Laurelhurst

Laurelhurst is an entirely residential enclave straddling northeast and southeast Portland. The neighborhood is bounded by Interstate 84 along the north, 44^th Ave along the east, SE Stark in the south, and 32^nd Ave in the west. Burnside St, Portland’s north/south dividing line, runs right through Laurelhurst. The Laurelhurst Corporation bought 400+ acre Hazelfern Farm from the Ladd Estate Company in 1909 for $2 million. The city then purchased 31 acres from the Laurelhurst Company for a mere $92,000 to build Laurelhurst Park. Homes here were originally advertised as being part of a “High Class Residence Park,” an apt description even today. The only residences built were single-family dwellings. No apartments, commercial buildings, or hotels were part of the original plan. Distinctive sandstone arches on 39^th Ave mark the neighborhood’s entrance. The golden Joan of Arc statue stands proudly in the Coe Park traffic circle further north on 39^th Ave. The statue was a gift to the city of Portland in memory of the American “doughboys” of World War I. It is a replica of Emmanuel Frémiet’s 1874 statue and one of eight copies located around the world. (Four are in France, one in Philadelphia, one in New Orleans, and one in Australia.) It supposedly sits off to one side of the park (instead of its center) because the Portland streetcar used to run along Glisan St and through the park. The beautiful statue was restored in 2002; she was given a new flag, laurel wreath crown, and coat of golden paint. The average home price for a single family home in Laurelhurst is over $550k. This pricey section of Portland offers residents a quiet, small slice of suburbia within urban Portland; home styles include foursquares and bungalows. 88% of homes are owner-occupied. The larger than average square footage of these residences means yards are smaller here. There are no restaurants or shops within Laurelhurst. But, the services and amenities of Belmont, Hawthorne, and Hollywood are a short drive or bus ride away. Laurelhurst attracts families with children; a number of elderly residents remain. Laurelhurst Elementary and Hollyrood-Fernwood K-8 were rated as exceptional by the Oregon Department of Education. The other elementary schools, middle schools, and Grant High School were each rated as strong. As one would guess, the crime rate here is exceptionally low. Laurelhurst Park is the serene heart of this neighborhood. The park includes recreation fields, a playground, a great off-leash dog area, walking trails, amenities, and a large pond with ducks and turtles. There’s even an outdoor amphitheater for summer concerts. Most traffic and the bus lines move through the neighborhood along Burnside St, Glisan St, and 39^th Ave. (Stark also sees its fair share of traffic, but there is no bus line on this street.) The Hollywood Transit Center is off 42^nd Ave, just across the highway from Laurelhurst and a short bus ride away.Most residents opt to drive over taking public transportation though. Downtown Portland is less than 15 minutes away by car. Interstate 84 is accessed off NE 39^th Ave. The Portland International Airport is approximately 15-20 minutes from Laurelhurst via I-84.