Portland Oregon Homes

Find Out Some Great Facts about the Pearl District

Named by the famous Thomas Augustine, who is synonymous with Augustine Gallery, this district was compared to a most precious find waiting to be unearthed from beneath the rubble of warehouses and abandoned industrial sites. Prior to his vision, the district was simply referred to as the Northwest Triangle. The Pearl District is bordered on the east by NW Broadway Avenue, on the south by West Burnside Street, on the west by the I-405, and on the north by the Williamette River. At this point in time the Pearl district is considered the most up and coming real estate market located right at the northern edge of the coveted downtown area. The attraction of being able to walk to work and frequent one of many eateries has lent a new charm to this district which in turn has many new residents flocking there.

The Pearl District used to be your typical downtown neighborhood – run down, devoid of charm and character, and more an area of flight than a move-in ready district. Yet over time the industrial feel is leaving the area and in its stead it is revealing some highly desirable housing and shopping. Developers have taken to renovating the district a few blocks at a time, following the old historical schemes and preserving the historic look and feel of structures that are still in good repair. Like many areas of downtown, the Pearl District is being rediscovered by those who cherish lofts, row houses, condos, and the arts and crafts community. As a matter of fact, small businesses have been at the forefront of the influx into this newly restored neighborhood, bringing with them jobs, ambience, and also the drive to see the whole area transformed.

One part of the Pearl District is referred to as Brewery Blocks, a five block site that used to house an actual brewery. A developer bought up the real estate and is now converting the buildings and the area into residential as well as office spaces. The goal for the developer is to not only incorporate the historic feel, but to also find environmentally friendly ways of construction that will result in energy conservation. This goal was evident when construction began, since about 96 percent of construction debris was diverted from actually going into a landfill. Not to be outdone, Lovejoy Blocks will also contain retail and apartment buildings which are several floors tall. A parking structure will provide the much needed areas for shoppers to park their vehicles.

Since the city of Portland is going to such great lengths to provide not only attractive buildings and areas of commerce to current and prospective residents, but has furthermore shown its desire to do so in an environmentally friendly fashion, the Sierra Club has looked to Portland and specifically the Pearl District for its 2005 nominee for the honor of being on the United States’ best new developments.

In the past condos provided a love-hate relationship for condo dwellers. For many this meant giving up a beloved family dog, or sneaking one in, hoping that nobody would be any wiser. Many condo residents turn a blind eye to the condo dweller that brings in a dog, and a whistle blower is almost always considered a pariah. Fortunately, there is now a new way of openly bringing in your four legged pal: the good citizen certification that may be attained by properly trained dogs. Take a look at the specific properties that permit such pets online.

Another wonderful quality that the Pearl District has is its commitment to the community at large. The Zimmerman Community Center was created with a bequest from local schoolteacher Isobel Faith Zimmerman who wanted to strengthen the spiritual roots and civil live of those living in the River District. The goal is to allow residents of different areas to come together.

Another way of bringing the community together are the local parks such as Jamison Square Park, the relatively new Tanner Springs Park and two more parks which are planned within the vicinity. A number of websites are enabling residents and also visitors to stay in touch and see the progress that the development of the Pearl District is making. One is the “Shop the Pearl” site which is a business and also community directory displaying information and listings on local businesses, events and attractions, while the other one is the “Pearl District Photo Tour” which allows visitors and future residents to take an active photo tour of this changing neighborhood.

Like many of the other districts, the Pearl District Neighborhood Association – which was founded in 1991 – has a website and blog to help residents connect and speak out. You know you are in the Pearl District if the streets are named “NW” and if it only takes you about four minutes to drive to downtown. Since there is so much construction going on, there are not that many mature trees lining the streets, but instead you will see carefully manicured street scenes. While the streets offer parking on both sides, the sidewalks are wide and inviting for pedestrians.

A 2005 livability study 87.5 percent of residents considered the neighborhood to be good or very good. The exact results are available for your review online. Quite possibly one of the major selling points of this area is the fact that you are able to reach the middle of downtown by foot within minutes. With the help of the Portland Streetcar line you will be able to travel to the Northwest District, downtown and also the South Waterfront area.

The population is made up of about 1,113 on 300 acres, which translates to roughly three persons per acre. There are 756 households of which 19 percent are homeowners, 48 percent renters, and the rest undeclared. 17.1 percent of the population is non-Caucasian. The crime rate showed that in 2005 there were 23 violent crimes, 12 burglaries of residential properties and 44 auto thefts. Per 1,000 people there are estimates of about 492 crimes.

With two supermarkets, one hardware store, and 10 coffee shops, you just know that this is a livable area, and many residents frequent the smaller specialty shops for bread and meat. There are the Pearl Bakery and Holden’s Deli, a variety of small art galleries perfect for a quick stop, and of course Powell’s City of Books which is considered to be the largest independent bookstore in the United States with more than a city block of new as well as pre-owned books.

When you are ready to eat out, you will find that a wide variety of ethnic food choices are yours for the asking in the Pearl District. Those who are looking for good old American comfort food will also be certain to find what they are looking for in a number of taverns. Some of the favorites of the residents are the Andina, Bluehour, Caffe Allora, Daily Cafe, Fenouil, Le Bouchon, Olea, Park Kitchen, and Sungari Pearl which all feature their unique take on an assortment of cuisines. When you are done enjoying a healthy and plentiful lunch, you will want to visit the Multnomah Country Central Library which is accessible via the streetcar.

While you will not see that many SUVs, you will see a few luxury vehicles and a number of compact passenger cars. Many eschew car ownership because it is so hard to find parking in the area. Parents send their children to Chapman Elementary School, West Sylvan Middle School and Lincoln High School. Report cards on these institutions of learning may be found on the Internet.

Those ready to move to the Pearl District will find that condominiums and town homes rule the roost while the term loft is loosely interchangeably for condo, with the exception that the former is usually located within a converted warehouse and offers wide open spaces. Since so many simply love the idea of living in a loft, several architects have begun to design buildings that feature loft style condos; if you are looking for single family homes, you will not find any in the Pearl District.

Prices vary and the median price for homes in the year 2005 was about $330,000 while the average price for a home sold in the same year came to about $389,471. The one year price growth in the Pearl district is nine percent while the five year price growth is a staggering 47 percent. Average prices of metro areas ranged from 282,000 at 15 percent appreciation to a median price of $237,500 which is a 16.1 percent appreciation. In 2005 condo prices increased by 27.2 percent, showing the average sales price to be $233,800 as opposed to $183,800 in 2004 – quite a nice increase in appreciation of both the real estate and the neighborhood!

Living on Nob Hill  The Northwest District

Cradled on the south by West Burnside, and the I-405 on the East, the northern border is made up of North West Front Avenue, North West Nicolai Street and St. Helens Road. Finally, on the west, the area is stretched against Forest and Macleay Parks. While residents refer to the Northwest district as “Trendy-third Avenue,” others have taken to calling it Nob Hill in commemoration of the San Francisco neighborhood. It is true that the trendiest shopping you can do in Portland has its home on ten blocks of Northwest 23rd Avenue. People-watching is a favorite of residents who also enjoy browsing the many boutique stores. Walk a few blocks until you reach Northwest 21st Avenue, and you will have entered the territory of the edgy concert goers who delight in the many colorful posters and placards the bands put up. Famous resident Bill Walton from the Blazers lived there and enjoyed the many different faces of the Northwest District.

If you are wondering just where to go shopping and also which eateries to frequent, the ten blocks on 23rd Street are bound to have something that will excite your taste and taste buds. Book stores are nestled next to clothing boutiques, and there are even some mini malls. The Northwest District is connected to downtown with the new streetcar line, allowing you to find even more spots to your liking. Entertainment is also part and parcel of the Northwest experience. If you enjoy people-watching, and the interaction with interesting people, environmental enthusiast, and the simply thrifty, you will price the interaction you may have at the Fred Meyer Stadium Branch Supermarket.

To adequately understand the rich history of the area, it is important to realize that one area of the Northwest District, dubbed Slabtown, actually has roots in the past of the city of Portland itself. Once home to the poor and the working class, many inhabitants were not able to afford properly cut firewood but instead had to make do cheap slabs of wood from local sawmills, hence giving the 50 square block area the name Slabtown. In the past a derogatory term, the area is now becoming more and more modern and sought after.

Inspiring a bar and music lounge to pick up the name, the largely unused name is now simply a relic of times past: of the St. Patrick’s Church on 1623 NW 19th Avenue which ministered to the poor, of the well to do who lived closer to West Burnside Street at 15th and 16th Avenues, and of the “Slabtown” sign which is a reminder to the area’s past.

At this point in time you will be able to see town housed and condos being built, and yet it appears that the progress is happening so quickly that many feel a restraining hand from the city needs to be employed to not lose the overall charm of the area. Consider the Pettygrove Street townhouse development which contains units priced at $500,000 and it becomes quite apparent what residents are concerned over. What once used to be famous as the birthplace for the band the Dandy Warhols is now becoming known as the area where $689,000 row houses are being sold – in all fairness, however, the developers are working hard at maintaining the historic building, such as the Lane-Miles Standish building which used to be the home of a printing business on NW 19th Avenue and Raleigh Street for over 85 years and is now being remodeled to house five levels of residences as well as office spaces.

It is obvious that the area is inching its way away from industrial to residential, and Northwest District Neighborhood Association is keeping an open dialog via a weblog with residents and designers. Located only four driving minutes from downtown, its mature trees and parks give way to hilly areas and winding roads. Lots of street parking gives streets the illusion of being narrow while wide sidewalks accommodate leisurely strollers as well as harried executives. 90.3 percent of residents rated the livability of the area as good or very good in 2005 and results of that study may be found online.

Public transportation is available via TriMet where six bus routes go through Northwest and where the streetcar line travels from the Pearl District on NW Northrup Street, NW 23rd Street, and NW Lovejoy Street. The number of inhabitants in 2000 was about 11,455 on 849 acres which translates to a population density of 13 people per acre. According to the census there were 7,567 households which reflected 13 percent of homeowners and 85 percent of renters, with the remaining two percent being undeclared. 12.7 percent of residents report in as being non-Caucasian. Crimes in 2005 per 1,000 people were about 112, with there being 44 violent crimes, 68 burglaries of residential properties, and a staggering 170 car thefts.

Three supermarkets cater to the needs of the residents, as do two hardware stores. 16 coffee shops ensure that a leisurely pace is kept by all. In addition to purchasing your food at Fred Meyers, you will be able to purchase great quality products at Trader Joe’s on NW Glisan Street, Elephant’s Delicatessen off West Burnside, and City Market on NW 21st Avenue. Eateries are found almost everywhere, and you have your pick of high end gourmet fare to street vendors selling pizza. Enjoy the fare at Balvo, Bewon, the well known Cafe Mino, Carlyle, Ken’s Artisan Bakery which has developed quite a loyal following, Paley’s Place, and also Wildwood, to name but a few.

The community center and health club known as the Friendly House at NW 26th Avenue and NW Savier is as well known as the Mavericks Sports Club at NW 20th Avenue and NW Overton. If you prefer a leisurely stroll in a park, you have basically two choices in the Northwest District: Wallace Park is found at NW 25th Avenue and NW Raleigh Street and Couch Park is located at NW 19th Avenue and NW Glisan Street, the latter may be small but it contains a much beloved dog park! Add to this the ability to visit Forest Park and Washington Park just outside the limits of the Northwest District, and it becomes very obvious that outdoorsy Portlanders simply love the area!

The area’s numbers of residents are made up mostly of young singles but are so diversified to include residents of all ages, as a trip to the branch of the Multnomah County Library at 2300 NW Thurman Street will soon evidence. SUVs are refreshingly absent from the area, and cars are not as numerous since parking is a serious problem in the area.

Parents send their children to Chapman Elementary School, West Sylvan Middle School, and Lincoln High School. You will be able to find out how the schools are doing by perusing their annual report cards online. While apartments are still the best way to live in the area, there are a few single family homes. Yet the development trend definitely leans toward condos and also town homes. In 2005 the median price of a home sold in the Northwest district was $327,500 while the average selling price was $415,129. The one year growth was 11 percent while the five year price growth was a negative 16 percent. This latter figure is most likely driven by the market’s being flooded with new and redeveloped condos which quickly saturated the market. Condo prices increased by about 27.2 percent, with an average sales price of $233,800 in 2005 as compared to only $ 183,800 in 2004.