Overlook

The Overlook neighborhood sits atop the bluffs formed by debris that floated down the Columbia River during the Missoula Floods. It was incorporated into the city of Portland in the 1890s and continued to thrive as the streetcar lines expanded north. Willamette Boulevard winds its way through the quiet neighborhood streets where people often walk, run and cycle while enjoying the expansive view from downtown and across the Willamette River to the west hills.

University Park

Further along Willamette Boulevard into the small University Park neighborhood, the University of Portland’s historic buildings tower over the bluffs. The private Catholic school regularly achieves top rankings for academics and sports, including the NCAA Division I women’s soccer team. Below the bluffs is Swan Island industrial area, which served as a naval shipyard that built ships to serve during World War II. 

Piedmont

Many of the shipyard workers chose to live in the quiet, upper-class Piedmont neighborhood to the northeast. At the heart of this neighborhood sits Historic Peninsula Park. When the roses are blooming from May to September, the garden is a lovely place to bring a picnic and stroll the manicured rows, marveling at the unique names of flowers and delighting in their scent. Many original features remain in this classically designed park, such as the streetlights, brickwork, and one-hundred-year-old fountain in the center of the garden. 

Kenton

At the entrance to Kenton, located on Denver Avenue just across from the MAX station, there stands a 31-foot tall statue of Paul Bunyan. The statue was installed during the centennial Pacific Livestock Exposition in 1959 to celebrate Kenton’s history as an industrial livestock area. The largest company in Kenton in the early 1900s was Swift Packing, which employed more than 6oo people and butchered more cattle than any other company in the northwest. With hundreds of employees and cattlemen bringing herds to market, the company town of Kenton offered hotels, dining, and saloons. Denver Avenue was referred to as “Executive Row” and was home to the fashionable houses of Swift Packing’s upper management. The nearby streets were lined with smaller houses for the workers and their families. Today Kenton is an affordable area with plenty of restaurants, bars, and funky second-hand stores.

St. Johns

In 1902 the rail line connecting Portland to St. Johns’ existing marine facilities was completed.  The quiet little town of St. Johns quickly became a bustling industrial and manufacturing site home to Portland Woolen Mills, the Jobes Flour Mill, multiple lumber companies, and two shipbuilding plants. It wasn’t until 1931 that the Willamette River ferry crossing was replaced with the stunning St. Johns Bridge, the longest suspension bridge west of Detroit at the time of completion. Below the bridge is Cathedral Park, named for the 40-story tall gothic spires and arches that form the base of the bridge. The park has a boat launch, off-leash dog area, and is home to the annual Cathedral Park Jazz Festival.

Offering service since 2004, the MAX Yellow Line operates light rail trains every 15 minutes every day with stops along Interstate Boulevard connecting the Expo Center, North and Northeast Portland, and Portland State University. In addition to the MAX, multiple bus routes offer frequent trips to the city. For the cyclists, North Portland neighborhoods have many bike friendly streets, including an established bikeway, which is mostly separated from motor vehicle traffic.

You don’t have to look far for a good bite to eat around North Portland. In the last few years, so many delicious restaurants have popped onto the scene that it’s hard to keep up. One of the best parts about being slightly removed from the hustle of the city is that you can enjoy the great food without the great lines. Head over to Killingsworth street in the Overlook neighborhood and feast at Austin-style barbecue joint Podnah’s Pit. Or, check out Milk Glass Market for amazing fresh breakfast and lunch fare, and Saraveza for a large selection of beers and midwestern comfort food. On Lombard Street, you will find Gabagool, Bahn Mi Up, Chop, Gracie’s Apizza, and Santa Cruz Taqueria, just to name a few. 

Downtown St. Johns boasts two movie theaters: St. Johns Cinema and Pub and McMenamin’s Theater and Pub. At McMenamins, not only can you enjoy a first-run movie under the historic 1905 domed building from the World’s Fair, but you can also grab some food and a beverage to go with it.

According to the neighborhood ranking site, Niche.com, North Portland has earned an A rating with contributing factors such as commuting, outdoor activities, diversity, and a good place for families. The median home value ranges from $340,200 in the Overlook, Arbor Lodge, and Kenton neighborhoods. The median rent in these locations is $1,179, with a higher percentage of homeowners than renters at 62%. The percentage of renters to homeowners is evenly divided within the St Johns, Cathedral Park, and University Park neighborhoods where the median home value drops to $284,500 and with a median rent of $1,013.

If you’re a homeowner in North Portland, and considering turning your home into a profitable rental, contact us for a free rental analysis of your property by simply filling out the form on our website. We’ll handle all the details of managing your property so that you can rest assured your investment is well-maintained and occupied by dependable tenants. We’re here to help turn your home into an investment. If you’d like to learn more, call or text Darla Andrew today at (503) 515-3170.