Goose Hollow Neighborhood in Portland, Oregon

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Goose Hollow is another one of the crevice neighborhoods of Portland, Oregon that has its own unique style, group of people and quirky coffee house. I am sitting on the porch of that coffee house, called Fehrenbacher hof, and it's up there on the list of coffee shops with great service, atmosphere and cups of Joe. Drinking coffee out of a glass mug that my grandmother may have once owned, the crowd here is low-key, here for coffee and conversation, and tight-knit. In the background of music and conversation of the guys next to me, the automated English and Spanish voices of the MAX line speak to the commuters of Goose Hollow. It's nice here, and no one is trying to impress anyone.

The Niche

Goose Hollow is located next door to downtown, northwest, Pearl district and Hillside neighborhoods. It can be easily overlooked among the excitement of NW 23rd and downtown, but the facilities provide plenty of excitement for both locals and visitors alike.

Goose Hollow Attractions

Goose Hollow Inn, opened in 1967 by the former mayor Bud Clark, is a popular neighborhood hangout for eating good food and catching up with friends. It’s located along the main stretch of the neighborhood along SW Jefferson.

“The hof,” as locals and regulars call Fehrenbacher hof Coffee Room, is located about ten steps away from The Goose. Since the shop’s opening in 2000 it has been a frequent meeting place for all kinds of people that live in the area, says Todd who has worked at the shop for eight years. Todd talks more about the hof in a short video interview. The door is open to locals that walk by and it adds a homey feeling to the neighborhood.

PGE Park is located in Goose Hollow, which brings Oregonians in from near and far to watch the Portland Beavers Baseball team and the Portland Timbers (soon to be a part of MLS in 2011).

Washington Park is located on the west border of the neighborhood and brings visitors locally, nationally and internationally. The park is home to the International Rose Test Garden, Holocaust Memorial, Portland Japanese Garden, Hoyt Arboretum, Pittock Mansion, Vietnam Veterans Memorial, Wildwood Trailhead, World Forestry Center Discovery Museum, Portland Children’s Museum and the Oregon Zoo. Locals flock to these destinations for running, walking, biking, tennis playing and relaxing. These attractions within themselves, and their proximity to homes in Goose Hollow, are a great reason anyone would want to live in this southwest Portland neighborhood.

Lincoln High School is located within the neighborhood and is one of the best Portland Public Schools, bringing in families from all over Oregon for its high status. The school is also the start and finish of Portland’s Starlight Run, which happens during the Starlight Parade during the Rose Festival.

Schools

The schools within Goose Hollow neighborhood are Ainsworth Elementary, Metropolitan Learning Center and Lincoln High School.

Goose History

The neighborhood acquired its name from the pond, which no longer exists, where residents of the neighborhood would let their geese run free into the pond and the Tualatin Mountains.

Homes and Real Estate

Houses, apartments and condominiums in Goose Hollow range from old colonials to recently built modern styles, which are about as eclectic as the mix of people that live in the neighborhood. The homes have amazing architecture that make walking around fun and interesting.

Accessibility

The MAX light rail system runs straight through the neighborhood, stopping at PGE Park, Kings Hill/SW Salmon and Goose Hollow/SW Jefferson Stations. The MAX stops in the area allow quick and easy access to downtown and other lively areas of Portland. The accessibility of the neighborhood to other neighborhoods are what locals love most about the neighborhood. It’s what visitors love about the neighborhood too, because Forest Park in particular is such a huge attraction that people come and go constantly. The hills make up for a killer bike ride if you’re looking to get a work out, as there are constantly runners and bikers going up and down the hills of the neighborhood.

People and Goose Hollow Vibe

There are a wide range of people from a small amount of families compared to other Portland neighborhoods, and a lot of singles of ages and styles that run along a large scale. With Portland State University nearby there are some students as well, living in community homes to cut the high cost of rent. Locals say the personalities of Goose Hollow residents are generally very friendly, and it’s evident.

Residential Communities

Goose Hollow contains five historic residential communities: Kings Hill, Goose Hollow, Gander Ridge, Vista Ridge and Lownsdale. Each historic community has a unique personality of its own, while being weaved into the quilt of Goose Hollow neighborhood.

Goose Hollow is definitely a great place to live if you want easy access to downtown and enjoy being a part of a tight-knit community like Goose Hollow, where you can sit on the porch of a coffee shop and say hello to your neighbor walking by to grab a bite to eat at the local hot spot restaurant.
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This post was written by...

Scott Krager – who has written 11 posts on Portlanders.

Scott Krager is the founder of portlanders.com. He lives in Portland, Oregon, spending most of his time writing, coding, and avoiding the rain. Scott doesn't like to run but forces himself at least once a week. Google+ | Twitter | Quora | LinkedIn