$208,851Average Value$200Average Price per Sq Ft0Homes For Sale
The city’s commercial center, Chena River access
A walkable district of restaurants and shops, Downtown Fairbanks is both a tourist hub and a local hangout. Narrow streets crowd with out-of-town pedestrians in the summer, while in the winter, snow and near-constant darkness bring more year-round residents. People often snap pictures of the district’s famous arch, made out of moose antlers; the white steeple of the Immaculate Conception Church was built in 1904, and it's another popular sight. The Chena River flows along the northern side of the neighborhood, and it’s one of the many reasons people move here. “In my opinion, downtown’s big draws are being close to the river and the centralized location,” says Eric Tupper, a lifelong local and a Realtor with Powered By Lymburner Realty since 2017. “It’s a fantastic area because you can get everywhere in Fairbanks within 10 minutes.” Highway 2 runs along the east side, and Airport Way delineates the south. Cowles Street separates downtown from Weeks Field, a western neighborhood.
Residents enjoy the shopping and dining options found in Downtown Fairbanks.
The best feature of Golden Heart Plaza in Fairbanks is the fountain.
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Lavelle's Bistro and other local recs
Among the many restaurants in the area, Lavelle’s Bistro is on Second Avenue for international appetizers and American entrees. “It’s pretty upscale,” says Tupper, “but their steak filets are hard to beat.” Bahn Thai is just south, down the block on Third Avenue. Tupper recommends the panang curry here, and across the street, the stuffed crepes at The Crepery. This restaurant is a part of the Co-Op Plaza, a small strip mall with gift shops and handmade crafts, and it’s a popular shopping spot for tourists. The Fairbanks Community Museum is here for a little of the town’s history, and the Fairbanks Ice Museum and Fairbanks Children’s Museum are within a quarter-mile walk. The Co-op Market Grocery & Deli on Gaffney Road stocks Alaska-grown produce and locally caught fish. Additional retail is about 2 miles north in Bentley Mall, and people living downtown might shop there instead. This complex gets less tourist traffic and has bigger stores such as Costco, Michaels and OfficeMax.
The Co-Op Plaza is a popular place to shop for unique item in Downtown Fairbanks.
Lavelle’s Bistro is on Second Avenue is an upscale bar and restaurant in Downtown Fairbanks.
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Downtown events pack the streets
The Midnight Sun Festival celebrates the summer solstice with vendor booths, food, crafts and souvenirs. About 30,000 people attend every year. This June festival is Alaska’s largest single-day event, and with all the daylight, the party goes on for roughly 12 hours. For an even longer party, Golden Days is a five-day event that started in 1952, and it brings attendees back to the Old West. Community members dress up in miner, cowboy and other costumes, and they form the state’s largest parade. Held at the Carlsen Center in mid-July, the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics hosts competitions based on ancient practices such as seal hunting and meat hauling.
Experience the midnight sun in Downtown Fairbanks.
Watch ice sculptures come to life at the Fairbanks Ice Museum in Downtown.
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Floating the Chena and other outdoor activities
Downtown residents have quick access to the Chena River, a local hangout. “A popular summertime activity is what we call ‘floating the Chena,’” says Tupper. “On sunny days, you’ll drive over a bridge and see dozens and dozens of people below you in the water, all going downriver. They’ll use anything from tubes to inflatable air mattresses. The brown water isn’t necessarily picturesque, but it’s slow-moving and refreshing on a hot day.” The Chena Riverwalk overlooks the water and starts at the moose antler arch, passing the Immaculate Conception Church at the Golden Heart Plaza. It continues about 3 miles west to a popular dog park in Kiwanis Park, and Growden Park is right across Second Avenue. This green space is the home of Gold Panner Baseball, an amateur team that hosts a Midnight Sun Game every summer; it’s also the home of a skate park and some volleyball courts. About a quarter mile west on the Chena Riverwalk, Pioneer Park is both a historic village and an amusement park. Its rustic buildings date back 100-plus years to the beginning of Fairbanks, and a train takes guests around to all the sights. Originally called Alaska Land, this space includes a no-longer-operational riverboat, multiple museums and some restaurants. Open spaces are about 2 miles north of downtown, including Creamer’s Field Migratory Waterfowl Preserve. With over 2,200 acres, this refuge hosts about 60 species of birds, and visitors often want to see the crimson heads of sandhill cranes.
Take a walk over the bridge along the Chena Riverwalk in Downtown Fairbanks.
Bird enthusiasts enjoy watching the flocks at Creamer's Field in Fairbanks.
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Right next to Airport Way, near Highways 2 and 3
Downtown is highly walkable and bikeable with wide sidewalks and slow-moving traffic. Most people need a car, though, as winter temperatures often go below zero. The city salts and plows roads, so tire chains aren’t required. Cushman and Barnette streets serve as the main thoroughfares through the commercial district, and they connect south to Airport Way. This route gets more through traffic because it links state routes 2 and 3; it also leads about 4 miles west to Fairbanks International Airport. Fairbanks Memorial Hospital is about a mile south of the neighborhood.
Find historical homes with old world charm in Downtown Fairbanks.
Find convenient public transportation in Downtown Fairbanks.
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A motley crew: homes in Downtown Fairbanks
Most homes are on the neighborhood’s eastern and western sides, out of the way of commercial properties. This, however, is about all they have in common. They were built anytime between the early 1900s to the late 1990s, and architecture varies wildly from house to house. Teeny Cape Cods mingle with two-story Colonials, and down the street, postwar ranch-styles sit next to A-frames. Some homes are single-family, while others are duplexes. Exteriors can be siding or wood, and yards can be fenced-in or open. Driveways can be gravel or asphalt, and with no HOA, they could be filled with trailers or RVs. Properties with smaller square footage start at $170,000, and those with double the size can reach $400,000. Condos aren’t as common, but a few complexes are on the neighborhood’s north and south. Units range from $170,000 to $220,000.
Larger homes with ample living space can be found in Downtown Fairbanks.
A row of traditional-style homes with pitched roofs are seen in Downtown Fairbanks.
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Walkable schools, diversity at Lathrop High
Denali Elementary is about a mile west of the neighborhood’s center, and it gets a C from Niche. About a mile south from the same point, Ryan Middle gets the same grade. Lathrop High is in the building next door and scores an overall B. It gets an A-plus for diversity, and roughly 70% of its teachers have been there for five years or more. Barnette Magnet School is on the neighborhood’s southern side, and it serves pre-kindergarten through eighth grade. Students have to apply for a lottery to enroll, and the number of available spots changes each year. The school gets an overall B-plus from Niche, and its Exploration program allows students to pick annual electives such as cartooning and taekwondo.
A welcoming entrance is seen at Barnette Magnet School in Fairbanks.
Students are the top priority at Ryan Middle School in Fairbanks.
GreatSchools:
The GreatSchools Rating helps parents compare schools within a state based on a variety of school quality indicators and provides a helpful picture of how effectively each school serves all of its students. Ratings are on a scale of 1 (below average) to 10 (above average) and can include test scores, college readiness, academic progress, advanced courses, equity, discipline and attendance data. We also advise parents to visit schools, consider other information on school performance and programs, and consider family needs as part of the school selection process.
View GreatSchools Rating Methodology
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Toni Brewer,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Parks in this Area
Creamer's Field
Pioneer Park
Growden Park
Chena Riverwalk
Golden Heart Plaza
Transit
Airport
Fairbanks International
24 min drive
Bus
Noble & 10th Ave
Bus
10th Ave Dixon Apts
Bus
7th Ave & Barnette Inbound
Bus
10th Ave & Noble Inbound
Bus
Lacey & Parking Garage Outbound
Bus
Noble & Gaffney
Bus
Noble & 8th Ave
Downtown Fairbanks Demographics and Home Trends
On average, homes in Downtown Fairbanks, Fairbanks sell after 6 days on the market compared to the national average of 70 days. The median sale price for homes in Downtown Fairbanks, Fairbanks over the last 12 months is $530,000, up 45% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to 812 5th Avenue, located in downtown Fairbanks, offering 5 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms across 1,250+ square feet. This home sits on a street-to-street lot (4th Ave to 5th Ave) and has seen important upgrades including plumbing, electrical, and most importantly, insulation. The spacious primary bedroom features an ensuite bathroom, and the updated kitchen comes with new appliances ready for
Fully renovated, income producing, downtown Fairbanks DREAM HOUSE. 799 Eighth Avenue is a raised ranch-style home offering 3 bed and 2 baths per unit with 2,430 square feet of versatile living space in the heart of Fairbanks. This duplex home is ideal for multi-generational living, rental income potential, or anyone needing room to spread out. The property has been meticulously upgraded, roof,
Nice parcel located just up river from the Nordale Bridge. Either boat or snow machine to property. Covered in large spruce and birch trees. Owner finance OAC with 20% down for 7 years at 8% interest. With a proper offer, seller will pay 50% of owner's title, escrow/closing fee, and recording fee.
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Toni Brewer,
an experienced agent in this neighborhood.
Average Home Value
Source: Public Records
Property Mix - Square Feet
This Neighborhood Has More Renters
Demographics
Total Population
1,778
Median Age
43
Population under 18
16%
Below the national average
23.8%
Population over 65
26.9%
Above the national average
19.1%
Finances
Median Household Income
$21,456
Significantly below the national average
$71,702
Average Household Income
$47,211
Education and Workforce
High School Graduates
86.8%
College Graduates
21.2%
Below the national average
34.1%
Advanced Degrees
14.7%
% Population in Labor Force
51.1%
Below the national average
65.1%
Area Factors
Very Bikeable
Bike Score®
70/ 100
Very Walkable
Walk Score®
83/ 100
Some Transit
Transit Score®
32/ 100
Source: Walk Score
Source: Walk Score
Sound Score® measures the noise level of any address. Transit Score® measures access to public transit. Bike Score® measures the bikeability of any address.
Disclaimer: Certain information contained herein is derived from information provided by parties other than Homes.com. Our sources include: Accuweather, Public Records and Neustar. All information provided is deemed reliable, but is not guaranteed to be accurate and should be independently verified.
