Beaumont Village, Wilshire Park, and Rose City Park
Beaumont-Wilshire and Rose City Park were part of an early Oregon land claim granted by former President Andrew Johnson in 1866. The Beaumont and Wilshire neighborhoods are technically separate. The Beaumont portion lies south of NE Fremont Street while the Wilshire neighborhood lies north. The two neighborhoods came together to form the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood association to promote livability and encourage commerce along Fremont Street between NE 33rd and NE 50th, better known as Beaumont Village.
Beaumont Village contains enough shops, restaurants, and professional services that you may be able to live in and never leave this 17-block stretch. Hungry neighborhood residents can be found dining at one of a dozen restaurants including Tuk Tuk Thai, or Alameda Brewhouse. Coffee lovers enjoy cult Portland coffeehouses Ristretto Roasters on NE 42nd or Jim and Patty’s on the opposite end of the village. (Jim and Patty Roberts started and sold beloved Portland coffee company, CoffeePeople.) Window shoppers browse through a handful of lovely antique shops or gift stores. Local pet owners enjoy stopping in to Green Dog Pet Supply. Families visit and gather at Portland’s only independent children-focused bookstore, A Child’s Place. Begun in 1974, this well-stocked book paradise moved to its present location in 2003. Beaumont Village remains a well-kept secret with a small town aura. Shops and restaurants are pleasantly busy, but remain uncrowded throughout the year. Parking is rarely an issue along this walkable stretch.
The Beaumont neighborhood contains a mix of home styles; similar to the Alameda neighborhood that borders it. Colonials and Tudors are mixed with bungalows, ranches, and Cape Cods. Families, couples, and single professionals populate the neighborhood. An upscale condominium development and a few townhouses can be found along NE Fremont Street. Home prices range from moderate to high as compared to the Portland metro area at large.
Wilshire Park is named for the 14-acre park located along its western edge. The park contains a playground, an off leash dog park, and a tree-lined walking path. Homes are more moderately priced and often smaller than those in nearby Beaumont or Alameda. But, this section still has the quiet streets and neighborhood amenities that many families desire.
The Oregon Department of Education rates Alameda Elementary and Hollyrood-Fernwood K-8 as exceptional. Beaumont Middle School and Grant High School are rated as strong. Vernon Elementary, located south of the Beaumont-Wilshire neighborhood, is rated as satisfactory. In 2007, Vernon began the process to become an International Baccalaureate school.
Rose City Park is generally banded by NE 47th on the west, NE Fremont on the north, NE 65th in the east, and Highway 84 to the south. Main thoroughfare Sandy Blvd runs through the middle. Bungalows are the typical home type throughout this community, but the occasional from-the-ground-up rebuild is becoming more common. 14-acre Normandale Park (at NE 57th and Halsey) has a popular and fenced off-leash dog area, numerous recreation fields, a playground, and walking paths. Smaller Frazer Park also contains an off-leash area for Fido as well as basketball courts, picnic tables, and a playground. Crime along Sandy Blvd was once a problem, but the city and active neighborhood association have been diligently working to clean up and redevelop the area. Biscuits Café on Sandy Blvd is a popular breakfast spot. Laurelwood Public House is a family-friendly brewpub with a children’s play area, a good selection of microbrews, and brewpub fare a step above competitors.
In addition to the schools listed as part of Beaumont-Wilshire, parts of Rose City Park send their children to Laurelhurst Elementary (rated as exceptional) and Madison High School (rated as satisfactory).
Beaumont-Wilshire and Rose City Park are 10-15 minutes from downtown Portland by car. Bus service runs along Sandy Blvd, NE Fremont, NE 57th, and NE 42nd, with many lines stopping at the nearby Hollywood Transit Center off NE 42nd. These northeast neighborhoods have close access to Interstate 84 and are approximately 15-20 minutes from Portland International Airport.