South Portland Neighborhood in Portland Oregon

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Parks, coffee shops, local businesses and old homes are the stitching for the quilt of South Portland which consists of several small areas named Lair Hill, South Waterfront, Corbett (not to be confused with the town in east Multnomah County), Johns Landing, Terwilliger and Fulton. The neighborhood is very relaxed with a mix of people, architecture styles, and no general personality type. There is only eclectic here in many forms, shown through the homes, local businesses and of course the people.

Location

Situated snugly between the west side of the Willamette River and the curvy West Hills is South Portland, stretching from I-405 and the Marquam Bridge on the north to SW Canby Street and the Sellwood Bridge to the south. Nearby neighborhoods include the Southwest Hills, Homestead, Hillsdale to the west and the Sellwood-Moreland and Brooklyn neighborhoods to the east across the Willamette and of course downtown Portland directly to the north.

Lair Hill is located in the northwestern part of the neighborhood and was once part of the historical South Portland. It is bordered by I-405 on the north, SW Barbur Boulevard on the south and west, and SW Naito Parkway on the east.

South Waterfront is located in the north eastern part of the neighborhood, and has recently undergone a huge project that made the area the largest green development in the country. With very modern and upper class design, this neighborhood adds an urban, innovative vibe to South Portland.

Corbett is east of Lair Hill, with I-405 on the north, SW Naito Parkway on the west, and SW Macadam on the east. The southern boundary is SW Corbett bridge going over I-5.

Johns Landing used to be known as Fulton, and is east of I-5 between the Terwilliger Curves and the Willamette River.

Terwilliger is found south of Corbett, between SW Barbur Boulevard and SW Macadam Avenue.

Photos of South Portland

“Fighting Corporate Coffee”

Says the caption on Coffee Plant’s front sign. Serving Stumptown Coffee and gluten-free baked goods, this coffee shop & bakery brings in an eclectic crowd of people in its location along Corbett Avenue. Sitting in the coffee shop, talking to locals and drinking coffee, I was caught up in a perfect Portland moment: With the rain pouring down outside, the mood, music and lighting reminded me what Portland is all about, as there are no lines between customers and employees but rather everyone is friends with everyone. It’s certainly the most friendly city I’ve ever been to, and it’s confirmed daily as I travel to the different Portland neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Vibe

Home in South Portland

South Portland is very active, and there are constantly runners, bikers and dog walkers along the roads and sidewalks. There are plenty of businesses in the area, so many of the employees of the area will visit coffee shops, restaurants and parks on their breaks. SW Macadam Avenue is a busy main road as it leads directly to the freeway, but the homes are swept up a little further west, not intermixing with the rush hour traffic that Macadam experiences. There is an old, urban feel to most of the neighborhood, and it is a quick bike ride or a ten minute drive north to downtown. There are plenty of bus routes that run through the neighborhood, although there is not a MAX light rail or Streetcar that runs through the older, more southern parts of the neighborhood.

Schools

Students in the South Portland neighborhood attend Capitol Hill Elementary, Jackson Middle School, and Lincoln or Wilson High School.

Parks & Recreation

The neighborhood’s main park is the 27 acre Willamette Park, located along the river’s shoreline providing local residents and employees of South Portland walking paths, great views and scenery, and a place to enjoy lunch breaks. While visiting the park I could hear the faint shrills of young people on roller coasters at Oaks Park, directly across the river in the SE Portland neighborhood of Sellwood. Plenty of runners and bikers enjoy the Willamette River Greenway that runs through the large park and beyond.

Lark Hill Park is a 3.24 acre park, located on SW 2nd Avenue and Woods Street, that contains two historic buildings, one that used to be the Children’s Museum, lots of green space for dogs, and a rock wall inspired sculpture where old men congregate on warm summer days to play chess.

Butterfly Park was named intentionally for the habitat it provides for butterflies, and it’s an undeveloped greenway along the Willamette the exemplifies the northwest in the plants and species that vacate the park.

Oaks Amusement Park is just across the Willamette River and can be reached by taking a quick trip over the Sellwood Bridge towards the south end of the South Portland neighborhood. The park is a historical Portland landmark that is known for being a central spot for roller skating, and is still famous for its roller skating rink. The park has plenty of rides, roller coasters and entertainment for kids and the family.

Homes & Real Estate

The style of homes in South Portland is one of the most eclectic mixes of homes from brand new, high rise apartments to old, Portland homes built in the late 1800s. The majority is Old Portland architecture, featuring styles such as Victorian, modern, classic bungalows and Cape Cod. There is such a wide variety because South Portland is one of the city’s oldest and newest neighborhoods.

South Portland Summary

South Portland is a neighborhood for all kinds of people, whether you’re looking for classy, innovative living in the new South Waterfront area, or you’re looking to move a family into one of Portland’s oldest, most beautiful homes, South Portland has got something for everyone in its coffee shops, homes, restaurants and parks.
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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