Concordia

Concordia is a funky, bright Northeast neighborhood of Portland that has really seen rebirth in the past several years. Once fairly depilated and not a community with a lot of curb appeal, it is now home to many businesses, shops and good restaurants. First time home buyers are choosing this up and coming area because of low home prices and plenty of adorable neighborhoods. Yes, there are still some run down areas in Concordia, and they still have a ways to go, but the improvements are highly noticeable and welcoming.

One prominent feature to this neighborhood, is Concordia is home to Concordia University, a private, Christian, liberal arts college. Founded by the Lutheran Church, Missouri Synod, this is the only LCMS University in Oregon. Approximately 2,500 students are enrolled and the recently new $7.5 million dollar athletic complex will have their grand opening in March 2012.

There are some decent parks in the area, including the Kennedy Community Garden and Fernhill Park. Overall, a nice community really geared toward young professionals, college students and those that like to live in an urban environment.

Concordia is a fun-filled area full of art galleries and interesting quirky restaurants. In recent years, a lot of stores have been added on Alberta Street, and they are really fascinating to check out. Blacks and Latinos who live in the neighborhood own many of the stores.

This area is still considered transitional. There are a lot of pretty old homes. Some have been completely remodeled and renovated, while others are not in very good shape. I believe you could still get a very good deal on a home in Concordia.

If you live and work in Concordia, you could likely find all you need in this part of town. The neighborhood even has its own New Seasons (Portland's organic independent grocery store.)

If you live in Alberta, you can take advantages of the yearly art on Alberta festival, which is truly amazing. You can enjoy all the various art galleries, cool restaurants and live music. Also many street vendors appear to sell their art during this festival. There really is nothing quite like it!

There are some parks in the area including Fernhill Park and Alberta Art. Fernhill has a special summer concert series that many residents attend. While these parks are nice, they aren't among my favorites in the city.

The neighborhood of Concordia is named after Concordia University, a private Christian University located here. This Northeast Portland neighborhood is currently experiencing a resurgence, with revitalized streets, improved housing, and dropping crime rates. Today, it's known as a creative and fun urban neighborhood.

The school itself is more than 100 years old, but there are several newer parts of the campus. They just opened a brand new athletics complex last year. Concordia is also home to Alberta Street, an artsy retail district where you'll find plenty of small shops and restaurants. Local landmarks include the Concordia Ale House and McMenamin's Kennedy School, a former school that's been turned into a hotel and restaurant. There is also a community garden and several nice parks.

This densely occupied neighborhood includes houses in many styles, occupied by students, professors, and other professionals. The college is fairly small, so there aren't too many students living in the surrounding area, giving it a good mix of college kids and older residents. This older neighborhood is known for cute bungalows, and housing tends to be more affordable here than in some other Northeast Portland neighborhoods. It seems like a very livable place with a lot going for it.