaws for condominiums built by Hoyt
Street Properties, a Pearl developer and the nation's first condo builder
to require the pledge. To view Pearl properties that allow pets visit
Portland and Pets.
Zimmerman Community Center
The
Zimmerman Community
Center (ZCC) is an urban nonprofit organization committed to strengthening
the spiritual and civic life and identity of Portland's River District.
Founded by a bequest from local schoolteacher Isobel Faith Zimmerman, the
ZCC seeks to build community bonds that bring together people who live and
work in in the Pearl and Old Town/Chinatown Neighborhoods across divides
and differences.
Parks in the Pearl
 The
Pearl District is also home to a number of parks. Jamison Square Park is
popular for both residents and those who live elsewhere. Tanner Springs
Park celebrated its grand opening in August 2005, and blends the industrial
character of the area with natural features. Designed with community input,
the park has a wall made of railroad steel, cobblestone paths, and will
have a stream running through it. Two additional parks are planned for construction
in the Pearl District.
Credit for Condos - Try Before You Buy
For those intrigued by the idea of living in the Pearl
District but unsure whether they can afford a condo or that urban living
suits them,
Hoyt Street
Properties has a way to try before you buy.
Hoyt Street Properties has a 'Credits for Condos' program,
which allows renters at Hoyt's Kearney Plaza Apartments to apply 20 percent
of their monthly rent toward purchase of a condo, loft or townhouse in the
Pearl District. Credits apply toward closing costs and may not exceed
two percent of the purchase price. Rental credits earned can only be used
if a Hoyt Realty Group agent handles the sale.
Pearl Web Sites
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Shop The Pearl
Portland's Pearl District business and community directory. You
will find listings for local businesses, events, and local attractions.
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Pearl District Photo Tour
Take a photo tour of the neighborhood.
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Pearl District This web site represents an effort to provide
capsule descriptions of the significant traditionally designed neighborhoods
(TNDs) that have been constructed or are proposed on the West Coast.
Jim Horne, the creator of the West Coast TNDs Web site has included
the Pearl District in Portland as a TND - he has included 15 TDNs in
the Portland metro area. It is well worth the visit to his site.
Origin of Name
The name "Pearl" reportedly came from Thomas Augustine,
owner of the Augustine Gallery, who spoke of the precious gems hidden in
the neighborhoods crusty old warehouses. Earlier the area was referred to
as The Northwest Triangle.
More About the Pearl District
Neighborhood
Association Web Site and Blog The
Pearl District Neighborhood
Association was founded in 1991. Visit the
Pearl District
blog.
Location North downtown neighborhood which means you are north
of Burnside. Pearl streets are all labeled "NW . . ."
1Drive
Time to Downtown Four minutes.
Topography Flat and trees lining some streets. The Pearl
is a urban/city grid layout.
Sidewalks and Streets Streets are crowded with parked cars.
Wide sidewalks for walking with friends and family.
2005 Livability Study 87.5% of Pearl District residents rated
their neighborhood "good" or "very good." See
Livability Study.
Public Transportation Walking to the heart of downtown
takes minutes. The
Portland streetcar
line connects the Pearl with the Northwest District, downtown, and the
South Waterfront.
Public Transportation
TriMet has six bus
routes in Goose Hollow. The
Portland Streetcar
connects the Pearl with downtown and the Northwest District. Streetcar
service is schedule to begin in the Summer of 2006 to the South Waterfront
area.
22000
Demographics Population: 1,113. Area size: 300 acres.
Average population density 3 persons per acre (includes vacant spaces).
Number of households: 746. Percent of home owners: 19. Percent
of renters: 48. Diversity: 17.1% non-Caucasian.
3Crime
Stats for 2007 23 violent crimes, 5 residential burglaries,
163 auto thefts. Total crimes per 1,000 people was 173.
4Shopping
and Services Number of supermarkets: 1. Number of health
clubs: 5. Number of coffee shops: 10.
The opening of Whole
Foods Market in the Spring of 2002 made living easier in the Pearl.
The Pearl Bakery and Holden's (deli) are also good bets for quality food
items. If you want a piece of art, galleries are numerous as well as many
home boutiques. You can find just about everything you need in the Pearl
to outfit your new condo.
Powell's City of Books, the largest independent book store in the USA,
features a city block's worth (68,000 square feet) of new and used books.
Eating Out Every type of ethnic food is now available
in the Pearl - this includes Pacific Northwest cuisine. The Pearl
has numerous coffee shops. A couple of taverns serve a hearty breakfast
and a "workingman" lunch. Top choices for Pearl restaurants include Andina,
Bluehour, Caffe Allora, Daily Cafe, Fenouil, Le Bouchon, Olea, Park Kitchen,
and Sungari Pearl.
Walking Score It's easy to get by without a car in the Park.
Walk Score gives
most of the neighborhood a score in the 90s (walker's paradise). Lower
scores are the result of not having a supermarket on the north side of the
neighborhood which will be remedied by Safeway opening a market in 2008.
Community Centers and Health Clubs The
Zimmerman Community
Center and
24-Hour Fitness.
Parks Three neighborhood parks make living in the Pearl appealing.
Each park serves a different purpose.
Jamison Square is a .94 acre park in which the focal point of the park
is a fountain which simulates a shallow tidal pool. Water cascades from
stone joints into low pools as the fountain continuously recirculates treated
water. It is a welcome relief on hot summer days and evenings.
Tanner Springs Park makes a connection to the past when Tanner Creek
used to flowed openly through the Pearl; today it flows through large pipes
beneath the city streets. The design of the park recapture the area's
past with its native wetlands and flowing runnels. It is a place to
sit and reflect.
North Park Blocks is six blocks (2.43 acres) long with mature Big Leaf
Maples and Black Locusts along with a few American Elms. These blocks
were some of the original park properties in the city which were dedicated
in 1869. Drive down NW Park Avenue or NW 8th Avenue and it's hard to keep
one's eyes on the road instead of looking at the 80-100 foot trees.
Public Library Hop on the streetcar and head on over to the
to the Multnomah County
Central Library in downtown Portland or to the Northwest District branch
located at 2300 NW Thurman Street.
What They Drive in the Pearl District You see lots of Hondas
and Toyotas - also a few BMWs and Audis. Limited number of SUVs.
Car ownership is limited due to parking. If a Pearl District resident
needs a car, they can rent one.
Schools Elementary school:
Chapman Middle school:
West Sylvan MS High school:
Lincoln HS.
School Report Card Grades Elementary school: B. Middle school:
A. High school: A. Click
here for report card details.
Housing Types Condos and a few townhomes You will see
the term "loft" in the Pearl which legally means a condo. Lofts are
converted warehouses with large open spaces. Lofts are so popular
that new loft-buildings are being built as all the desirable warehouse have
been converted to living units. The Pearl does not have any detached
single-family homes.
5Pearl District 2007 Home Prices
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Average price for homes sold in the Pearl District
neighborhood in 2007: $547,312.
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Median price for homes sold in the Pearl District
neighborhood in 2007: $440,000.
-
2007 price appreciation in the Pearl District
neighborhood: 15%.
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5-year price appreciation in the Pearl District neighborhood:
73%.
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2007 metro area home prices: The average price
was $342,900 (6.3% appreciation from 2006) and the median price was
$290,000 (7.2% appreciation from 2006).
Please be aware that the above figures are subject to error
and are intended as guidelines only.
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View
Pearl District Homes
for Sale
Pearl District Homes for Sale
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Pearl District
Boundaries
NW Broadway
Avenue on the east, West Burnside Street on the south, the I-405 Freeway
on the west and the Willamette River on the north. The neighborhood
encompasses the North Park Blocks, the 13th Avenue Historic District, the
city's Main Post Office, and the Hoyt Street Rail Yards, a 40-acre downtown
land parcel still largely undeveloped.
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Maps of
Pearl District Neighborhood
Click to enlarge
Map Showing
Pearl District Boundaries
Pearl District
Google Maps
Pearl District
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Learn More
About the
Pearl District Neighborhood
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Walking Map of
Pearl District
A Walking Map (Adobe PDF format) from
"Shop the Pearl"
to help you navigate
through the Pearl District.
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1Drive Time to Downtown Estimated commuting
time obtained from Yahoo Maps and Google Maps. Drive time was calculated
from a central intersection in each neighborhood to Pioneer Courthouse Square
during the morning peak commute time.
2Demographics Data
Numbers were obtained
from Census 2000 and
www.portlandmaps.com.
3Crime Statistics Numbers on crime represent
total crimes for 2007 and were obtained from county sheriff departments
and the Oregon State Police. Violent crimes are defined as murder,
rape, and aggravated assault.
4Shopping
and Services Numbers were determined from local directory listings
and county/municipal library systems.
5Real
Estate Values Data on real estate values provided by Graphical
Data, Homequest, and RMLS™.
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