Vancouver

Named for an airfield that closed two decades ago, Airport Green is a small neighborhood among many in the rapidly growing suburbs of East Vancouver. Shaped like a sock with the foot pointing to the right, the neighborhood is composed of a few dozen homes across from an elementary school and park. Evergreen Field, a modest commercial turf-and-asphalt airstrip established in the 1940s, was still operational when Airport Green started to rise about 40 years later. But the neighborhood’s development portended what was to come. Years after Evergreen Field closed in 2006, developers propped up a hotel and retirement community on the airfield space, leaving only a bit of the overgrown asphalt runway as a vestige of its past. Today, residents in the area still enjoy being part of an active community once organized around this historic runway. "It's very quaint. I sold there, and there's a really cute sense of community. You can opt-in to the HOA and I think it's something like $1 a month to help pay for the community parades and ice cream socials," says Lauren Greenfield, a real estate broker who is licensed in both Washington and Oregon states. Most of Airport Green’s two-story Craftsman and Colonial Revival homes, one-story ranchers and other custom-built, contemporary homes started rising in the 1980s and '90s. With low-density residential zoning, these single-family homes with attached garages often feature leafy lawns and backyards. As custom builds, each home has unique features, ranging from wood shake siding and wide front porches to brick chimneys and pastel coats of paint. Most properties sell from $500,000 to $800,000, with larger traditional properties boasting up to 3,000 square feet. Greenfield also points out that Airport Green is part of a much larger, contemporary suburb where developers are still planning new apartments, townhouses, single-family housing and retail centers that are poised to drive even more growth on the Washington side of the Portland-Vancouver metro area. Airport Green also has a 3 out of 10 CAP Index Crime Score, which is lower than the national average of 4. Hearthwood Elementary is located in the center of Airport Green, within walking distance from most homes. Earning a C-plus from Niche, parents with students at Hearthwood Elementary can volunteer to teach monthly art classes as part of an art discovery program. Each class has a theme and is guided by packets that outline lessons on basic principles and techniques. The lessons focus on specific artists like Claude Monet and different mediums and styles, such as African textile art and optical illusion. Cascade Middle School is right across 18th Street from the neighborhood, with a C rating from Niche. Located next door, Evergreen High School earns a C-plus rating from Niche. With a central location in Vancouver's suburbs, Airport Green has close proximity to much of the area's shopping and dining. "It has a really great location since it's just off of Mill Plain Boulevard, which is one of the main veins of the city," Greenfield says. About 2 miles east down Mill Plain Boulevard, Columbia Tech Center is a large master-planned community with two large shopping centers, office space, hotels, housing and a central park. The sprawling mixed-use center includes national restaurant chains and major retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Bed Bath & Beyond and Kohl’s. There are a few local and regional businesses here as well. The French-inspired Baron Patisserie regularly bakes up croissants, cakes, macarons and madeleines but also rotates a few special items every few days. Hopworks Urban Brewery operates a 300-seat beer garden that’s welcoming to dogs and serves a few made-on-site beers you can’t find at any of its other locations in the Portland region. For closer grocery options, WinCo Foods is just west of Airport Green off 136th Avenue, along with chain options like Applebee's and Raising Cane's. Right across from the neighborhood is Hearthwood Park. Though relatively simple with only a few features like walking paths, picnic tables and a playground, residents care deeply for the park. Once a vacant lot, the neighborhood association planted plum trees that still stand today and lobbied county officials to fund the park’s development in the early 1990s. The neighborhood association still prioritizes the park and recently succeeded in adding a horseshoe pit. Just under 3 miles east, Pacific Community Park is a 56-acre destination for those looking for ball fields, playgrounds and open grassy space. The park's skateboarding area is fully equipped with rails, ramps and half-pipes to drop in on. Dakota Dog Park is also part of, Pacific Community Park and is a popular meeting spot for dogs from across the area. For an indoor option, the Clark County Indoor Sports Center has several indoor astroturf soccer fields. Whether just looking to practice the sport or taking their kids to youth league games, residents can play here for just $8. "Vancouver is a pretty small area. Residents like that they can be part of a tight-knit community and that it's easy to get around," Greenfield says. With Mill Plain Boulevard running just south of the neighborhood, residents of Airport Green can drive the 20 miles into Downtown Vancouver in just 20 minutes. Interstate 205 also intersects with Mill Plain Boulevard, cutting the 17-mile commute into Portland, Oregon down to 30 minutes. Those looking for flights across the country can also find Portland International Airport located about 8 miles south along Interstate 205. In the case of medical emergencies, PeaceHealth Southwest's trauma and medical centers are about 4 miles west along Mill Plain Boulevard. In terms of pedestrian access, Airport Green has become more pedestrian and cyclist-friendly in recent years, but East Vancouver remains car-dependent with its large suburban shopping centers and business parks. For fun activities in the area, Big Al’s is a sports bar, bowling alley and arcade located about 2 miles from the neighborhood near Columbia Tech Park. While it’s a good place to celebrate birthdays or just hang out with friends on a Friday night, Big Al’s is also known for its giant 55-foot projection screen for groups to watch sports games. People of every age can also learn to ice skate at the Mountain View Ice Arena, which is just south of the neighborhood across Mill Plain Boulevard. Open year-round, the arena hosts youth and adult hockey programs, a figure skating academy, birthday parties and private events.

Years before its numerous apartments and duplexes rose, Bagley Downs was once home to a racetrack, fox fur farms and dairies. Now, this Vancouver community, just a few miles from the city center, mirrors the city’s growth and expansion that has skyrocketed over the past few decades, shown by the density of new development that has replaced spacious residential lots and rural farmland. While some midcentury single-family properties are available, most of this community is comprised of apartment complexes and some newer single-family constructions. Bagley Downs is not short of unique establishments, either. Along the neighborhood’s main commercial thoroughfare, Fourth Plain Boulevard, residents can find everything from a hole-in-the-wall establishment serving American cuisine to a popular eatery inspired by Nayarit’s coastal flavors. The boulevard is known as part of the Fourth Plain International District, reflecting the multicultural community in Vancouver. Locals will enjoy easy access to the district’s many events, offering them a space to mingle with friends. Bounded by the Burnt Bridge Creek Greenway to the west, Bagley Downs offers a scenic pathway along the water, and residents can also head to other green spaces like Bagley Community Park for some time outside. With easy access to unique eateries, scenic trails and the bustling city center, Bagley Downs offers residents a vibrant community with both an urban and suburban feel in the heart of Vancouver. During World War II, the federal government built a wartime housing project called Bagley Downs, but these homes were torn down, and later, midcentury properties like ranch-style dwellings sitting on larger lots were built in their place. While some of these older homes still remain, Bagley Downs is mainly comprised of apartment complexes, making it no surprise that nearly 90% of residents rent their properties. There are also some single-family properties sitting on relatively small lots. Townhouses and modern duplexes are also available. Much of what is east of Stapleton Road transformed from fox fur farms and dairies to large ‘80s and ‘90s apartment complexes, and many other multifamily living options are available in the community. Newer developments include contemporary townhouses that feature asymmetrical facades, two-story Craftsman builds with attached garages and rows of colorful duplexes that bring character to the community. “It’s interesting because Bagley Downs reflects this push in Vancouver where lots of new builds are popping up everywhere,” says Ryan Watkins, a real estate agent who frequently works in the area. Prices typically range from $310,000 to $480,000, depending on the property’s age, size and location. Prospective residents can find some properties that adhere to HOA guidelines, but many are non-HOA restricted. “We’re finding that lots of the newer developments have HOAs,” Watkins says. Some streets feature sidewalks, and mature trees grow scattered along roads on which some people park. Along Fourth Plain Boulevard are some of the community’s counter-service restaurants and small strip mall eateries. While residents can enjoy various chain establishments, they can also venture into local restaurants like Hawaiian Style Grill, which serves barbeque classics and Polynesian-inspired cuisine. Also along the boulevard is The Plainsman, a folksy establishment serving American fare flavors. It offers a casual dining experience, complete with license plates plastered on the wall and counter seating. While there are plenty of places nearby for those craving tacos, locals will have easy access to Las Islas en Ponchos, which is also along the boulevard. Surf-and-turf lovers will have an array of options at this eatery, which is heavily inspired by Nayarit’s coastal flavors. Those wanting to enjoy a drink out head to Silver Star Saloon, which features Wild West decor like a wood-paneled bar. Also along the boulevard are Grocery Outlet and Sorya Asian Market. Other establishments along the boulevard include Butcher Boys, a shop dating back to 1969 that serves a wide array of sausages and smoked meat. Residents wanting to get a new outfit head to ReTails Thrift Store. Bagley Downs is home to some of the Fourth Plain International District’s establishments, like Thai Wok Kitchen. This district is primarily known for its multicultural feel, vibrant murals and events. Locals can take advantage of the district’s resources that help foster business connections. The district also offers microgrants to community members, including Bagley Downs residents who are working towards causes like fostering culture, human rights and community events. The district’s events include everything from the Black History Month Fashion Show to the Valentine’s Day Block Party. It also hosts the Fourth Plain Holiday Market, where locals can pick up gifts for their loved ones. The Watershed Alliance’s Environmental Film Series is another event the district hosts. Being so close to Vancouver’s city center also gives locals easy access to the city’s events and gatherings, including the Vancouver Farmers Market, which runs from March to October. Bagley Downs offers a plethora of recreational activities. The Bagley Community Park is home to youth and adult sports leagues that utilize the green space’s facilities, which include softball and soccer fields. Bordering the park is a Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington location and the Jim Parsley Community Center, which, among other amenities, features youth swimming lessons and a rock climbing wall. The community is also home to Downs Neighbours Park, where locals can enjoy a picnic on the grassy expanse, and kids run off their energy on the playground. Hikers and runners often head to the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail, which runs along the western border of this community. Boasting just around 8 miles of greenway, this trail stretches from Vancouver Lake to Meadowbrook Marsh Park, which is a few miles southeast of Bagley Downs. The path winds through open grasslands and forests, allowing nature lovers to see local wildlife like waterfowl and deer. “Vancouver Lake is really something. It’s not too far away, so lots of people head there. Given the water levels, I don’t know how big of a motor you can have, but I do see people boating there,” says Watkins. “Not to mention that Columbia River is also right there. I mean, there’s everything from fishing to boating. It really shows how much there is to do just around a short drive from the neighborhood.” Both the river and the lake are less than 10 miles away. Students can enroll in the Vancouver School District, which serves over 1500 students. To start their schooling, they can attend Roosevelt Elementary School, which receives a C rating on Niche. The school features The Spanish/English Dual Language Program. Students can participate in various activities, including leadership and athletic teams. They can then attend C-rated Mcloughlin Middle School, which also features dual language learning. Students can take advantage of the school’s Advancement Via Individual Determination (AVID) program. To finish their schooling, students can enroll in C-plus-rated Fort Vancouver High School, which features choice programs in various fields, including culinary arts and advanced manufacturing. For higher learning opportunities, Washington State University is just around 11 miles north via Interstate 205, and Clark College is just 2 miles east via Fourth Plain Boulevard. Residents enjoy a convenient location as the neighborhood is bounded by state Route 500 to the north. While many locals drive to get around, they can also take advantage of C-Tran’s Green Line, which can get them from the stop on Stapleton Road to the city center in about 20 minutes. Locals can also take around a 3-mile drive east to the area using roads like East Fourth Plain Boulevard. Nearby employers include Legacy Salmon Creek Medical Center, which is around 13 miles away via I-205, and PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, which is about 3 miles away via East Mill Plain Boulevard. Locals can enjoy easy access to Portland, which is just around 15 miles south via Interstate 5. Watkins says locals may work at some of Portland’s employers like NuStar Energy and Deloitte. Those wanting to explore other cities head to the Portland International Airport, which is just 10 miles away via I-205.

Known as part of Vancouver's rapidly developing suburbs, Bennington boasts many amenities. This area, about 11 miles east of the city center, remained mostly rural until a couple of decades ago when new suburban subdivisions and shopping centers started going up. Featuring mainly apartment complexes, this neighborhood also boasts a mix of newer townhouses and single-family homes, giving prospective residents an array of living options to pick from. Anchoring the community and heightening its desirability is the Columbia Tech Center, a 400-acre master-planned multiuse space that was developed in 1996. Featuring a park, offices of major employers and plenty of shopping and dining opportunities, this space serves as a focal point of the community. Bennington’s development isn’t over. Like many of the city’s other areas, plans for new builds persist, poised to drive even more growth to the Washington state side of the Portland-Vancouver metro area. With plenty of amenities and projected growth, it’s no wonder that Niche ranks the community as the No. 4 best place to live in Vancouver. While most of Bennington’s housing options include apartments, contemporary townhouses and condos, some subdivisions of single-family properties feature everything from contemporary ranch-style dwellings to newer Craftsman builds with porches and asymmetrical facades. Smaller single-story cottages are also in the community. With the median year built being 1999, many of these homes are on the newer side. They typically sit on around 6,000 square foot lots, featuring garages and concrete driveways that blend into sidewalks. Tall trees grow scattered along relatively narrow streets that are still big enough to satisfy street parking. While it does vary, many properties here are HOA-restricted. Just over half the residents rent their properties. Listing prices typically range from $475,000 to $916,000, depending on the property’s age, size and location. Bennington residents live next to scores of businesses and office buildings that provide a place to work and shop. Many of these opportunities are congregated in the Columbia Tech Center, a master-planned mixed-use space home to everything from studio lofts to plenty of office spaces for healthcare providers like Gentle Dental and employers like American Financial Services Inc. Other employers include Hewlett Packard and PeaceHealth clinics. For higher learning opportunities, the center is also home to Charter College LLC and a Clark College location. Among the chain businesses at the Tech Center is La Provence Boulangerie, a French-influenced cafe, and Hopworks Urban Brewery, commonly referred to as HUB, a casual establishment offering pub grub and a few made-on-site beers. The mixed-use space also features Columbia Tech Center Park. Offering everything from a 25,000-square-foot natural playground space to over 6 miles of trails that locals can walk on to a basketball court, this park is one of the hottest spots in the community. From June to August, the East Vancouver Market takes place here every Thursday. In addition to vendors, friendly buskers fill the market with music. The park hosts an annual concert series at its community amphitheater every Sunday in July and August. For more time outside, “lots of the schools here have playgrounds, and some of the nearby HOA subdivisions also feature small community parks,” says Deborah Blom, a managing broker at Windermere Northwest Living who lives near the community. These are perfect for those wanting to enjoy a less populated outside experience. Some of these parks are restricted only to community members, but there are also some public spaces. Children can enroll in Evergreen Public Schools, which Niche ranks as the No. 3 school district in Clark County. It serves over 20,000 students. To start their schooling, they can attend Columbia Valley Elementary, which receives a B-minus rating on Niche. Elementary students in the district enjoy the Art Discovery Program, which includes a monthly themed lesson taught by parent volunteers. Students can continue on to B-plus-rated Shahala Middle School, which features a Multilingual Language Department and offers various activities, including a club for gamers. To finish their schooling, students can attend A-minus-rated Union High School. The school offers AP courses, and students can also join after-school programs like a book club or an ASL club. Along 164th and 192nd Avenue, the community’s western and eastern borders are various dining options. Blom recommends Wyld Pines, an eatery serving upscale pub grub and happy hour specials amid an interior featuring art of natural wonders like Mount Saint Helens. “It’s unique because it has this dark room experience of eating completely in the dark. I have been there several times, and there’s always people doing it,” Blom says. “It’s fun. I don’t know how they see, but I know servers wear night vision goggles.” Those craving German cuisine head to Gustav’s. This spot has become a local favorite, featuring an interior decorated like an old German village, complete with wooden booths with heart cutouts and stained glass features. Those wanting to eat in for the night can head to Bennington’s Walmart, but Blom says many people also go to the nearby Costco, which is just slightly northeast of the community. “For some reason, this Costco is always a lot less busy than others, which I think is helpful to know,” Blom says. Many locals drive to get around, but they can also take advantage of the C-TRAN public bus routes, including the Red Line. Locals appreciate their proximity to PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center, which is around 4.5 miles away via Southeast Mill Plain Boulevard. Bennington residents also enjoy their proximity to downtown Vancouver, which is just around 11 miles west via state Route 14 and Portland, which is around 17.5 miles southwest via Interstate 205 and Interstate 84. Those wanting to explore other cities head to Portland International Airport, which is just around 8.5 miles south via I-205.

Burnt Bridge Creek lies among Vancouver, Washington’s eastern suburbs, just 25 minutes from downtown Portland. The Portland area’s iconic towering fir trees dot back yards and public green spaces while landscaped front lawns sit behind well-maintained sidewalks. Named for the bubbling tributary that lies north of the neighborhood, Burnt Bridge Creek lies on the edge of rural Washington, with views of the southern Cascade mountains visible from its residential streets. The houses in Burnt Bridge Creek are relatively new, compared to suburbs closer to the city’s center, with few homes built before the 1970s. “You get a mix of newer builds and well-established homes here,” says Ken Rosengren, a local real estate agent with Keller Williams Realty Premier Partners. “And it's a walkable community. Everyone is within walking distance of the elementary school, and the amenities of 162nd aren’t far away.” Ranch-style houses and Colonial Revivals make up most of the market, with two-bedroom options starting in the upper $300,000s. Four-bedroom, multi-story builds with over 2,000 square feet sell for between $475,000 and $550,000. Fully renovated late 20th-century homes and modern craftsman-style homes built in the past 5 years often go for over $600,000. Additionally, most homes here feature attached, front-facing two-car garages and fenced in quarter-acre back lots. Families here are served by Evergreen Public Schools, and young kids can start their K-12 careers at Burnt Bridge Creek Elementary School, which earns a C-plus overall grade from Niche and has a student-to-teacher ratio of 12-1. Pacific Middle School earns a B-minus rating and offers a variety of extracurricular offerings, from dance team to Dungeons & Dragons club. After the eighth grade, students can attend Union High School, which earns an impressive A-minus grade and is the 5th best public high school in Clark County, according to Niche. Union is also the 10th-best high school in Washington for athletes, with 25 sports teams, including bowling, dance and fastpitch softball. The neighborhood's two closest grocery stores, Safeway and Walmart Supercenter, are two miles north of Burnt Bridge Creek Elementary School on Northeast Fourth Plain Boulevard. This is also where locals can eat at top-rated restaurants like Goldie’s Barbecue, where patrons savor southern-style barbecue dishes from fried okra and collard greens to beef brisket and pork ribs. Presso Coffee Co. is five minutes down the road and offers hot cups of Joe with latte art and a small selection of breakfast options. “Growth of major employers is likely going to bring more buyers to the area in upcoming years,” Rosengren says. “Amazon is developing a warehouse just north of Burnt Bridge Creek.” At Fir Garden Park, visitors walk along the paved loop path shaded by towering firs while parents watch their kids on the playground. When the rainy weather that the Pacific Northwest is known for subsides, folks can also head to Nikkei Park where, along with a paved path and dinosaur-themed playground, locals will find a basketball court and picnic pavilion. Northeast 39th and 49th streets can take residents west toward I-205 or Route 500, with downtown Vancouver located 10 miles west. Additionally, Vancouver’s C-TRAN bus system has numerous stops along 39th Street and Portland International Airport is a 20-minute drive south.

Hot lights beam across cheering football fans, bundled up at McKenzie Stadium on chilly Friday nights in the Burton Evergreen neighborhood. As Vancouver’s largest football stadium, McKenzie Stadium seats close to 6,000 fans of its home football teams from Evergreen, Heritage, Mountain View and Union high schools. Though varsity players and their classmates across the city may call the stadium “home,” it’s Evergreen High School that backs up to the stadium, next to feeder schools Cascade Middle and Burton Elementary. Besides proximity to schools, residents of Burton Evergreen also enjoy spacious lots and the freedom to do whatever they like with them. “It’s an established neighborhood, which has a lot of homes that sit on larger lots, so I feel like the buyers who come in want to have a little more space, a bigger yard, room to park RVs or boats,” says Max Lopatin, a realtor with Parker Brennan Real Estate, LLC. “There are no homeowner’s associations, so you are a little more flexible with what you can do,” he says. The winding streets of Burton Evergreen are filled with homes that peek over freshly trimmed hedges onto sidewalks that start and stop sporadically, running past colorful potted flowers and basketball hoops—evidence of the school children that live nearby. Most homes in the neighborhood cost somewhere between $430,000 and $530,000, featuring three or four bedrooms. Symmetrical vinyl builds with two stories, tuck-under garages and small porches constructed in the early 1990s are common within this price range. Ranch-style homes synonymous with the ‘70s are also prevalent, though recent, modern builds are becoming more and more frequent. On the upper end of the price range, custom builds on larger lots—some with three levels—sell between $600,000 and $720,000. For the most part, though, homes in Burton Evergreen sell for less than those in the larger Portland area; the average home price of the neighborhood is about $100,000 less than the average price of the greater metro area. “Anywhere else you go for a larger lot, you will be looking at a higher price point and a tighter community with a homeowners association,” Lopatin says. Children in Burton Evergreen attend either Burton Elementary School, located across 138th Avenue, or Hearthwood Elementary School. The former receives a C from Niche, while the latter receives a C-plus. Students from both elementary schools come together to join the student body at C-rated Cascade Middle School. To conclude their secondary education, they attend Evergreen High School, which receives a B-minus. Evergreen High School offers plenty of post-graduation planning at its College and Career Center, including support finding internships, job shadowing opportunities, scholarships and financial aid for college. High school students interested in education and enrolled in Child Psychology can participate in the Little Plainsmen Preschool. A tri-weekly childcare program for toddlers, the preschool allows high school students to develop and lead lesson plans across multiple subjects. Residents of Burton Evergreen live within a mile and a half of the shopping center on 162nd Avenue, where they can pick up their dry cleaning or their prescription at Walgreens. The shopping plaza also boasts Petra House, a Mediterranean restaurant that serves traditional Jordanian dishes and kabab plates with a wide selection of protein choices, from lamb and chicken to shrimp, salmon and falafel. Private tables enclosed with sateen curtains and Persian rugs that cover both the floors and the walls make for a private, intimate meal, and burnt orange walls, arched windows and faux palm trees complete the experience. Within the same plaza, McMenamin’s East Vancouver location offers Northwest-approved pub fare and drinks under an assortment of orange glass lamps of different shapes, while local chain Champ Pizza is a neighborhood go-to for a hot slice. A Costco and a Walmart Supercenter are within a 10-minute drive east of the neighborhood, while a WinCo serves shoppers in the west of Burton Evergreen. Though there may not be traditional parks within Burton Evergreen’s boundaries, there are plenty of green spaces in the area. First Place Park offers three and a half acres of open space just across 18th Street. The park’s highlights include a grove of flowering, fragrant cherry trees and a playground that the city unveiled in 2019. The new structure features stained plastic attachments that cast kaleidoscopic shadows on the mulch and across the playset. Less than 10 minutes away by car, residents will find even more green space and a baseball diamond at Pacific Community Park. Walking trails weave through eight acres of well-maintained land, past an off-leash dog park and natural gardens with cheerful sunflowers. Across from the park’s playground, skaters and BMX riders gather at the skate park. With most of the school pipeline conveniently located in the neighborhood, the daily drop-off is never too far from home. Burton Evergreen is bordered by 28th Street in the north and 18th Street in the south, which is a straight shot west to Interstate 205. The interstate connects drivers to several other major thoroughfares in the neighborhood, taking residents to Downtown Vancouver in about 20 minutes. Those who work in Downtown Portland are about a 40-minute drive from the office.

Bordered by Interstate 205 and the Bonneville Power Administration’s high voltage transmission lines, Burton Ridge is a two-tiered neighborhood in east Vancouver where some of its houses sit atop a ridge with a view of Mt. St. Helens. It also has a convenient location with easy access to parks, schools, shopping, and a freeway exit that gets you to downtown Portland in under 25 minutes.<br><br>Most of the neighborhood was developed in the 1970s and 1980s. So, you can expect to see a mixture of ranch-style and split-level houses on medium-sized 8,000 to 10,000-square-foot lots with space for a well-manicured lawn, a large driveway, and a backyard that, in some cases, is big enough for a pool. These older houses are clustered on Burton Ridge’s first tier, while its upper tier features newer, contemporary houses built during the 1990s in subdivisions like Kristine Pointe and West Pointe. These last two subdivisions are cut off from the rest of the neighborhood by terrain, and a large stand of Douglas fir trees runs along the edge of the neighborhood’s lower tier. The older houses in the neighborhood’s lower tier fetch $400,000 to $500,000, while the houses in its upper tier range between $500,000 and $650,000. Sidewalks only exist in the neighborhood’s newer subdivisions, and protected bike lanes run along its major streets like Northeast 98th Street and Northeast Burton Road – which makes it possible to run some of your most basic errands with a bike.<br><br>Northeast Burton Road becomes Northeast 28th Street when it runs under I-205. This puts the neighborhood just outside a shopping center anchored by the Northeast 28th Street Safeway, where you can stop into Grady’s Public House for a beer and some cottage pie or grab some carryout from the drive-thru window at Muchas Gracias Mexican Food and Kim’s Grill Teriyaki. If you hang a right on Northeast 112th Avenue before you get to this shopping center, you’ll end up at I-205’s Northeast 18th Street exit, which is 25 to 35 minutes from downtown Portland depending on traffic. People who live in the upper terrace subdivisions of Kristine Pointe and West Pointe can skip this step on their morning commute because their streets empty out directly onto Northeast 18th Street.<br><br>The undeveloped, half-acre Burton Ridge Park in the neighborhood’s northeast corner is a good place to take your dogs or relax because it offers a shaded walking path, some open space, and a couple of picnic tables where you can sit. Those looking for a little more should head south on Northeast 98th Avenue from Northeast Burton Road to Forest Ridge Park, where you’ll find a basic playground under a stand of dense fir trees or keep driving down Northeast Burton Road and head south on Northeast 90th Avenue to the 3.5-acre Meadowbrook Marsh Park and a place where you can hop on the Burnt Bridge Creek Trail. Students in Burton Ridge will attend Marion Elementary School, Cascade Middle School, and Evergreen High School. Evergreen Public Schools, named Clark County’s third-best public school system on Niche.com, manages all three of these schools. They’re also less than three miles from Burton Ridge – which only adds to the list of things this neighborhood is close to. And this convenient location, along with its mixture of housing, makes the two-tiered Burton Ridge neighborhood a great place to call home.