King

Like other communities surrounding Portland, King is really transforming itself into an up and coming neighborhood. At one time, this used to be a high crime area but in the past few years, new businesses, including art galleries, cool shops and restaurants have made this area a place to check out. First time home buyers who couldn't afford other Portland neighborhoods, sought King's turn of the century homes and large lots at good values. Today, it is now one of the more popular areas to live. The Peninsula Park is particularly lovely with a nice rose garden. Alberta Park is not far and has playgrounds and picnic areas as well. The King's Farmer's Market is hugely popular attraction which starts in May and goes through the summer.

Like most communities, there is still work to be done and some rundown areas that need attention, but with an active community association, I will be curious to see what happens next to King.

King is a NE Portland neigborhood that is bordered by Humboldt and Boise. There are a high percentage of African Americans in King compared to other Portland neighborhoods. However, there are also a fairly decent ratio of "hipster types" who have come to this neighborhood due to the low prices as well as its proximity to the Alberta arts district. You will also find students in this neighborhood who attend the nearby Portland Community College.

King is a convenient location that offers easy access to the Alberta and Mississippi shopping areas. Home prices in King definitely tend to be lower in cost than in other Portland neighborhood.

King has a great community vibe, and it even has its own Farmer's market on Sundays during the Spring and Summer months. Often people in this area will get together for community projects to improve the neighborhood. There is definitely a strong sense of community. There are some drug houses in King and currently the government is working together to seek to solve this issue.

There aren't a lot of green spaces within King. However, it is close to some nice parks including Peninsula Park, Peninsula Community Center, and Alberta Park.

One of the city's most ethnically diverse neighborhoods, since the 1940s the Northeast Portland neighborhood of King has been known as a predominantly African-American neighborhood. Historically, this stems from policies whereby African Americans were not allowed to buy houses outside of this area.

In part because of these policies, King still has a high population of minorities, although parts of the neighborhood are now becoming gentrified, with new residents and businesses replacing the old. New residents tend to be young, mostly white singles who are attracted to the area's urban character and proximity to Alberta Street shopping. Despite this influx of new residents, older residents still tend to consider King to be an African American neighborhood.

NE Alberta Street, the neighborhood's main commercial area, is home to restaurants, galleries, and stores. It's a rapidly changing community whose future remains to be seen, though many Portland residents consider it an 'up and coming' neighborhood.

The residential areas of King are best described as a 'mixed bag,' with everything from rundown apartments to well kept, larger homes. Housing prices vary significantly; it's possible to find a house for substantially below the Portland average, although there are also some nicer and relatively expensive houses in the neighborhood.