Sunnyside!

Sunnyside might be the epicenter of the people's republic of Portland. Seriously.  Anchored by SE Belmont, Sunnyside boasts a hip K-8 environmentally focused school, a City Repair Project piazza,

oodles of certified backyard habitats and the highest number of vegan coffee shops per capita (just kidding, but it could well be).

The Sunnyside neighborhood is bounded by SE 28th Avenue, SE Stark, SE 49th Avenue and Hawthorne Boulevard.  Not quite as densely populated as its neighbor to the west, Buckman, Sunnyside, nevertheless is a dense urban neighborhood. Blessed with creative, innovative and scrumptious businesses on both SE Belmont and SE Hawthorne, living in Sunnyside is a rich and textured existence.   Breakfast at Suzette, work out at the Green Microgym, pick up some groceries at Zupan's Market and meet friends for a pint at the venerable Horse Brass Pub.

Sunnyside's central location means close proximity to buses, bike ways (including the Hawthorne Bridge, I-5 and I-84.  This neighborhood is home to plenty of folks who chose a carless, or nearly carless lifestyle. Bikes, cargo bikes and recumbent bikes are de rigueur.

Kids in the neighborhood may attend Sunnyside Environmental School; a small K-8 school with curriculum focusing on the environment through an integrated, holistic approach.

I have just listed in  house in Sunnyside.  The sellers, smitten with the neighborhood, bought a larger home to house their busy family, but stayed quite close by.  We are now selling their four bedroom, two and a half bath house located at 3231 SE Alder Street.

This house has a great blend of original charm:

combined with the convenience of an updated kitchen and baths.

The house has four bedrooms and two and one half baths; Three bedrooms and two baths up, with a bedroom and 1/2bath on the main floor (there was a tub in the 1/2 bath, the plumbing remains available).  There is off street parking, a real asset in this urban neighborhood, and a sweet back yard.  It is listed at $525,000.

Open house Sunday afternoon from 1:00 - 3:00. Stop by! 3231 SE Alder St.   Contact me for more information, if you'd like to see the house, or if you'd like information about buying or selling real estate in Portland.

Gotta love South Tabor

I've just listed a sweet little ranch house in South Tabor and was reminded what a great neighborhood it is.  South Tabor is bounded by SE 52nd and SE 82nd, between Division and Powell.    This neighborhood benefits from close proximity to the restaurants and food carts along SE 50th and Division, a long with great access to Mt. Tabor Park. 

The house is at 5827 SE Woodward Street.  Just down the block is Clinton Park, with a great playground and a nice treed area.  Atkinson Elementary School is nearby;  drawing students from a wide range of cultural backgrounds. The school is seen as having a strong arts programs and a focus on sustainability with  a native plant garden and ecologically friendly outdoor classroom.  Atkinson also houses a Spanish Immersion program.

Franklin High School is also nearby. Franklin has strong programs in Business Technology, Law and Public Service,  and Industrial technology. 

This house (and the neighborhood) are a quick commute to downtown via bus, car or bike.  The upper part of the Clinton Bikeway goes right past the house on SE Woodward.

About the house; three bedroom, two bath ranch, all on one level.

 This house has a wonderful open kitchen with doors leading to the covered back deck.  The living dining and kitchen areas are very open and have great natural light.

 

 

 A master bedroom suite with private bath also has a nice door leading to the backyard. The house had lots done in 2009, including new high efficiency gas furnace, water heater, air conditioning, roof and energy efficient windows.  The fenced yard gets lots of sun, allowing for plenty for plenty of gardening.

This house has an attached double garage and garden shed.  All appliances are included; washer dryer too!  It is listed at $307,500.



The house will be open thius Sunday, 3/16 from 1:00 - 3:00.  Stop by 5827 SE Woodward.

Waverly Commons...again

The Oregonian recently published an article on this development project.   I found the article rather boring, or without much focus.  But it did flirt with the notion of an exclusive development in a very cohesive neighborhood.

Remember, this was the old Waverly School property (SE 36th to SE 35th  and SE Woodward to SE Brooklyn). It has been developed into 19 lots with custom homes, all sharing a spacious common area in the middle of the block. 

 

I have watched this development as it has been built. Yes, the houses are big, but no more so than  other infill projects in our neighborhood.

 And though the article failed to mention it, most all of the houses have installed photovoltaic solar panels, and many are built with passive solar features.  Several existing houses in the neighborhood also have solar panels; perhaps some common ground?

 But, the article had for me, hinted at an exclusiveness of the development.

 There was a resident who gushed about her daughter and the girl next door (also in the development) being friends.  I sure hope they take time to meet kids in the neighborhood who may not live in Waverly Commons. There is a great little guy whose grandparents live down the block. One morning he was giving away free art on the street corner, and gave us a wonderful explanation of his picture; a picture of a leaf made from looking at a ceramic sculpture of a leaf. It hangs on my fridge.  He's probably about four years old. Waverly Commons folks would be lucky to know him.

The article also purred about the common area/backyard/park.  This will be a great resource and amenity for the homeowners. But a private park, only for the benefit of the 19 homeowners,  may have an odd dynamic in an otherwise egalitarian neighborhood. 

I know the folks living on SE 35th have had a very close knit relationship for years, and didn't need a private park to do so.  The Waverly Commons houses all face out into the neighborhood, with their back yards facing the common area.  The optimist in me says they'll be welcomed into the neighborhood, and will value the existing neighbors.

Sadly, the neighborhood hasn't been so good to the builder and new home owners.  Several of the under construction houses have been broken into, and robbed of the metals in the house; primarily copper wiring. This is expensive and sets back construction.  Currently, there are three houses still under construction, with surveillance cameras, in an attempt to stop the problems.

All this being said. I like Waverly Commons.  I walk by it on my daily walks and have enjoyed watching the construction as the different styles of houses emerge. The builder is hard working and hands on.  We see him there at all hours on all days.  The Waverly School, an old brick building. most likely unreinforced and with plenty of asbestos and lead paint, was well past its useful life. Energy efficient, new construction residential seems a good use of the land.

Questions about this posting or others?  Give me a holler.  leslievjones@gmail.com   503-312-8038