The Pearl District of Portland
In terms of Portland’s places to live, the newly designated River District encompasses about 250 acres in northwest Portland. It includes the established neighborhoods of the Pearl, Old Town and Chinatown. The area is bordered by West Burnside on the south, I-405 freeway on the west, and the Willamette River on the north and east sides. Portlanders seldom use the River District name, as the development focus is primarily on the Pearl neighborhood.
Planning for the Pearl and surrounding areas began in the early 1980s, when rail yards and other industries were consolidating and vacating the urban tracts of land. A team of national architects was invited to Portland to brainstorm scenarios for the areas that were in transition.
In 1992, business leaders and property owners working with the city forged a vision and direction that resulted in the River District Plan (Pearl). The plan encompasses a dynamic pedestrian-friendly, mixed-use community with more than 5,000 new housing units for 10,000 residents. It called for a blend of new construction alongside the old, successfully creating a unique, urban, totally-Portland experience… and everyone loves it!
Public investment programs were used to enhance development opportunities and to strengthen ties between the district, the river and downtown’s core. Centering on the new streetcar (trolley) line, on new waterfront open spaces and the relocation of the Broadway Bridge ramp, the $150 million in public investment leveraged more than $700 million in private investment in the district.
The result is the River District, which offers an exciting place to live within the city while enhancing Metro’s goals of 2040 (urban renewal and planning from the Portland Development Commission). Without the vision for the future, neighborhoods within Portland’s urban growth boundary would have had to share the burden of our expected population growth. The River District is urban renewal at its best and serves as a model for other cities throughout the country.
New construction of apartment buildings, conversions, town homes and condominiums are under way or in the planning stages for the coming years. Major new developments have expanded into downtown city blocks and even south to what is called “The South Waterfront.” When new listings and resales in the established Pearl district come on market they sell very quickly. Due to the area’s popularity, some new buildings even make their offerings on the lottery system! For more information about condominium sales, please read my web site article “20 Questions Every Condo Buyer Should Ask.”
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