Gresham

Downtown Gresham, also known as Central City, is a historic district 17 miles from Portland. “We are a big town with a very small town feel,” says Lynn Fnodgrass, CEO of the Chamber of Commerce and Visitor Center. “Our community is more on the rural than the urban side, but we have an urban core.” The downtown area is very walkable and has no parking meters. The area is used as a training ground for Guide Dogs for the Blind, which is the country’s oldest program for seeing eye dogs. “Our city is of a good size for training how to stop at the curb,” says Fnodgrass. “There are no lights in Downtown Gresham, but the next stop, near the outside of town, has lights.” Gresham is Oregon’s fourth largest city and was home to the Clackamas Chinook people until it became a timber settlement in 1884. The history of Gresham is kept in the previous 1913 Gresham Library, a red Tudor Revival build listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Homes in the area are in the bungalow and ranch styles. Townhouses can also be found in the area and are in a simple new historicism style, with complex roof forms and long windows. New construction in downtown Gresham is scarce compared to other parts of the city. Homes reside on medium to large lots, usually with fenced-in yards alongside thin sidewalks that disappear closer to the commercial parts of town. Roadways are wide, creating an active noise level that becomes louder when close to busier streets. Homes range in price from $350,000 to $450,000. Townhouses sell for $300,000 to $450,000. The Timberline Lodge ski resort at the base of Mount Hood is just 40 miles away from Downtown Gresham on Route 26. The city is also within 8 miles of the Oxbow Regional Park and the Dabney State Recreation area, two destinations on the Sandy River where summer adventurers can fish, hike and swim. Within the area is the public Gresham Golf Course. The location contains an 18-hole golf course and a Pour Sports Bar & Grill. Main City Park is a 22-acre park with a play structure and off-leash dog area. The park also houses Tsuru Island, a Japanese garden created by residents displaced during WWII. The Gresham Town Fair features locations like popular retailers JOANN and Ross. Nearby are Boccelli's Ristorante and the Margarita Factory. Residents enjoy Pad Thai at the Asian Thai Bistro or cupcakes at the Sugar Cubed Bakery. Heidi's of Gresham offers a variety of German, Swiss and Italian dishes next to the Safeway on Northeast Burnside Road. Every third Thursday, the Historic Downtown Gresham Association hosts a neighborhood gathering where locals can interact and purchase food and drinks from local businesses. The association usually partners with the Regional Arts & Culture Council and the Center for the Arts Foundation to host these events. Residents who wish to attend religious services may visit several places of worship within the area, including Citypark Church, Rise City Church, Gresham Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church and others. Children in the area attend East Gresham Elementary School, receiving a C from Niche. Students continue to Dexter McCarthy Middle School, receiving a B. Springwater Trail High School, receiving a B-minus, allows 11th and 12th-grade students to take courses at the Mt. Hood Community College. Downtown Gresham is a walkable area with several bike lanes along the major roadways. The MAX Blue Line light rail station takes locals from Gresham to Portland and Hillsboro and bus stops line the major roadways. Residents take I-84 West to Portland International Airport.

Stretched out over three cinder cone volcanoes, this neighborhood on the city’s southern border is the perfect place for anyone who wants a house with a view. A butte is a raised landmass formed from erosion or volcanic activity, and the Portland Basin is home to dozens. Thanks to a joint effort between the city of Gresham and Oregon Metro, Gabbert Butte and Hogan Butte are now nature preserves where you can go hiking and explore the forest that covers them. Gresham Butte, on the other hand, is a residential neighborhood where just about every house has a view. “We have a community running club that uses the neighborhood for a lot of its trail runs,” says Nicole Richards, a local real estate broker with eXp Realty LLC. Gabbert Butte Nature Park has 2 miles of wooded trails and Hogan Butte Nature Park is home to a paved half-mile path, popular among local dog owners and bird watchers. After walking through Hogan Butte, visitors can enjoy a packed lunch at the picnic pavilion. Persimmon Country Club is located on the community’s southeast side. This private club is home to a picturesque 18-hole golf course that takes players over rolling hills and under the shade of mature maples and pines, along with a seasonal pool and a dining room. The area is home to hilly residential streets and most homes were built between the mid-1970s and the early 1990s, with bi-levels, ranch-style homes and Colonial Revivals being most common. While most of the homes here are more established, there are some newly constructed craftsman-style and modern traditional builds throughout the neighborhood. With an average house price of $595,000, Gresham Butte’s prices are around $100,000 higher than the average Oregon home. Most homes sit close together on quarter-acre lots, while driving along Southwest Walters Drive takes residents toward more private and, in some cases, wooded properties with lots reaching sizes of an acre and more. The community is directly south of downtown Gresham, home to dozens of local restaurants and shops. When it’s time for a kitchen restock, residents pick up their groceries at the nearby Fred Meyer or WinCo Foods. Nicholas Restaurant is a popular local spot that has been serving its patrons authentic Middle Eastern cuisine since it first opened in 1985. For a quick cup of java, people can swing by Legacy Coffee Roasters and, for an evening drink, folks can head to the Hoppy Brewer. Young students of Gresham Butte can attend Hogan Cedars Elementary School, which earns a B-minus rating from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 18-1. After fifth grade, students can attend the B-rated Dexter McCarty Middle, home of the Hornets. Gresham High School earns a C-plus overall grade, but a B rating on its college preparatory initiatives. Students can take career and technical education courses in topics ranging from business management to early childhood education. With hundreds of acres of greenery just a few steps from residential streets, living in Gresham Butte is almost like living in a nature park, with the amenities of downtown Gresham just a short drive away.

What happens when a small city gets caught between two larger ones? Just ask residents of Centennial-Gresham, which got caught between Portland's eastward growth and Gresham's westward growth. Today, they have an interesting situation: "It's the taxes," says Claire Paris, principal broker and owner of Portland's Paris Realty Group. "The tax rates are way different between Portland and Gresham, way, way different. And there's no other difference between the two neighborhoods whatsoever." During the 1950s, Centennial-Gresham was a quiet collection of small farms – also known as garden lots -- between Gresham and Portland that was barely big enough to support a high school. But this rural way of life changed dramatically in the following decades as developers started converting the community's garden lots into residential subdivisions that quickly filled with residents from either city. And today, what used to be a tiny farming community is home to 34,000-plus residents who live in a suburban area that straddles the line separating Oregon's largest city and its fourth largest city. The Centennial-Gresham neighborhood is about half the size of Portland's Centennial-Gresham neighborhood in terms of population and size. Its housing stock is dominated by the boxy ranch-style homes and split-level homes that were popular during the 1960s and the 1970s when it transitioned from an agricultural community to a residential one. City planners speculate that only a few contractors built these houses because they share similar features – a basement versus a concrete slab foundation, a prominent wood-framed window at the center of its façade, etc. – that act as their builder's signature. "If you want amazing mid-Centuries or rambling ranches, Centennial-Gresham is where it's at," Paris says. "This is the definition of suburbia: dead end streets, winding roads, huge lots, and amazing, established landscaping. It's like one builder went in there and put up 150 houses." Regardless of who built them, these houses sit back on long, skinny lots with just enough space for a front lawn that needs to be mowed and a hedge that separates one neighbor from the next. Sidewalks and protected bike lanes are rare in Centennial-Gresham neighborhood, so plan to drive wherever you need. Two- to three-bedroom houses in this neighborhood fetch $300,000 to $450,000, while four-bedroom and larger houses start at about $400,000 and can sometimes get $525,000 or more. Portland's Centennial neighborhood boasts a similar housing stock, layout, and price range. The key difference between these two neighborhoods is that while Portland residents pay a city property tax of $7.90 per $1,000 of assessed value, residents of Gresham pay only $3.45 per $1,000. However, the phrase "you get what you pay for" comes up when comparing parks. Because while Portland's Centennial neighborhood has two parks – each with a brand-new playground and athletic fields – Centennial-Gresham neighborhood only has the undeveloped Southwest Community Park. This park has a grassy meadow with views of the surrounding area, a forested area with notable stands of Western Cedar and Douglas fir trees, and a wetland with Fairview Creek's headwaters. It also has an unmaintained dirt path that connects these three features and absolutely zero parking spaces, so plan on getting your feet muddy and trying to find off-street parking. Luckily, the neighborhood is just south of the Rockwood Disc Golf Course and Vance Park, which also has a disc golf course, so you'll have a chance to do something besides walk along a muddy trail. It's also just north of the extinct cinder cone volcano at Portland's 600-acre Powell Butte Nature Park, where you'll find ample parking, maintained hiking trails, nature camps for children and teenagers, and a stunning view of Mt. Hood. Since the 1950s, the Centennial School District has served both Centennial-Gresham neighborhood and its counterpart in Portland. This tie is so strong that the original Centennial community -- previously known as the Lynch District –- changed its name when Centennial High School was built and named in honor of Oregon's 100th anniversary. Students who live north of Southeast Division Street will attend Patrick Lynch Elementary School and Oliver Middle School, both of which are in Portland. Those who live below Southeast Division Street will attend Meadows Elementary and Centennial Middle School. Every student will finish their K-12 career at Centennial High School. Besides being a school boundary line, Southeast Division Street is one of the two commercial thoroughfares in Centennial-Gresham neighborhood. Here, you'll find the Birrieria PDX Division food truck and Mi Pueblo Mexican Restaurant – both of which are known for their tacos and outdoor seating areas – along with Pub 181, where its Bloody Marries and brunch items can turn a one-time visitor into a regular faster than you can say "Eggs Benedict." The neighborhood's other commercial strip, Southeast Powell Boulevard, is home to a Fred Meyer grocery store and McMenamin's Highland Pub and Brewery, where you can get sausages and fish and chips made with its signature ales. And suppose you're looking for something more exotic. In that case, the city of Portland and its famous restaurants are just down the street from your home in Centennial-Gresham neighborhood.

North Central Gresham, 15 miles from Portland, has come a long way since its agricultural origins. "There are a lot more people in Gresham than there used to be," says Mary Gossett, past president of the now inactive North Central Neighborhood Association. When Gossett moved to North Central in the late 1960s, "It was nothing but berry farms behind my house. Now it's just other houses." North Central has grown into a dense suburb with a strong sense of community. Residents enjoy walkability, diverse parkland and proximity to historic downtown Gresham. Ranch-style builds and split levels from the 1960s and 70s sit on lots large enough for tree-studded lawns and driveways. Homes built in the 90s are more tightly packed. Gated fences for furry friends are common, and some sidewalks grow mossy in the moist environment. Three- and four- bedroom houses typically fetch between $350,000 and $550,000, with remodeled homes sitting on the higher end. The neighborhood has a few newer subdivisions with large Millennial builds, where prices can climb above $600,000. Each of the neighborhood’s four schools is within walking distance of many homes. Younger children are split between North Gresham Elementary, which has a C-plus from Niche, and Highland Elementary, which has a C. Students continue on to B-minus-rated Clear Creek Middle, then Gresham High School, which has a C-plus. In 2021, the high school completed renovations including 54 new classrooms, a new gym, a media center and more. The neighborhood’s Red Sunset Park has soccer and baseball fields, basketball courts a playground and covered picnic pavilions with grills. Locals can stroll and walk dogs past the park’s large pond, which attracts hundreds of ducks and geese during migration season. For more diverse wildlife spotting, Salish Ponds Wetland Park offers fishing and walking paths lined with ash trees, willows and cattails. Residents are close to iconic natural sights like Multnomah Falls and Mount Hood. Indoor fun can be found at Wunderland, an entertainment center with a movie theatre, laser tag, go-karts and more. Shopping and dining are clustered along Burnside Road, Stark Street and Glisan Street. Locals can find grocery stores such as Fred Meyers and Natural Grocers and a handful of “good old mom and pop places,” according to Gossett. The area has a mix of regional chains and local restaurants, including Heidi’s of Gresham, a beloved staple with a range of European-inspired dishes. Wichita Puff’s Pub is another local favorite with drinks, diverse eats and a cozy, down-to-earth vibe. Residents also benefit from proximity to historic downtown Gresham, which has vintage boutiques, hobby stores and a plethora of restaurants and cafes. Residents are within a mile of year-round events in downtown Gresham. One of the most popular annual celebrations is the Teddy Bear Parade, put on by women’s empowerment organization Soroptimist International of Gresham. For more than 40 years, thousands have gathered – come rain or shine – to see local businesses and community members parade through the streets of Gresham, many with stuffed animals in tow. “You can get around in North Central easily,” Gossett says. Buses run along Stark and 223rd Avenue, and both Burnside and Stark have bike lanes for getting from one end of the neighborhood to the other. Homes and businesses are all connected through sidewalks. For commuting beyond North Central, residents can get on Interstate 84 or US Route 26.

Gresham’s Northeast neighborhood is home to several of the city’s most significant resources. Quiet suburban streets lead to the Gresham Golf Course, Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center and Mt. Hood Community College, meaning residents have well-rounded amenities in their back yard. Buyers have a range of housing options, from single-family homes with spacious backyards to condo units within arm’s reach of neighborhood highlights. The neighborhood features ranch-style homes and split-levels, many surrounding the golf course. Development really kicked off in the 1960s and 70s with the opening of the course and Mt. Hood Community College, though buyers can also find construction from the past few years. Three-bedroom builds start just below $400,000, with newer or remodeled four-bedroom homes selling up to $600,000. Condos are clustered around the golf course with names like Country Club Estate or Tee Off Estates. Two-bedroom units typically sell between $200,000 and $300,000. Hall Elementary is centrally located within the neighborhood and has a C rating from Niche. Kids can continue on to Gordon Russell Middle, before finishing out at Sam Barlow High, which both earn a B-minus. The high school has an active student newspaper with coverage spanning breaking news to arts and entertainment. Graduates – or any community member – can take classes at Mt. Hood Community College, a major landmark within the neighborhood. Local and chain restaurants are clustered along Stark Street and in the southwest corner of the neighborhood toward City Central. Skyland Pub is a favorite local haunt, with classic pub fare – there’s a fish and chips special on Wednesdays – and pool tables for get-togethers after work or school. Residents are also close to historic downtown Gresham, which has seen enormous growth in the past few years. “When we first moved here the downtown was dead,” says Greg Walczyk, principal owner and broker of Walczyk & Associates Realty. Walczyk has worked and raised a family in the area for 25 years. “We would walk around, we would see the potential. I dreamed of the day when it would be like it is now. It’s such a vibrant amazing place.” People gather at myriad restaurants with outdoor seating and attend events at local arts centers and dance studios. There are two Safeway grocery stores on the neighborhood’s perimeter, and shoppers can head down Burnside Road for major clothing retailers and other big box stores. The neighborhood has its own Regal movie theatre and a Sky Zone trampoline park for rainy Oregon days. Gresham Golf Course is open to the public and offers lessons for children and adults. Locals can join the course’s men’s or women’s clubs, with leagues for new and experienced players. For more passive recreation, residents head to Red Sunset Park, which has a duck pond, a playground and open green space for flying kites or soccer games. Since 1988, Mt. Hood Community College has hosted the Portland Highland Games, a summer celebration of Scottish culture with competitive athletic events, live music and dance, traditional foods and whisky tastings. Locals can otherwise attend lectures, art shows and performances on campus throughout the year. “People like it because you’re a little closer to I-84,” Walczyk says. “The bummer is now, with more people, it might take you 20 minutes just to get to the interstate to go east to the city. But people who live in the north side of Gresham, you’re 5 minutes from I-84.” Sidewalks connect neighbors to each other, and to bus stops lining Kane Drive, Division Street and Stark Street. Major north-south streets such as Hogan Drive and Kane have bike lanes leading to surrounding commercial districts. Legacy Mount Hood Medical Center is conveniently located within the northwest corner of the neighborhood. Residents won’t need to travel far for specialist appointments or emergency care.

Just blocks from downtown, Northwest Gresham offers a variety of housing options in a location that’s almost too convenient. Its town houses, Ranch-style houses, and split-level houses run past two parks, two shopping centers, and two stops on a light rail line that gets you to downtown Portland in an hour.<br><br>Most of the neighborhood’s houses were built in the 1960s and 1970s on 6,000 to 8,000-square-foot lots with space for a large driveway, mature trees, bushes, and aBut small, fenced-in backyard where your dogs can run around. The neighborhood also has denser pockets of apartment complexes, condominium complexes and town houses where space between neighbors is limited, if it exists at all. These townhouses fetch $300,000 to $400,000, while the detached houses cost $450,000 to $600,000.<br><br>The eight-acre Bella Vista Park sits at the center of this neighborhood and offers a small playground for children, plenty of trees for shade, and a large field where the Northwest Neighborhood Association has hosted concerts. And Main City Park, the crown jewel of Gresham’s parks department, butts up against the Northwest neighborhood’s southeast corner. Its walking trails, athletic fields, playgrounds, and Japanese garden guarantee any visitor will enjoy playing outside.<br><br>Northwest Gresham is also home to the open-air Gresham Station shopping center. Located at the neighborhood’s northwest corner, this shopping center features a variety of department stores, a couple of furniture stores, and a Natural Grocers grocery store. It’s also a couple of blocks from the Gresham City Hall and Civic Center, where you’ll find offices for just about every city agency you need. But while Gresham Station is an excellent location for shops and government services, it lacks restaurants that aren’t part of a national chain. Luckily Northwest Gresham is only a few blocks from the Historic Downtown Gresham Business District – where you’ll find the Asian Thai Bistro and Sugar Cubed Bakery – so those looking for something a little different won’t have to travel too far.<br><br>And five schools serve parts of Northwest Gresham. Students in the southern half of the neighborhood will attend Hall Elementary School and Dexter McCarty Middle School. In contrast, those in its southern half will attend North Gresham Elementary School and Clear Creek Middle School. Every student will complete their K-12 education at Gresham High School, less than a mile from Northwest Gresham.<br><br>Everything Gresham has to offer – from city services to shopping malls – is within easy reach of the city’s Northwest neighborhood. That makes it a great place to live and an even better place to call home.