Irvington

Irvington is a historic NE Portland community that lies close to the I-84 and I-5 freeways making this a popular area for commuters. Some of the more beautiful turn of the century homes are located here on quiet, tree-lined streets. This popular neighborhood is a contrast of sorts. On the south side, there are some very nice, cool stores, restaurants and coffee houses mixed in with some not so upscale shopping. On the northern end, is the residential section, with just a small selection of nicer stores thrown in. Many of the homes here are on the National Register of Historic Places and very well maintained making it a sought after place to live.

Not only is Irvington close to the freeways, but also there is easy accessibility to public transportation, the Lloyd Center Mall (very popular), downtown and the Pearl District. If you are an avid walker, you will find Irvington a walking friendly community especially through the parks in the area as well as through the older residential areas with nice, wide sidewalks. Irvington is a perfect place to live if you want to experience that old, hometown feeling of years gone by.

Northeast Portland's Irvington neighborhood, one of the older residential areas of the city, is home a number of large, beautiful houses. The entire neighborhood is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Most of the picturesque homes in this middle- to upper-income neighborhood have large yards rather than the typical city-sized lot.

This is a great location if you think it's important to live in a prestigious or historic Portland neighborhood. With a good mix of rentals, especially towards the southern half of the neighborhood, it can be affordable if you're willing to settle for an apartment or a house that needs a little work.

If you can't afford to live here, you can still pretend at the yearly house tour offered by the Irvington Community Association. Officially known as the Irvington Historic District, the homes on this tour are some of the oldest and nicest in Portland.

The grandest homes tend to be along the northern edge of the neighborhood. Like any historic neighborhood, the area has experienced a few slumps over the decades, and this seems to have mainly hit the south side of Irvington. While most of the original homes are still standing in the northern part of the neighborhood, the south side has more restaurants, bars, cafes, shops, and services, along with newer housing and apartment buildings.

Although most residents commute via car, the area also has good access to public transportation, including the bus system and MAX light rail, accessible just outside the southern edge of the neighborhood. Residents enjoy several beautiful older parks, including Irvington Park, where you can picnic under a canopy of huge older trees.