Hawthorne is a classic neighborhood of Southeast Portland, bordered on the North by Laurelhurst and nestled in the western foothills of Mt. Tabor. The neighborhood is enlivened by Hawthorne Boulevard, a popular strip with countless restaurants, bars, new and vintage clothing stores, record shops, bike shops, markets and even Fred Meyer and Safeway supermarkets. The street is made for walking, with a majority of businesses close together in a span of about 15 blocks. The full length of businesses runs from 12th to 55th.
There is plenty of entertainment, including art galleries, Bagdad Theater, Powell’s Books, plenty of coffee shops, including Starbucks as well as many independent caf?s. A great feature on Hawthorne Boulevard is The Bagdad Theater, a historic Portland building that has been restored and turned into a cinema and pub, where you can enjoy a movie for $3 while gorging on pizza and beer.
Nearby, on Belmont, is the Avalon Theater which features second-run movies and five cent arcade games, as well as Clinton Theater, which has been providing Portlanders with their Rocky Horror fix for over thirty years.
The neighborhood is young, and full of college students, as well as families with youngsters, laid-back professionals, and seasoned musicians and artists. The neighborhood has a friendly, bohemian character, just rough enough around the edges to appeal to teenagers and creative types, but tame enough to be safe and family-friendly.
Hawthorne’s location is central to other popular Southeast streets and neighborhoods, such as Belmont, which is only six blocks north, and Division, Clinton and 39th. Downtown Portland is easily accessible from Hawthorne by bus, car and bike by traveling straight down Hawthorne Boulevard and across the Hawthorne Bridge.
Housing in this area tends to be affordable, though home values have been on the rise here for a few years. With a mix of restored classic Portland houses and attractive new condos, the area maintains a diverse population. There are many Craftsman style homes painted in cheerful palates, as well as Victorians and bungalows. Well done homes on nice streets still command a premium for this close-in neighborhood.
There is a genuine sense of community as you travel through the residential sections of the Hawthorne neighborhood, and you are likely to see charming vegetable gardens in front yards, chalk drawings on the sidewalk, and bicycle sculptures on porches.
To get to the Hawthorne neighborhood from I-5, take exit 300B, stay left at the fork on the exit ramp, and head straight onto Belmont St. Continue on Belmont to 11th Ave, then turn right. Stay on 11th until you reach Hawthorne Blvd. Turn left and you’ll be heading up the main section on Hawthorne.
Greg Long is a real estate broker in Portland, Oregon with the Portland Real Estate Cafe @ Keller Williams Realty. More information can be found at Portland Real Estate Cafe
